The government has announced that new regulations aimed at preventing fraudulent SIM swaps or replacements by cyber criminals will come into effect next Monday. Issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in March 2024, the Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability (Ninth Amendment) Regulations will be enforceable from July 1. Reduction in Waiting Period Under these new regulations, the waiting period for porting mobile numbers after a SIM swap has been reduced from 10 to 7 days. These amendment regulations are aimed at curbing the porting of mobile numbers by way of fraudulent SIM swaps or replacements by unscrupulous elements, TRAI stated.Unique Porting Code Requests A crucial new rule introduced in the amendment is the rejection of requests for a Unique Porting Code (UPC) within seven days of a SIM swap or replacement. This measure is intended to prevent fraudulent SIM-swapping practices, which have recently caused financial harm to many users.Understanding SIM SwappingFor those unfamiliar, SIM swapping occurs when scammers trick a mobile phone carrier into activating a SIM card that the fraudsters possess. Once successful, the scammers gain control over the victims phone number, intercepting calls and texts intended for the victim.In parallel, several provisions of the Telecommunications Act 2023 came into effect on June 26 this year. This act aims to update and consolidate the laws governing telecommunications services, networks, spectrum allocation, and related matters, replacing outdated laws such as the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885 and the Indian Wireless Telegraph Act of 1933.The newly implemented provisions include restrictions on the number of SIM cards an individual can use, penalties for fraudulently obtaining a SIM card, and permissions for installing mobile towers. These measures are part of a broader effort to modernise telecommunications laws in response to significant technological advancements in the sector.
