Most people know exactly how many phone numbers they use. Far fewer know how many numbers exist under their identity. That gap matters, because a SIM issued on forged or misused documents can end up in the hands of a scammer, and the legal owner of the identity may never find out.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) built a free tool to close that gap. It lets you see the mobile connections issued in your name and report the ones you don’t recognise. This guide shows you exactly how to use it, what to do with the results, and where the tool stops being useful.
Information in this article was last checked on 29 October 2026. Portal layouts and rules can change, so confirm details on the official site before you act.
Quick Answer
- Open the Sanchar Saathi portal (sancharsaathi.gov.in) and go to the TAFCOP service.
- Enter your mobile number and the OTP you receive.
- Review the list of numbers issued in your name.
- Tick “This is not my number” or “Not required” next to any number you want to report.
- Click “Report” to submit.
The whole check takes a few minutes. Do it on the official government site only, never through a link someone sends you.
What Sanchar Saathi and TAFCOP Actually Are
Sanchar Saathi is a citizen-facing initiative of the DoT. It runs as a web portal and a mobile app. According to the portal, it lets you find the mobile connections issued in your name, report connections you don’t need or never took, block and trace lost or stolen phones, and check whether a handset is genuine before you buy it.
TAFCOP is the module that handles the connection check. The name stands for Telecom Analytics for Fraud Management and Consumer Protection. In plain terms, it shows you the SIM connections linked to your identity records.
Why You Should Check
Scammers need SIM cards, and they prefer SIMs registered to someone else. Connections obtained with fake or forged documents have been used for cyber fraud, which is the reason DoT built the analytics behind this tool.
The check is useful for three reasons:
- Fraud exposure. A number registered to you but used by a stranger could be tied to a scam, and you may carry the paper trail.
- Old connections. You may find SIMs you bought years ago and forgot, which can still be linked to your identity.
- Peace of mind. A clean list lets you stop worrying.
Reports describe a nationwide cap of nine mobile connections per person under DoT rules. Treat that figure as secondary information, and confirm the current limit with DoT or your operator if it matters to you.
Step-by-Step: How to Check Your Connections
Step 1: Open the official portal
Type sancharsaathi.gov.in into your browser, or install the official Sanchar Saathi app from your phone’s app store. Check that the developer is the Department of Telecommunications. Look-alike apps and sites exist, so avoid search-result ads and links in messages.
Step 2: Go to the TAFCOP service
Choose the option that shows the mobile connections in your name. The portal lists this as “Know mobile connections in your name” or the TAFCOP citizen service.
Step 3: Enter your mobile number and OTP
Enter the 10-digit mobile number you use. The portal sends an OTP to that number. Enter it to log in. Never share this OTP with anyone who calls or messages you. It belongs only on the official page you opened yourself.
Step 4: Read the list carefully
The screen shows the mobile numbers issued in your name. Go through each one. Ask yourself: do I own this number, do I know whose it is, or did I once use it and no longer need it?
Step 5: Mark numbers you want to report
Next to each number you want to flag, choose one of two options:
- This is not my number: you never took this connection.
- Not required: the number is yours, but you no longer use it and want it disconnected.
Step 6: Submit with the Report button
Click “Report” to submit the request. Take a screenshot of the confirmation and keep it. Check back on the portal later for the outcome, since DoT verifies requests before it acts.
What to Do If You Find a Number You Don’t Recognise
Stay calm. A stray number does not prove that you committed any wrongdoing. Follow these steps:
- Report it on the portal as “This is not my number.”
- Save evidence. Screenshot the list and your submission.
- Ask the operator. Contact the telecom company that issued the SIM through its official customer care and ask for details of the connection. Use only the number on the operator’s official website.
- Consider a police report. If you suspect identity misuse, ask your local police or the cyber cell whether to file one. Some DoT pages mention a police report for certain requests, so check what the portal asks for at the time you report.
- If money was lost, treat it as cyber fraud: call 1930 and file at cybercrime.gov.in.
A Worked Example (Hypothetical)
This scenario is invented to illustrate the process. It isn’t a real case.
