Sanchar Saathi Guide: Block a Lost Phone, Check Your SIMs -

Quick answer: Sanchar Saathi is the Department of Telecommunications’ free website and app for mobile safety in India. You can use it to block a lost or stolen phone on every network, see which mobile numbers are registered in your name, check whether a handset is genuine, and report fraud calls and messages through Chakshu. Go to sancharsaathi.gov.in or install the official app and log in with your mobile number and an OTP.

Most people only hear about Sanchar Saathi after something goes wrong. It’s more useful if you check it before then, for example to make sure nobody has taken out a SIM card using your ID, since those numbers can be used for fraud in your name.

Here’s what each service does and how to use it, step by step. Figures and features are as shown on the official portal on 5 October 2026.

What can you do on Sanchar Saathi?

The Sanchar Saathi portal lists these citizen services:

Chakshu: report suspected fraud calls, SMS or WhatsApp messages.
Block your lost or stolen mobile: block a handset on all Indian networks, and unblock it if you find it.
Know mobile connections in your name: see every number registered against your identity, and report ones that aren’t yours.
Know the genuineness of your mobile handset: check a phone’s IMEI number before you buy it.
Report incoming international calls with an Indian number: flag calls that show a +91 number but come from abroad.
Trusted contact details: check official phone numbers and websites of banks and financial institutions.
Know your wireline ISP: find broadband providers in your area.

The app is on Android and iPhone. As of October 2026, the portal shows more than 2.5 crore downloads on Google Play and 21 lakh on the App Store, and says 59.32 lakh lost or stolen phones have been blocked through it.

How to check how many SIM cards are registered in your name

Every SIM card in India is issued against an identity document. If someone misused a copy of your ID, a number might be active in your name without your knowledge. To check, following the steps described by Digit:

Go to sancharsaathi.gov.in or open the app.
Under Citizen Centric Services, choose Know Mobile Connections in Your Name.
Enter your 10-digit mobile number and the captcha, then the OTP you receive.
You’ll see a list of mobile numbers issued against your identity.
For a number you don’t recognise, select Not My Number. For an old number of yours that you no longer use, select Not Required.
Submit, and note the reference ID for follow-up.

Reported numbers are sent for re-verification and can be disconnected. Digit notes that one person can hold up to nine connections across India, or six in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and the North-Eastern states.

How to block a lost or stolen phone

Blocking stops the handset from working on any Indian network, even with a new SIM, which makes a stolen phone far less valuable. The official CEIR user manual lists what you need first:

A police complaint or FIR for the lost or stolen phone (you’ll need the complaint number and a copy to upload).
A replacement SIM for your lost number from your operator, so you can receive the OTP.
An ID proof. The form asks for a masked Aadhaar or another ID.
Optionally, the purchase invoice. It also helps to know the phone’s IMEI number, which is printed on the box and the bill.

Steps to block the phone

On Sanchar Saathi, choose Block Your Lost/Stolen Mobile.
Enter the phone number(s), IMEI number(s), brand, model and price.
Add where and when you lost it, your state, district and police station, and the complaint number, and upload the complaint copy.
Enter your name, address and ID details, and upload the ID.
Enter a mobile number for the OTP, solve the captcha, verify and submit.
Save the request ID; you’ll need it to check status or unblock the phone.

If you find the phone, choose Unblock Found Mobile, enter the request ID and your number, verify with an OTP, and submit.

Before you block the phone, use Find My Device on Android or Find My on iPhone to try to locate it or erase it remotely, and remove its passkeys and saved sign-ins from your accounts. Our guide on how to set up passkeys explains how to remove a lost device.

How to check if a phone is genuine before you buy it

This is worth doing before buying any used phone, so you don’t end up with a stolen or cloned device. The Department of Telecommunications advises using the KYM (Know Your Mobile) service, according to FoneArena:

Find the phone’s IMEI number by dialling *#06# on it.
Send an SMS saying KYM <15-digit IMEI> to 14422, or enter the IMEI on the portal or in the app.
Check that the brand and model in the reply match the phone in your hand. If they don’t, or the IMEI shows as blacklisted, don’t buy it.

How to report a fraud call or message with Chakshu

Chakshu is for reporting suspected fraud attempts by call, SMS or WhatsApp, such as fake KYC messages, impersonation of officials, or fake job offers. The portal also lets you report spam received within the last seven days.

Open Sanchar Saathi and choose Chakshu (listed as reporting suspected fraud communication).
Pick how you were contacted: call, SMS or WhatsApp.
Fill in the details the form asks for, such as the number that contacted you and when, and attach a screenshot if the form allows.
Verify your own mobile number and submit.

Chakshu is for attempts. If you’ve already lost money, call 1930 or report it at cybercrime.gov.in instead, because speed matters. Our guide to common online scams in India helps you recognise what to report. For more, see our Cybersecurity and Privacy section.

Frequently asked questions

Is Sanchar Saathi an official government service?

Yes. It’s run by the Department of Telecommunications. Use only sancharsaathi.gov.in or the app from the official Play Store or App Store listing, and be wary of lookalike sites.

Do I need a police complaint to block a lost phone?

Yes. The block request requires a police complaint number and a copy of the complaint or FIR.

Will blocking my phone also block my SIM?

No. Blocking on Sanchar Saathi stops the handset by its IMEI. To stop your SIM being misused, contact your operator to block it and get a replacement SIM with the same number.

What happens after I mark a number as “Not My Number”?

The number is sent to the operator for re-verification. If the holder can’t verify it, it can be disconnected. Keep your reference ID to track progress.

Sanchar Saathi Guide: Block a Lost Phone, Check Your SIMs