Each phone contains a SIM card ,it is identified by an unique IMEI and there is growing fraud happens with the criminal has stolen / blacklisted a handset, they change the IMEI to hide the true origination of a handset or identity of the caller. They reprogrammed terminals are then resold on the open market. Some fraudsters also change IMEI’s to avoid being identified by fraud analysts who monitor handset usage in order to identify new SIM cards being used by fraud rings.

This unique number is a 15-digit identification code called International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI). When a user makes a call, the record shows the phone number of the caller and the IMEI digits of the handset as well. The unique number attached to every mobile device is given by global industry body GSMA. It has become a target for criminal organizations and illegitimate manufacturers. To address this issue last year in November, Department of Electronics (DoT) had asked the handset makers in India to provide the unique identification numbers of their devices to the government by November 2019, citing security imperatives.

Illegal mobile phones across the world contributed in double digits. Criminal organizations across the world are stealing mobile phones at greater rates as a source of income or as a means to allow them to operate under the radar of law enforcement. Illegitimate manufacturers are shipping increasing volumes of counterfeit and fraudulent mobile phones that contain stolen intellectual property and malware. There is growing risk risks to the consumers ,which can’t be ignored.

Registration of IMEI numbers with the government at the time of manufacturing will help curb increasing mobile crimes in India. The government to protect innocent citizens and prevent (the) massive losses users (mobile fraud victims) are incurring on a monthly basis in India . Last year, the Centre launched a portal that will help users to detect their lost or stolen mobile phones, with the pilot originating from Mumbai.

Technology becomes so advanced that, to assist governments, regulators and others intended to identify counterfeit, illegal, and stolen mobile devices on cellular networks. Device Identification, Registration, and Blocking System (DIRBS) is a server-based software platform that is available on the open source .

The IMEI number will help DoT trace the handset from which the call originated in case of any suspicious activity, and block them or track lost phones. When a phone is lost or stolen, DoT will block the handset but in case a new SIM is inserted in the phone and a call is made; the service provider will flag off the details of the new caller to the authorities who in turn will trace the new caller. “So far, we had a record of all phones that are imported into India. The telecom department and the customs department work together to check and record the IMEI numbers of handsets that come into India. But now we want domestic makers to provide the codes as well,” the official said. A bulk of the phones that are sold in India are now also made in India, and not imported.

The DoT has been working to address this issue with Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR), a database of IMEIs, for the past couple of years but now wants all handset players to submit the numbers as well. IMEI numbers are unique and programmed into the handset, but in fraudulent cases, the government has found that the IMEI numbers have been reprogrammed for creating duplicate handsets as well. “Right from the supplier to the seller, one may not realise that a phone with a duplicate code has been sold. If we have the list and see the digit crop up again, we can flag it off,” as per the official.

Yesterday DOT had come out with the guideline to all the Mobile Device manufacturers/Brand Owners , a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) ( Version 1.0) for implementation of Government notification no. 107/(RE-2013) 2009-2014 to prohibit import of mobile phones with duplicate, fake and non-genuine International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI). The SOP was implemented through IMEI Cloning and duplication Restriction system operated and maintained by Mobile Standard Alliance of India (MSAI),erstehile reporting body of GSMA in India.

Further, the Government has decided to replace the MSAI operated system and hence, a new system I.e. Indian Counterfeited Device Restriction (ICDR) system has been developed by Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)-a R&D unit of Department of Telecommunications for implementing the above-mentioned SOP.

Lastly, the new system has been operationalised on pilot basis which can be accessed on website http://icdr.ceir.gov.in for registration and generation of IMEI certificates by following due procedure, for import of mobile phones in India.