UK to ban 'sim farms' used by scammers to send mass fraud messages
The government said the devices are used by criminals to hold multiple SIM cards, which as well as allowing scammers to send out thousands of messages to people at the same time, can also be used to create verified accounts on social media and other platforms in large volumes. — Designed by freepik
LONDON: SIM farm devices capable of holding multiple SIM cards enabling scammers to send thousands of scam text messages at once are to be banned under UK government plans to crack down on fraud.
The ban, the first of its kind in Europe, will make the possession or supply of the devices without good reason illegal, with unlimited fines in England and Wales and a £5,000 (RM29,098 or US$6,600) fine in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The government said the devices are used by criminals to hold multiple SIM cards, which as well as allowing scammers to send out thousands of messages to people at the same time, can also be used to create verified accounts on social media and other platforms in large volumes.
The UK Home Office said recent data showed fraud had increased last year by 19%, and now accounts for more than 40% of all reported crime in England and Wales.
UK Fraud Minister David Hanson said: "Fraud devastates lives, and I am determined to take the decisive action necessary to protect the public from these shameful criminals.
"Two-thirds of British adults say they've received a suspicious message on their phone – equivalent to more than 35 million people – which is why cracking down on SIM farms is so vital to protecting the public.
"This marks a leap forward in our fight against fraud and will provide law enforcement and industry partners with the clarity they need to protect the public from this shameful crime.
"This Government will continue to take robust action to protect the public from fraud and deliver security and resilience through the Plan for Change."
Nick Sharp, deputy director for fraud at the National Crime Agency (NCA), said: "Fraud is the crime we are all most likely to experience, and one that causes victims significant emotional and financial harm.
"We know that fraud at scale is being facilitated by SIM farms, which give criminals a means and an opportunity to contact victims at scale with relative ease.
"The ban announced today is very welcome. It will give us a vital tool to step up our fight against fraudsters, target the services they rely on, and better protect the public."
The government said the new ban will come into effect six months after the Crime and Policing Bill receives royal assent.
Scam text messages have become an increasingly common problem in recent years, with mobile operators regularly introducing new technology to help spot and block them before they reach the public.
Rachel Andrews, head of corporate security at Vodafone UK, said the ban on SIM farms was an "important step" in preventing fraud.
"Vodafone UK is committed to protecting all our customers from fraud, including activity enabled by SIM farms," she said.
"So far this year we have blocked over 38.5 million suspected scam messages, and in 2024 that figure reached over 73.5 million for the year.
"As an industry, UK telecoms operators have blocked more than one billion suspected scam messages since 2023.
"However, we cannot fully tackle fraud in isolation; collaboration between industry and government is crucial.
"This is a really important step taken by the Home Office and we fully support the inclusion of SIM farms in the upcoming legislation.
"We look forward to working together on this issue."
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: "We welcome this move but let's not pretend Labour led the charge. This builds directly on the work the Conservatives did last year to crack down on SIM farms through the Criminal Justice Bill.
"These devices are the weapon of choice for fraudsters. We acted to close that loophole, and it's right that Labour are finally scrambling to catch up.
"Enforcement is now key, as criminals will always look for new ways to abuse the system. Ministers must ensure this legislation is watertight, or it risks being a ban in name only." – dpa
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
23 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Tengku Zafrul sees Google's investment driving Malaysia's AI economy
Tengku Zafrul Aziz, who is on a working visit to the US, says he met Google representatives in Washington. PETALING JAYA : Google's investment in Malaysia is expected to continue driving the country's artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing economy, according to investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz. He said Google's RM9.4 billion investment to set up its first data centre and Google Cloud region in Malaysia could generate up to RM15 billion in long-term economic impact and create 26,500 jobs by 2030. Tengku Zafrul, who is currently on a working visit to the US said he met Google representatives to discuss how the company can continue to drive AI development in Malaysia, strengthen cybersecurity and invest in digital skills. 'The government is committed to providing full support and ensuring a conducive investment climate for high-quality investments,' he said in a Facebook post. Last week, Microsoft reaffirmed its commitment to a RM10.5 billion investment in cloud and AI infrastructure in Malaysia, including the development of hyperscale data centres in the Klang Valley. The announcement came in the wake of a 24% tariff on Malaysian goods announced by the US in April, before a 90-day pause was declared a week later.
