In a bid to combat the growing underground cyber fraud industry fueled by fake mobile connections, the Indian Union government has announced significant KYC (know-your-customer) reforms. The reforms involve stricter requirements for both mobile phone users and dealers selling SIM cards. Under the Sanchar Saathi initiative, the measures aim to counter cybercrimes and financial frauds.
For users, three new verification protocols are introduced. Dealers will need to authenticate customers using Aadhaar QR codes, users seeking SIM replacements must provide fresh documentation, and Aadhaar-based facial-ID authentication will be permitted.
Dealers will undergo enhanced verification processes, and telecom companies will need to register franchisees, agents, and distributors within a year. Blacklisting of fraudulent dealers for three years and penalties up to ₹10 lakh are part of the new compliances.
The government’s statement revealed alarming figures: out of 1.14 billion analyzed connections, 6.6 million were suspected, 5.2 million were disconnected for lack of re-verification, over 67,000 dealers were blacklisted, and more than 17,000 mobile handsets were blocked. To combat the growing cyber fraud, undisputed SIM dealer verification and strict penalties are now mandated.
Amit Dubey, a cybersecurity expert, welcomed the changes, emphasizing that criminals exploit gaps in existing norms. The revised guidelines are crucial to curbing cybercrimes and enhancing the fight against cybercriminals.
By FCCT Editorial Team
, an independent military force, and allied militias in Sudan raped several dozen women and girls in West Darfur’s capital, El Geneina, and those fleeing to Chad between late April and late June 2023, Human Rights Watch said today. The assailants appear to have targeted people because of their Massalit ethnicity and, in some cases, because they were known activists.){kind=link}