Fake ID photos activate hundreds of thousands of prepaid SIM cards

Some subscriber information registration points have used software to fake ID photos to register fake subscriber information and activate prepaid SIMs.

The Ministry of Information and Communications said that during the recent inspection, a number of major violations were discovered in the registration of subscriber information at units in Hanoi. Specifically,Hung Phong Telecommunication Investment & Service Trading Company Limited confirmed that it had directly used fake ID photos and information declaration forms to register fake prepaid subscriber information and activate prepaid SIMs for sale to users. The forgery was taking ID photos and information declaration forms from the internet, then using editing and cloning software to serve the purpose of forging in large quantities.

Illustration photo.

Before June this year, the company had self-registered more than 76,000 prepaid mobile SIMs. In June, Hung Phong imported 11,900 SIMs, self-registered 500 SIMs, and sold the remaining 11,400 unregistered SIMs to SIM sales points in Hanoi.

The inspection agency also said that the subscriber information registration point of two individuals, Giang Minh Ha and Phan Thi Kim Anh (Hanoi), confirmed the use of software to fake ID photos to update the telecommunications enterprise's database to register fake prepaid subscriber information and activate prepaid SIMs.

From June 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016, the account issued by the mobile telecommunications company to Giang Minh Ha registered information and activated nearly 135,000 SIMs, the account issued to Phan Thi Kim Anh registered information and activated more than 134,000 SIMs.

A representative of the Ministry of Information and Communications said that the case file has been transferred to the police for consideration and handling according to regulations.

The inspection activities were conducted in accordance with the Directive ofMinister of Information and Communicationson strengthening the protection of personal information of service users and preventing the illegal purchase and circulation of mobile SIM cards.Previously, this agency said that during an inspection in early November, all 5 telecommunications companies counted more than 12 million junk SIMs.Businesses have locked about 10.75 million SIMs, while subscribers have re-registered information for 785,159 other SIMs.

According to VNE