Philippine authorities step up crackdown on pre-registered SIM cards
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has escalated its fight against cybercrime by ordering a comprehensive crackdown on the large-scale sale and use of pre-registered SIM cards. The directive comes from acting Chief Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., who said authorities will intensify intelligence gathering, surveillance, and entrapment operations aimed at dismantling the networks behind fraudulent SIM card registration.
Origin of the crackdown
The move follows an Oct. 9 entrapment operation in Parañaque City, where two suspects were arrested for selling 240 pre-registered SIM cards advertised on Facebook Marketplace. Each SIM card had been registered under fictitious identities, illustrating how criminal networks exploit legitimate channels to facilitate scams and abusive online lending schemes.
What authorities found
Law enforcement seized multiple mobile phones and transaction records linking the suspects to a broader black-market operation. Digital forensics teams are now examining seized devices and SIM cards recovered from scam hubs and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) connected activities to trace sources and criminal connections.
Expanding the net beyond a single operation
Nartatez noted that preliminary evidence points to syndicates employing identity theft, falsified documents, and mass registration to activate thousands of SIM cards for unlawful use. In response, the PNP is developing tighter enforcement measures to close vulnerabilities that enable these crimes, and to hold accountable those who facilitate the trade in fraudulent SIM cards.
Public safety and consumer warnings
The acting PNP chief urged the public to exercise caution and avoid purchasing or using second-hand or pre-registered SIM cards. Such purchases can expose consumers to criminal liability and entanglement in illegal activities, including scams and abusive lending practices that exploit prepaid networks.
Citizen reporting channels
Nartatez encouraged citizens to report suspicious sellers or scam activities to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group via hotlines and online reporting portals. The government aims to cut off demand and disable the operational capacities of these networks by targeting both supply chains and distribution hubs.
Looking ahead
Officials say the crackdown will continue as digital forensics capabilities mature and more evidence is gathered. The PNP is pledging to share findings with other law enforcement agencies and collaborate with international partners where applicable to disrupt cross-border components of the fraudulent SIM card trade. Consumers are reminded that informed vigilance is the best defense against evolving cybercrimes.
