Tamper IMEI, face 3-year jail term

New Delhi, Sept. 24: The government has made tampering of IMEI number — a unique 15-digit serial number of mobile devices — a punishable offence that can attract jail term of up to 3 years as it seeks to curb incidence of mobile theft.

The move will help curb issues pertaining to fake IMEI numbers and also ease tracking of lost mobile phones.

“It shall be unlawful, if a person, except the manufacturer — intentionally removes, obliterates, changes, or alters unique Mobile Device Equipment Identification Number,” the DoT said in a notification dated August 25.

The new rules called “the prevention of tampering of the Mobile Device Equipment Identification Number, Rules, 2017” bar a person from knowingly using mobile device whose IMEI number has been changed unlawfully or software that can change or tamper the unique number.

IMEI is a unique ID of a mobile handset. Whenever a user makes a call, the call record shows phone number of the caller and IMEI number of the handset from which the call has been made. The mobile number in a handset may be changed by changing SIM but IMEI number can be changed by a technical person using equipment.

The unique number of mobile devices is allocated by global industry body GSMA and bodies authorised by it. When a mobile phone is lost, people are required to mention the IMEI number of the handset for tracking.

The DoT had started consultation in June to frame strict laws around tampering of IMEI numbers. special