The Department of Telecommunication has initiated targeted actions to protect citizens in response to reports of fraudulent activities involving mobile numbers in electricity KYC update scams. Ministry of Communications said, the department has directed all Telecom Service Providers for Pan India IMEI based blocking of 392 mobile handsets misused in cybercrime and financial frauds. It has also directed them for re-verification of 31,740 mobile connections linked to these mobile handsets. The Ministry said, failure in re-verification will result in immediate disconnection of reported numbers and blocking of associated handsets.