Buying junk SIM cards is surprisingly easy, all networks have them

Despite many measures to tighten the buying and selling of mobile SIM cards and personal information registration, junk SIM cards still have ways to circumvent the law. Where are the loopholes?

Users can easily buy VNsky network SIM without providing or registering subscriber information (photo taken on the morning of May 22 in Ho Chi Minh City) - Photo: A LOC

I am frustrated that scammers still brazenly use mobile phone numbers to call and trap people, but with the current way of buying and selling SIM cards, bad guys still have plenty of opportunities because it is easy to hide.

Still easy to buy "junk" SIM

On May 22, posing as a user buying a new mobile SIM, a Tuoi Tre reporter went to a store on Ba Thang Hai Street, District 11. Regulations were strict but when asked if they sold SIMs with pre-registered information, the staff surprisingly said that all network SIMs were available.

The seller took a bunch of SIM cards from many different networks: VNSky, Viettel, MobiFone , Vinaphone, Vietnamobile... and introduced VNSky as having the best promotion: "150k SIM has 3GB per day, 180k has 4GB".

When we asked again if these SIMs had been registered and the buyer did not have to register information, the seller confirmed and said that whichever SIM the customer chose to buy, that SIM would be activated immediately.

I tried to buy SIM 0776xxxxxx for 150,000 VND, the seller immediately took out his personal phone to text and then announced: "Done, wait 5-10 minutes to insert the SIM".

The seller also gave the store's business card with full information for the buyer to contact if there was a problem with the SIM. After that, the Tuoi Tre reporter tried inserting the above SIM into the phone and made a call completely normally.

It also means that a new SIM is activated without the buyer having to provide personal information or register with a network operator, meaning the bad guys can remain completely anonymous, if they want to.

At some other stores on Ba Thang Hai Street (in Districts 11 and 10), Phan Dang Luu Street (Phu Nhuan District)... Tuoi Tre reporters also recorded the situation of buying and selling "junk" SIM cards very easily.

A sales staff of a mobile network (who asked not to be named) revealed a new way to bypass the authorities: SIM cards sold in stores are not activated and have not been registered with subscriber information. When someone buys them, the staff will notify the "network person" to activate and register subscriber information for the SIM?

This helps the network operator's sales staff ensure KPIs for developing new subscribers, while the seller can still bypass the authorities (if there is a surprise inspection).

Network operators: will review new subscribers

In response to the situation reported by Tuoi Tre, a network leader said: "All staff, workers and sales channels nationwide will be thoroughly informed about compliance with subscriber information registration regulations, while closely monitoring the situation of pre-activated SIMs on the market. Individuals and units that violate or do not fully comply with regulations will be strictly handled, leading to the existence of junk SIMs or fraudulent SIMs."

Meanwhile, MobiFone representative said that they have proactively limited each customer to only being allowed to develop 1 subscription/document; every week proactively checking and blocking new subscriptions that are developed but do not install SIMs into the device to operate, do not generate fees or do not generate transactions...

"However, we encountered many difficulties and obstacles, both subjective and objective. For example, customers who received standardized subscriber information messages were less interested in messages from network operators, which made it difficult for network operators to determine the authenticity of the subscriber.

At the same time, blocking subscriptions without receiving customer cooperation will easily increase complaints and affect the revenue of network operators," said a MobiFone representative.

A representative of another network operator said that they are strengthening measures to identify subscribers with signs of being "junk" SIMs to promptly prevent them, especially in border areas. Accordingly, suspicious subscribers will be verified through direct calls and temporarily blocked if any unusual signs are detected.

"We also standardize information of postpaid subscribers whose data does not match the information on the C06 system, conduct post-checks on 100% of newly developed subscribers and block subscribers with signs of pre-activation," said a representative of this network operator.

There are still loopholes

The Prime Minister has just directed the implementation of a campaign to review bank accounts and phone SIM cards to strengthen state management and prevent online fraud. Speaking to Tuoi Tre, Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hong, director of e-commerce at the 24hStore retail system, said that some small retail stores are taking advantage of loopholes in the registration process to sell pre-activated SIM cards.

According to Ms. Hong, the method of selling pre-activated SIM cards is quite sophisticated and diverse. For example, some stores use the ID cards or citizen identification cards of employees or acquaintances to register a large number of SIM cards.

In addition, some agents use specialized equipment to activate SIMs without the presence of the subscriber. Some agents hire students or freelancers to register thousands of SIMs. "The fact that SIMs are still easily purchased from small retail stores is a worrying issue, posing many potential security and legal risks," Ms. Hong commented.

Back to topic

VIRTUE

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/mua-sim-rac-de-den-khong-ngo-nha-mang-nao-cung-co-20250525215303143.htm