Fake phones, a threat to national security – TRC

by Kurulu Kariyakarawana

Fake mobile phone brands imported from China have posed a threat to national security as they cannot be registered under the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) due to a technical glitch, the sources said.

Any crime committed using a mobile phone could be traced through the IMEI (International Mobile Station Equipment Identity) number of the device. On checking the IMEI number the TRC could ascertain under which mobile service provider the phone had been registered and through the call history the phone could be located.

Most of the recent crimes had been committed using mobile phones and grave crimes such as abduction of two children in Galgamuwa and Wellawa had been solved due to this facility by checking the call logs of a phone through its IMEI.

An IMEI number is a unique figure around the world which makes it possible to track any device at any time by the authorities. However, fake or pirated mobile phone brands flooding the local phone market bought at cheaper rates had caused a grave problem as the IMEI number of these phones is not unique.

The TRC could check whether a mobile phone is registered with them. They advise the public to buy genuine products from a shop that has a TRC approved Vendor Licence and whether the phone’s IMEI number is registered.

Anybody could send their phone’s IMEI number to 1909 (free TRC service) to ascertain whether the particular phone has been registered with the TRC.