TL;DR: Sanchar Saathi is the Department of Telecommunications’ free portal (sancharsaathi.gov.in) and app. Use it to report fraud calls and messages (Chakshu), block and trace a lost or stolen phone, see every mobile connection in your name, check whether a handset is genuine, and report foreign calls showing a +91 number. The government says the app is voluntary and can be deleted at any time. Money already lost to fraud goes to 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in, not Chakshu.
What Sanchar Saathi is
Sanchar Saathi is a citizen portal and mobile app run by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The app launched on 17 January 2025. A PIB release dated 2 December 2025 put downloads at more than 1.4 crore and portal visits at over 21.5 crore.
After questions about whether phones would have to carry it, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on 2 December 2025 that the app is “fully voluntary” and users can deactivate or delete it whenever they want.
The features, one by one
1. Chakshu: report suspected fraud calls, SMS and WhatsApp messages
Got a fake KYC message, a caller posing as police or TRAI, or a dodgy investment tip? Report it in Chakshu. You don't need to have lost money. Reports are used to cut off the number, the handset and the SMS template behind it.
It is being used heavily. According to a PIB release of 5 February 2026, Chakshu received 2,08,224 reports in 2024 and 5,19,662 in 2025. The biggest 2025 categories were KYC and payment frauds (1,06,483), fake customer care numbers (60,985) and online job, lottery and loan offers (58,560). The same release says 39.43 lakh mobile connections were disconnected based on 7.7 lakh citizen inputs.
If you have already lost money, Chakshu is the wrong place. Call 1930 or file at cybercrime.gov.in straight away. Our step-by-step guide on filing a cybercrime complaint in India explains what to keep ready.
2. Block a lost or stolen phone
This uses the phone's IMEI number to block it on every network in India, so a thief can't simply put in a new SIM. You'll need a police complaint number and your IMEI (dial *#06# or check the box or bill). The PIB release says over 42 lakh lost or stolen devices have been blocked, 26 lakh traced and 7.23 lakh returned to owners. Unblock it from the same page if you get the phone back.
3. Know the mobile connections in your name
Enter your number, verify the OTP and you'll see every mobile connection issued against your identity. Mark any you don't recognise as “Not my number” and the operator has to check and disconnect it. More than 1.43 crore connections have been disconnected this way, per PIB. This is the single most useful check for most people, so we've written a full walkthrough: how to check how many SIM cards are in your name.
4. Check if a handset is genuine
Before buying a second-hand phone, enter its IMEI to confirm it is real and not on the blocked list. A cloned or blacklisted IMEI is a red flag that the phone is stolen.
5. Report international calls showing an Indian number
If a call shows a +91 number but you suspect it is coming from abroad, report it. Scam centres overseas use this trick to look local. We explain the wider trick in what caller ID spoofing is.
6. Know your internet service provider, and trusted contact details
Smaller tools let you look up wireline internet providers by PIN code and find the genuine helpline numbers of banks, which helps you dodge fake customer care numbers.
Which feature should you use first?
- You think someone took a SIM in your name: start with “Know mobile connections.”
- Your phone was stolen: file a police complaint, then block the IMEI. Also call your bank, because a stolen phone often means OTP risk. See how SIM swap fraud works.
- You got a scam call or message but lost nothing: report it in Chakshu.
- You lost money: 1930 first, then Chakshu if you like.
What Sanchar Saathi can't do
It can cut off numbers and phones, but it can't pull your details back out of the databases scammers already use. Your number keeps circulating through data breaches, caller ID apps and data brokers. That's why so many people still get fraud calls after cleaning up their connections. Our guide to checking whether your phone number is exposed online covers that side, and if your Aadhaar is involved, lock your Aadhaar biometrics too.
A free email exposure check shows whether your email has turned up in known breaches, and the full Scan My Shadow scan adds your phone number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sanchar Saathi safe and is it mandatory?
It is a Department of Telecommunications service. On 2 December 2025 the Communications Minister said the app is fully voluntary and users can deactivate or delete it at any time.
What is Chakshu in Sanchar Saathi?
Chakshu is the Sanchar Saathi feature for reporting suspected fraud calls, SMS and WhatsApp messages, such as fake KYC, impersonation and investment scams. It is for reporting attempts, not for recovering money.
How do I block my stolen phone using Sanchar Saathi?
File a police complaint, then use the block lost or stolen mobile option with your IMEI, the complaint number and an OTP-verified mobile number. The phone is then blocked across Indian networks.
Where do I report if I already lost money?
Call 1930 or file at cybercrime.gov.in immediately. Chakshu handles suspected fraud communications; cases with financial loss go to the cybercrime system.
Can Sanchar Saathi show how many SIMs are in my name?
Yes. The know mobile connections feature lists connections issued in your name after OTP verification, and lets you report any that are not yours.
Sources
- PIB: Sanchar Saathi App, Telecom Empowerment at Citizens’ Fingertips (2 Dec 2025)
- PIB: Minister clears the air on Sanchar Saathi app (2 Dec 2025)
- PIB: Chakshu facility report figures (5 Feb 2026)
- Sanchar Saathi portal