A recent study conducted by the Union Ministry of Communications using Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revealed that of the 87.85 crore mobile connections analysed across India, 40.87 lakh numbers (0.47%) were obtained using fake documents. The country has a total subscriber base of 131 crore in 22 of Licenced Service Areas (LSA) circles and in phase 1 only 87.85 crore connections were analysed. An internal communication sent out by K Rajaraman, secretary from the Ministry of Communications, to Chief Secretaries and Director Generals of Police of all states and Union Territories on Tuesday further stated that of the 40.87 lakh fraud connections detected using ASTR (an artificial intelligence and facial recognition-powered solution for telecom SIM subscriber verification), 38 lakh such numbers have been disconnected. The study, which surveyed a total of 87 crore mobile connections in 22 LSA circles across India in its phase 1, also revealed the involvement of 44,582 Point of Sales (PoS) of telecom service providers in the sale of such connections. “The DoT has identified and blacklisted the 44,582 PoS of telecom service providers. However, only 181 FIRs have been registered across India covering only 1,575 fraudulent PoS of the total offenders,” the study revealed. To prevent increase in cyber crime cases, the Ministry has now asked all states and UTs to register FIRs against all offence. The maximum of 86 FIRs were lodged in Jammu and Kashmir circle involving 173 erring PoS, followed by Gujarat with 26 FIRs. While Bihar circle, including Jharkhand, and Tamil Nadu registered 18 such FIRs each, Punjab saw 13 FIRs against PoS. Interestingly, 1.20 crore mobile connections were analysed in Jammu and Kashmir and of this, 15,194 connections were obtained on fake or forged documents where the investigators found same faces but different names. Of the fraud connections, 14,494 numbers were disconnected and 3024 PoS were blacklisted in Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly, in Haryana circle, 3.08 crore connections were analysed and 5.33 lakh numbers were found to have been obtained using fake documents. Following this, 5.24 lakh numbers were disconnected, the highest in phase 1. Punjab circle saw 3.17 crore numbers analysed of which 1,51 lakh were found to be fraud connections and 1.44 lakh numbers were disconnected. While Haryana saw registration of five FIRs, Punjab saw only 13. West Bengal circle saw the highest 12,34,114 fraudulent connections found which were detected out of 4.52 crore connections analysed and not a single FIR was lodged. The communique from the Ministry also mentioned that urgent steps are required to stop the menace and more FIRs need to be registered against the offences. “I request more FIRs, initiate prosecution against PoS involved in sale of fraudulent mobile connections, integrate Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS network) with National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)/Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) for automatic blocking of lost/stolen handsets after lodging of a complaint and take efforts, in case of complaints of stolen mobile phones for physical recovery of mobile handsets on receipt of the traceability information through CEIR,” it mentions. Haryana Additional Director General of Police OP Singh said that they have received the communique and are working on it. “Haryana is the first state in the country to integrate CCTNS with CEIR for automatic blocking of lost/stolen mobile handset. Field units in Haryana have been asked to make use of the facility and also make people aware of the Sanchar Saathi portal,” he said. Earlier in May, the Union Ministry had launched the Sanchar Saathi portal (www.sancharsaathi.gov.in), a citizen centric initiative that provides a safe digital space for the telecom subscribers. Through the TAFCOP portal, launched by the department of telecommunication, a person can check the number of mobile connections in their name and report unauthorised connection(s).
