What are mobile network operators doing to limit the use of junk SIM cards?

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - For many years, unregistered SIM cards have become a tool for the surge in harassing and fraudulent calls, causing disruption to social order and safety.

To date, this problem has not been completely resolved because unregistered SIM cards are still being sold widely at prices as low as a few tens of thousands of dong.

Unregistered SIM cards are being sold widely for as little as a few tens of thousands of dong (Photo: CNN).

Speaking to a reporter from Dan Tri newspaper , a representative of a mobile network operator said that to limit the number of unregistered and fraudulent SIM cards, sales points must use specialized tools provided by the company and comply with regulations to ensure that newly activated subscribers have complete information as required by law.

"The network operator also cross-checks documents against the population database, performs eKYC verification of customer document information to combat fraud, and conducts video calls to verify the authenticity of the person," this person shared.

Representatives from the network operators also stated that telecommunications companies are actively coordinating with the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Science and Technology to find the best solutions for customer identification.

In 2023, authorities required mobile network operators to standardize subscriber information in order to eliminate junk SIMs and SIMs registered under no-ownership names from the system. Following a large-scale crackdown, a total of 19.6 million subscribers with mismatched information were processed.

However, the problem of spam calls continues to plague mobile phone users in Vietnam. To date, many people report being constantly bothered by unwanted calls offering loans, brokerage services, product introductions, or even scams.

According to many experts, unregistered SIM cards typically have a much higher number of text messages and calls than regular SIM cards. Some SIM cards even send hundreds of text messages and make dozens of calls every day.

To this day, the problem of spam calls continues to plague mobile phone users in Vietnam (Photo: Engadget).

This means that unregistered SIM cards also generate revenue for network operators. Therefore, the responsibility for unregistered SIM cards – one of the main means used in marketing calls, scam calls, and advertising messages – primarily rests with the network operators.

Mr. Do Van Thinh, Director of CMC Cyber ​​Security Operations Center (CMC Cyber ​​Security Company, CMC Technology Group), said: "For calls that don't say anything, the main goal of these individuals is to confirm the status and classification of the data they have obtained."

When users receive unknown phone calls but remain silent, it's a way for criminals to filter user data, sell it, or devise suitable scam scenarios.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/cong-nghe/nha-mang-dang-lam-gi-de-han-che-sim-rac-20251112235024417.htm