UK announces first ban in Europe on SIM farms

The UK government is set to ban the possession and supply of ‘SIM farms’ in the fight against fraudsters and scammers.

SIM farms, sophisticated devices capable of housing numerous SIM cards simultaneously, enable offenders to automate the sending of scam text messages on a massive scale. They are also instrumental in creating large volumes of seemingly ‘verified’ online accounts, used for further illicit activities.

The government’s action comes amid statistics revealing a 19% increase in fraud last year. Currently, fraud accounts for over 40% of all reported crime in England and Wales—highlighting the nature of the threat and the urgent need for robust countermeasures. This ban forms a crucial part of the government’s security-focused “Plan for Change” and precedes the promised publication of an expanded national fraud strategy later this year.

Under the proposed legislation, possessing or supplying a SIM farm device without a legitimate justification will become a criminal offence. This aims to directly choke off a vital resource for organised criminals. Those found guilty will face stringent penalties: an unlimited fine in England and Wales, and fines up to £5,000 in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The ban is scheduled to take effect six months following the Royal Assent of the Crime and Policing Bill (PDF).

This legislative change ensures that criminals exploiting these devices will not only face prosecution for the underlying fraud but will also be penalised specifically for using the enabling technology, adding another layer of deterrence.

Fraud Minister Lord Hanson emphasised the government’s commitment to tackling this issue head-on. “Fraud devastates lives, and I am determined to take the decisive action necessary to protect the public from these shameful criminals,” he stated.

Highlighting the scale of the problem, Lord Hanson added: “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.”

The announcement has been welcomed by industry and law enforcement partners, who view it as a critical step in disrupting criminal operations.

Rachel Andrews, Head of Corporate Security at Vodafone UK, commented: “Vodafone UK is committed to protecting all our customers from fraud, including activity enabled by SIM farms. 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.”

Nick Sharp, Deputy Director for Fraud at the National Crime Agency (NCA), added: “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 advises members of the public concerned about falling victim to fraud, or seeking information on protective measures and common scam tactics, to consult the official Stop! Think Fraud resource website.

(Photo by Ashkan Forouzani)

See also: SMEs boost cyber resilience while larger firms struggle

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Tags: europe, government, infosec, law, legislation, scams, Security, telecoms, uk