PAOCC wants middlemen removed in SIM card sale

MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) is pushing to remove middlemen SIM card sellers to prevent scammers from using fake identities when registering subscriber identity modules.

In an interview with “Storycon” on One News on Thursday, PAOCC Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said that scammers buy SIM cards in bulk from middlemen sellers and register these using fake names and photos.

“The dealers don’t list the names of those who buy from them,” Cruz noted, adding that this makes it difficult for authorities to track down those behind scamming activities.

Cruz proposed requiring sellers to get the information of those who purchase SIM cards, which will allow the telcos to verify the users’ information once they register their numbers.

He also recommended that users buy SIM cards directly from telecommunication companies or their authorized sellers.

“They (telcos) can also add security features (in the SIM registration process),” he added.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian recently pushed for amendments to the SIM Registration Act, such as limiting the number of allowed SIMs that can be registered per user.

He also proposed regulating text-based marketing, promotional, political or fundraising activities.

Digital Pinoys, a network of digital advocates, welcomed the proposed amendments, but said it will not really address the problem of scams if there is no proper enforcement.

“Even if the government sets a limit on the number of SIMs that an individual or a business entity may own, the cyber criminals will just purchase more registered SIMs via black market vendors. They will even resort to identity theft just to secure more registered SIMs,” said Digital Pinoys national campaigner Ronald Gustilo.