Barnama
6 hours ago
- Barnama
OPEC+ Oil Production Hike Justified By Iran-Israel Conflict
ST. PETERSBURG, June 21 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- The decision of the OPEC+ group of major oil exporters to boost production is far-sighted and reasonable given the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, Russian oil giant Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin said on Saturday, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti. "The decision taken by OPEC+ leaders to boost production seems very far-sighted at the moment, and from the market's point of view, even reasonable, given the interests of consumers and the uncertainty about the scale of the Iran-Israel conflict," Sechin said in a keynote address at the 2025 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum's (SPIEF) Energy Panel. Despite the increase in OPEC+ production, an oil glut is unlikely in the long term because world reserves are at their lowest in five years, Sechin said. bootstrap slideshow "Despite the announced production increase, there are no signs of any surplus oil glutting the market in the long term. Global oil reserves are now at their lowest levels in the last five years," Sechin added. Eight OPEC+ countries — Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman — have voluntary obligations additional to quotas. Production limits of 1.65 million barrels per day (bpd) are in effect until the end of 2026. An additional 2.2 million bpd cut has been gradually phased out starting April. Starting in May, OPEC+ agreed to accelerate the withdrawal from these restrictions: since May, they have produced 411,000 bpd more than in April. Production will also increase by 411,000 bpd in June and July. The Russian city of St Petersburg is hosting the 28th edition of SPIEF from June 18-21 under the theme of "Shared Values: The Foundation of Growth in a Multipolar World." The Rossiya Segodnya international media group, RIA Novosti's parent company, is the forum's information partner. Rosneft has put an oil price of US$45 per barrel down in its business plan for 2025, and US$42-43 for the next year, CEO Igor Sechin said on Saturday. "We do not know what geopolitical factors will affect the market. Yet whatever it may be, our company Rosneft has the price of US$45 per barrel written down in its business plan for this year, and US$42-43 per barrel for next year. We do not want to depend on this volatility," Sechin said.
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
China's top HK official says security will ensure city's success
Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office Xia Baolong's comments build on China's emphasis on national security in recent years. -- PHOTO: AFP HONG KONG (Bloomberg): China's top official for Hong Kong affairs said the city needs to prioritize national security to ensure prosperity. The China-imposed national security law helped Hong Kong maintain its status as an international financial hub, Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office in Beijing, said Saturday on his third trip to the semi-autonomous city in three years. "Profound changes are occurring inside and outside Hong Kong. It is necessary to fully implement the One Country, Two Systems principle, guided by national security, to provide favorable safety protection for achieving better development of Hong Kong,' Xia told a government forum marking the fifth anniversary of Beijing's implementation of the 2020 national security law, which silenced dissent in the once-freewheeling territory. His comments build on China's emphasis on national security in recent years, after massive pro-democracy protests roiled the former British colony in 2019. A continuing crackdown on perceived threats and the introduction of supporting legislation has stifled political dissent and led to the imprisonment of dozens of former activists. Earlier this month, Beijing's national security office in the city carried out its first known joint operation with local police to investigate a case of alleged foreign collusion. In the same week, authorities invoked a security law to ban a Taiwanese-made video game they accused of advocating for overthrowing the government. Xia's speech at the forum represents the most public appearance he has made during his five-day trip that began Wednesday, which has included meetings with political and business leaders. He also held discussions with university presidents earlier in the week, in a move seen as reinforcing Beijing's vision for Hong Kong as an innovation and talent hub. Appointed as Beijing's top man in Hong Kong in 2020, Xia's tenure has seen growing integration between the Asian financial hub with the rest of China. He has urged the city to accelerate the development of its so-called Northern Metropolis, a sprawling area bordering the mainland city of Shenzhen. Xia's visit comes as Hong Kong grapples with economic headwinds, buffeted by a slowing Chinese economy and a prolonged property slump. The city is also caught in the crossfire of the US-China trade war, with tariffs imposed by the Trump administration now applying to Hong Kong-made goods, further blurring the lines between the city and mainland China. Still, some observers argue Hong Kong could paradoxically gain from the deteriorating US-China relationship. Having declared the city "over' last February, former Morgan Stanley Asia Chairman Stephen Roach said recently that the territory may benefit because of its unique position as China's most important window to international finance. -- ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