Arjun, a software tester in Jaipur, uses one Airtel and one Jio number. Before renewing a bank KYC, he decides to run the TAFCOP check. He expects two numbers. The list shows three.
He recognises both of his own numbers. The third belongs to an operator he has never used. He selects “This is not my number,” submits the report, and screenshots the confirmation. He then writes down the date and number and contacts the operator through its official helpline to ask how the connection was issued.
Arjun doesn’t know yet whether the connection was an error or deliberate misuse. But he has reported it quickly, created a record, and avoided leaving a stranger’s activity attached to his identity.
What the Tool Can and Can’t Do
Be realistic about its limits.
- It does not guarantee you are safe. It shows connections in DoT’s records. It can’t stop a scammer who uses someone else’s number.
- It starts from your mobile number. You need access to a working number to log in.
- Results depend on operator data. If the records are wrong or incomplete, the list may be too. Report anything that looks odd.
- Disconnection takes time. The portal sends your request for verification. It doesn’t cut the SIM at once.
- It covers mobile connections. It isn’t designed to track every way fraudsters contact people, such as landlines or messaging apps.
When the portal launched in 2023, official material reported that DoT analysed paper-based KYC connections in a first phase, flagged about 40.87 lakh suspected connections, and disconnected about 36.61 lakh after verification. Treat those as launch-era figures. They show the tool has acted on real fraud, but they say nothing about your own results today.
Other Sanchar Saathi Services Worth Knowing
Lost or stolen phone (CEIR)
If your handset goes missing, you can report it for blocking and tracing through the portal’s CEIR service. You’ll need your phone’s IMEI number. You can see it by dialling *#06# on a working handset, or find it on the box or purchase invoice. Keep the IMEI saved somewhere safe before you ever need it.
Check a phone before you buy it (Know Your Mobile)
Buying a second-hand phone? The portal’s Know Your Mobile feature lets you check whether the device is genuine before you pay. Do this before the deal, not after.
Report suspicious international calls
The RICWIN section lets you report incoming international calls that show an Indian number as the caller ID, a common trick in scam calls.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using a fake portal. Type the address yourself. Scam sites copy the look of government pages to harvest OTPs.
Reporting a number you actually use. Check twice before you pick “Not required.” A disconnected number may take a bank OTP with it.
Ignoring a surprise number. The longer an unknown SIM stays under your name, the longer you carry the risk.
Sharing the OTP with a “helper.” Nobody legitimate asks for your portal OTP over the phone.
Checking once and forgetting. Repeat the check once or twice a year, or after you lose a document or share your ID copy widely.
How to Protect Your Identity Documents
- When you give an ID copy to a shop or agent, write the purpose and date across it, for example “For SIM purchase only, [date].”
- Prefer official digital verification over handing over photocopies where you can.
- Don’t post photos of Aadhaar, PAN, or passport pages on social media or in public groups.
- Keep your registered mobile number active, so alerts and OTPs reach you.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is the TAFCOP check free?
The portal presents it as a government citizen service. I found no official fee, but confirm on the site before you start.
2. Does it work with my Aadhaar number?
The check begins with your mobile number and an OTP, not your Aadhaar number. It then shows connections issued under your identity records.
3. What if I find more numbers than I use?
Identify each one. Report the ones you never took as “This is not my number,” and the ones you no longer need as “Not required.”
4. Will reporting a number get me in trouble?
Reporting is the step the portal offers for exactly this situation. For specific legal worries, speak to a lawyer or your local cyber cell.
5. How long does disconnection take?
I found no official time commitment. DoT verifies reports first, so expect a wait, and check the portal for updates.
6. Can I use the mobile app instead of the website?
Yes. Sanchar Saathi runs as both a web portal and a mobile app. Install only the official app.
Conclusion
A five-minute check can reveal a problem you would otherwise never see. Open the official Sanchar Saathi portal, run the TAFCOP check with your mobile number, report any connection you don’t recognise, and save proof of what you did.
Next, put a reminder in your calendar to repeat the check in six months, and save your phone’s IMEI number somewhere safe. If you ever find fraud tied to a number, move fast and use the national helpline and the cybercrime portal.