Sanchar Saathi Initiative: Combating Fraudulent SMS and Enhancing Mobile Security
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Initiative | Sanchar Saathi Initiative |
| Launched By | Union Communication Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw |
| Launch Date | May 2023 |
| Collaborating Agencies | Department of Telecommunication (DoT), Union Ministry of Home Affairs |
| Objective | Combat fraudulent SMS, raise awareness, strengthen security measures for mobile subscribers |
| Key Actions Taken | - Blocked 8 SMS headers used by cybercriminals- Intercepted 10,000+ fraudulent messages |
| Blacklisted Items | - 73 SMS headers- 1522 SMS content templates |
| Telemarketing Restrictions | - Mobile numbers prohibited for telemarketing- Prefixes 180 and 140 for legitimate use |
| Penalty for Misuse | - Immediate disconnection on first complaint- Blacklisting for two years |
| Key Modules | Chakshu Facility: Report fraudulent calls/messages (cybercrime, financial fraud, etc.) |
| CEIR: Report lost/stolen devices using 15-digit IMEI number | |
| ASTR: AI-based tool for SIM subscriber verification to prevent misuse |