How to check SIM cards in your name (TAFCOP)
Someone may be using a SIM card issued on your ID without you knowing. The government’s TAFCOP service shows every mobile number linked to you, and lets you report the ones that are not yours. It is free and takes about two minutes.
Updated October 2026 with the new SIM limit rules.
What is the TAFCOP portal now?
TAFCOP was the Department of Telecommunications tool for checking mobile connections in your name. It now lives inside the Sanchar Saathi portal and app as a service called Know Mobile Connections in Your Name. The steps below work on both.
The check uses the mobile number you sign in with. It then lists all numbers issued against the same ID, across every operator.
Step by step: check your SIM cards
Keep a phone with an active number in your name nearby. You will need it for the OTP.
Use only the official site, sancharsaathi.gov.in, or the Sanchar Saathi app from the Play Store or App Store. Never share the OTP with anyone who calls you about it.
- Open Sanchar SaathiGo to sancharsaathi.gov.in and open the citizen services section, or open the Sanchar Saathi app.
- Choose Know Mobile Connections in Your NameThis is the TAFCOP service.
- Enter your mobile number and the captchaUse an active number that is registered in your own name.
- Enter the OTPIt arrives on that number by SMS.
- Read the listYou will see every number linked to your ID. Some digits are hidden for privacy.
- Report anything wrongPick an option next to each number, submit, and save the request ID.
Which option should you pick?
Each number in the list has three choices. Pick carefully, because two of them start a disconnection.
| Option | Pick it when | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Not my number | You never took this SIM and never allowed anyone to | The operator checks it and blocks the number |
| Not required | You took the SIM but no longer use it | The operator checks it and disconnects the number |
| Required | The number is yours and you still use it | Nothing changes |
Check with your family first. Parents and children often use SIMs bought on one ID. If you mark a family member’s number as not yours, it can be cut off.
What happens after you report a number
Your request goes to the operator that issued the SIM. The operator verifies it before taking action, so the time varies. The number may still show in your list while the request is in progress. Use the request ID to track it on Sanchar Saathi.
If a number in your name was already used to cheat someone, do not stop at the report. Call the cyber crime helpline 1930 or file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. You can also inform your local police.
How many SIM cards can you have in your name?
The Telecommunications Act, 2023 caps how many connections one person can hold. The cap counts numbers across all operators together.
From 24 August 2026, operators must check the cap before they issue a new SIM. You have to declare the numbers you already hold when you apply. If you are at the limit, the operator must refuse a new connection. Numbers above the limit can be suspended until you surrender or transfer them.
Holding more SIMs than allowed can lead to a fine of Rs 50,000 the first time and up to Rs 2 lakh for repeat cases.
Other free tools that keep your number safe
TAFCOP and SIM check questions
What is the TAFCOP portal?
TAFCOP is the Department of Telecommunications service that shows all mobile connections issued in your name. It is now part of Sanchar Saathi as Know Mobile Connections in Your Name.
Is the TAFCOP SIM check free?
Yes. The check is free on the Sanchar Saathi website and app. You only need an active mobile number in your name to receive the OTP.
How many SIM cards can one person have in India?
Nine in most of India, and six in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and the North-Eastern states. The limit counts numbers across all operators.
What if I find a number I never bought?
Mark it as Not my number and submit. Save the request ID. If the number was used for fraud, also call 1930 or report it at cybercrime.gov.in.
How long does it take to block a reported number?
There is no fixed time. The operator must verify each request first, and the number may still appear in your list until it is done.
Can I check SIM cards on someone else’s ID?
No. The OTP goes to a number in your own name, so you can only see connections linked to you.
Sources: Sanchar Saathi portal (sancharsaathi.gov.in), Department of Telecommunications. SIM limit and enforcement details from Onmanorama and Gulf News. Proxy Earth is not a government site. Always use the official portal for the check itself.