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 Department of Telecom 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.