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In recent raids, the FSB seized more than 300,000 SIM cards.
The Federal Service of Russia conducted a large-scale operation to combat the illegal distribution of SIM cards in 40 regions of the country. During the raids, more than 600 SIM boxes and about 300 thousand SIM cards were confiscated.
The SIM box is a compact device that allows you to install dozens of SIM cards for organizing a mobile call center. This makes it possible to make multiple calls simultaneously and send sms messages en masse.
The volume of the withdrawn batch of SIM cards may become a record for Russia. From 2018 to 2022, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Roskomnadzor seized a total of 423 thousand SIM cards, and then immediately 300 thousand. At the same time, Russian operators annually issue about 100 million SIM cards, so the seized batch is only a small percentage of this volume.
However, legislation in this area has been significantly tightened in recent years. Fines for selling SIM cards without a passport for legal entities can reach 500 thousand rubles.
Experts note that loopholes for illegal turnover of SIM cards still remain. They can be purchased through a network of reseller partners that sell in markets and streets. In addition, a large number of SIM cards are used in Internet of Things devices, such as smart vacuum cleaners, irons, and refrigerators. Virtual SIM cards sold through web portals are also common.
To activate a SIM card, its registration is required with reference to the passport data of an individual. But for attackers, this is not a problem. On the black market, including on the Darknet, already activated SIM cards are sold at prices starting from 400 rubles apiece. There are even offers from foreign operators if the number is needed to access Western services.
During the operation, the FSB seized hundreds of thousands of illegally registered SIM cards. According to experts, attracting such a large number of subscribers for registration indicates a long-established criminal process.
Malefactors buy SIM cards in bulk, in sets. For registration, they use intermediaries who find people who are in dire need of money - newcomers, people without a specific place of residence. For one such "registrar", several sets of SIM cards from different operators can be issued at once.
Previously, even fake passport scans created in a photo editor were used for registration. Many SIM cards were issued for the same passport data.
However, in recent years, operators have tightened the requirements for identifying subscribers. They conduct random checks of their partners-dealers and terminate contracts if they find sales of SIM cards in the hands of intruders. In addition, the legislation is being improved - sales channels are being restricted, control after registration is being strengthened, and fines for violations have increased to 50 thousand rubles for individuals since 2017.
However, the number of actual cases under this article is still small. The reason may be the complexity of identifying and proving such offenses, as well as the low priority of this problem for law enforcement officers.
In addition, one-day companies and individual entrepreneurs are an important source of illegal SIM cards. They enter into contracts for corporate services with operators and communication is activated automatically. To register subscribers, unscrupulous companies use databases of personal data leaks that can be purchased on the darknet. After downloading such a database with passport data, they create fictitious lists of supposedly their employees.
The authorities are trying to toughen the punishment for such schemes, but the telecom operators themselves are throwing up their hands. Tracking possible violations during mass activation of corporate SIM cards is a task that is technically difficult for them. Therefore, it is very difficult to fight this channel of illegal turnover of SIM cards.
The Federal Service of Russia conducted a large-scale operation to combat the illegal distribution of SIM cards in 40 regions of the country. During the raids, more than 600 SIM boxes and about 300 thousand SIM cards were confiscated.
The SIM box is a compact device that allows you to install dozens of SIM cards for organizing a mobile call center. This makes it possible to make multiple calls simultaneously and send sms messages en masse.
The volume of the withdrawn batch of SIM cards may become a record for Russia. From 2018 to 2022, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Roskomnadzor seized a total of 423 thousand SIM cards, and then immediately 300 thousand. At the same time, Russian operators annually issue about 100 million SIM cards, so the seized batch is only a small percentage of this volume.
However, legislation in this area has been significantly tightened in recent years. Fines for selling SIM cards without a passport for legal entities can reach 500 thousand rubles.
Experts note that loopholes for illegal turnover of SIM cards still remain. They can be purchased through a network of reseller partners that sell in markets and streets. In addition, a large number of SIM cards are used in Internet of Things devices, such as smart vacuum cleaners, irons, and refrigerators. Virtual SIM cards sold through web portals are also common.
To activate a SIM card, its registration is required with reference to the passport data of an individual. But for attackers, this is not a problem. On the black market, including on the Darknet, already activated SIM cards are sold at prices starting from 400 rubles apiece. There are even offers from foreign operators if the number is needed to access Western services.
During the operation, the FSB seized hundreds of thousands of illegally registered SIM cards. According to experts, attracting such a large number of subscribers for registration indicates a long-established criminal process.
Malefactors buy SIM cards in bulk, in sets. For registration, they use intermediaries who find people who are in dire need of money - newcomers, people without a specific place of residence. For one such "registrar", several sets of SIM cards from different operators can be issued at once.
Previously, even fake passport scans created in a photo editor were used for registration. Many SIM cards were issued for the same passport data.
However, in recent years, operators have tightened the requirements for identifying subscribers. They conduct random checks of their partners-dealers and terminate contracts if they find sales of SIM cards in the hands of intruders. In addition, the legislation is being improved - sales channels are being restricted, control after registration is being strengthened, and fines for violations have increased to 50 thousand rubles for individuals since 2017.
However, the number of actual cases under this article is still small. The reason may be the complexity of identifying and proving such offenses, as well as the low priority of this problem for law enforcement officers.
In addition, one-day companies and individual entrepreneurs are an important source of illegal SIM cards. They enter into contracts for corporate services with operators and communication is activated automatically. To register subscribers, unscrupulous companies use databases of personal data leaks that can be purchased on the darknet. After downloading such a database with passport data, they create fictitious lists of supposedly their employees.
The authorities are trying to toughen the punishment for such schemes, but the telecom operators themselves are throwing up their hands. Tracking possible violations during mass activation of corporate SIM cards is a task that is technically difficult for them. Therefore, it is very difficult to fight this channel of illegal turnover of SIM cards.
