New Delhi, Oct 5: Sanchar Saathi, the Department of Telecommunications’ citizen-focused digital security platform, has crossed 30 crore visits since its launch in May 2023, reflecting growing public awareness about mobile security and telecom-related fraud.
The platform has emerged as a useful tool for citizens dealing with lost or stolen mobile phones, suspicious communications and unauthorised mobile connections. It brings several telecom safety services together in one place, making it easier for users to protect their mobile identity and stay alert to potential fraud.
Through Sanchar Saathi, users can block and trace lost or stolen handsets, check the mobile connections registered in their name, verify the genuineness of a handset using its IMEI number and report suspicious calls, SMS messages and WhatsApp communications.
The lost and stolen handset facility has so far resulted in 60.96 lakh mobile phones being blocked and 37.85 lakh devices being traced, with more than 14 lakh phones recovered. The initiative involves coordination among telecom operators, government agencies and state and Union Territory police authorities.
The platform’s Chakshu facility has also strengthened efforts to identify potentially fraudulent communications. Citizens have submitted 12.80 lakh reports of suspected fraud communications, leading to action in 59.82 lakh cases, including the disconnection of more than 50 lakh mobile connections.
Sanchar Saathi has also processed more than 4 crore citizen requests related to checking or reporting mobile connections registered in their names. This gives users a simple way to identify unfamiliar connections and take corrective action.
Another important component is the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator, which uses information from citizen reports to help financial institutions, telecom companies and enforcement agencies identify potentially risky transactions and communications. The system has contributed to preventing suspected cyber-fraud losses of more than Rs 5,000 crore.
The Sanchar Saathi mobile application is available in English, Hindi and 21 regional languages and has recorded more than 2.8 crore downloads, making its services accessible to a wider section of mobile users.
The growing use of Sanchar Saathi highlights the increasing role of citizen participation in digital safety. By combining public reporting with coordinated action by telecom operators and law-enforcement agencies, the platform is helping make India’s rapidly expanding mobile ecosystem safer and more secure.
