Team Herald
PANJIM: In the wake of rising cases of SIM card frauds, Goa Police has expressed concern that SIM card distributors and retailers are not following mandatory rules. The police will now approach Department of Telecommunication of the Ministry of Communications and IT, to take action against the violators.
“Of late a number of instances of procuring mobile SIM cards either by fraudulent means or submitting forged papers have come to notice of Goa Police. The police had registered several cases in the past in this regard, including against foreigners,” says a press statement issued by the department on Tuesday.
To ensure that the SIM cards are deactivated in the cases, Goa Police pursued the matter with TERM call of DoT and Telecom Service providers. “With the efforts of Goa Police, the mobile service providers deactivated the SIM cards in 21 cases,” it said, adding, “Significantly, the government has issued detailed instructions on verification of documents submitted by a new subscriber in proof of their identity and address. However, it appears that the instructions are not followed by retailers/distributors in letter and spirit.”
The department is also anguished that SIM cards are furnished to foreigners only against a copy of the passport with valid visa. “Investigations by police revealed that in several cases these instructions were not followed and on the intervention of Goa Police these SIMs were deactivated,” the press released said.
