Union Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad launched a website where users can report stolen phones. DoT has developed a database for billions of IMEI numbers. The database is named Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR).
Users can file a complaint to DoT if they lose a device by contacting the helpline number (14422). After a police complaint has been filed, DoT will blacklist the IMEI number of the lost device so that the device will not be able to access any mobile network. This would make the device useless and this will help reduce thefts as it won’t be possible for thieves to use or sell the phone.
However, tracking and recovering the phone will be a whole different game. The Ministry said that it is working on the same and will reveal once the site is live.
