The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has raised concerns over the illegal sale of pre-registered SIM cards on Facebook Marketplace, warning that these could be used for fraudulent activities.
PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz emphasized the need for stricter safeguards in SIM card registration, ensuring that each SIM is linked to an accountable individual. “We need stronger safety measures. Each SIM card should have an identified owner and should not be sold in bulk,” Cruz said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.
The SIM Registration Act (RA 11934) was enacted in 2022 to combat text scams and online fraud. However, authorities continue to seize illegally pre-registered SIM cards, with the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group confiscating 7,900 SIMs and arresting 38 sellers in January.
Several government officials, including Senator Grace Poe and Undersecretary Claire Castro, have called for amendments and stricter enforcement of the law to curb the illegal trade of SIM cards.