Is your smartphone lost or stolen? Here’s why you should know about this new government portal

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However, a new initiative by the Indian government’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) promises to bring some relief to victims of such an unforeseen event. The Sanchar Saathi portal is a tool that uses the CEIR, or Central Equipment Identity Register to help users track and block lost smartphones. Today, we look at how this tech works, and how you can use it for stolen or lost phone tracking.  

How does the Sanchar Saathi portal work? 

The Sanchar Saathi portal works by maintaining a record of all IMEI numbers currently in use across the country. When a user requests a particular phone to be blocked or locate, the service tracks this IMEI number, which will be blocked across all network service providers in the country. If the stolen/lost device is now used with any other SIM, the details of the same will be shared with the police authorities for tracing. When the device in question is found, it can then be unblocked again using the same portal. 

Sanchar Saathi also has some other features, including a handy KYM (Know Your Mobile) feature. Using this, you can check the IMEI of a particular phone before you purchase it (from a store or the second-hand market) to make sure you’re not purchasing a stolen, lost or pre-used device.  

How to block your lost or stolen phone on the portal? 

To use the Sanchar Saathi portal to block a lost or stolen device, users must follow a few steps.  

1. Begin by filing a report with the local police. This report can mention if your phone was lost or stolen, along with other relevant information. Keep a copy of this report handy.  
2. Get a duplicate SIM card for the SIM you had in your stolen device. You can get this by heading to your nearest service provider branch (Airtel, Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea, etc). This is crucial because you will need a duplicate SIM to receive an OTP when sending a block request for your IMEI.  
3. Get the duplicate SIM up and running on a spare phone. Note that the SMS facility on a duplicate SIM will only be available after 24 hours of activation as per TRAI rules. Proceed to the next step only when your duplicate SIM has been activated for 24 hours.  
4. Get your documents ready. This includes a copy of your police report and identity proof. You may also include the mobile purchase invoice if applicable.  
5. Visit the Sanchar Saathi portal (sancharsaathi.gov.in) from any device and fill out the registration form for blocking the IMEI number of your lost device. Attach the required documents. 
6. When your form is submitted, you will receive a Request ID. Keep this ID safe, as you can use it to check the status of your request. You will also require the ID to unblock your device when you find your device again.  

ALSO READ: What is IMEI number?

When you block your phone’s IMEI, the device will no longer work with any network in India. However, this will not prevent the police from tracking your phone.