Kerala cyber police blacklist 22,000 smartphones in one year

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The cyber division of the state police has blacklisted more than 22,000 smartphones involved in cyber fraud and rendered them inoperable in the past year, amid a surge in cyber financial crimes that have resulted in losses amounting to millions of rupees in the state.

The phones were locked by the Department of Telecom (DoT) at the request of the cyber division by blacklisting the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity), which is unique for each mobile phone.