Russia Bans Individuals from Using SIM-Boxes
Russia will ban individuals from using SIM-boxes starting March 1, 2027, as part of measures to combat fraud and illegal activities involving multi-SIM devices.
Consensus
- Russia will prohibit operators from signing contracts for SIM-box usage with physical persons.
- The new rules will take effect on March 1, 2027.
- SIM-boxes are devices that allow simultaneous use of multiple SIM cards for traffic routing between networks.
- The measures aim to combat fraud, including social engineering fraud and gray termination.
- SIM-boxes can be used with up to four SIM cards in contracts with legal entities and individual entrepreneurs.
- Access to SIM-boxes will be restricted to officially employed staff of legal entities and individual entrepreneurs.
- Violations may result in fines up to 500,000 rubles, or up to six years in prison and a fine of up to 2 million rubles under aggravating circumstances.
- The government introduced the regulation to reduce the risk of SIM-boxes being used in criminal schemes.
Points of divergence
- In Mordovia, FSB disrupted a group supplying SIM-boxes for Ukrainian military intelligence, with a Russian national linked to Ukrainian special services as the organizer. — vedomosti
- A new scam involving SIM-boxes was reported by Mегафон on July 23, where victims are lured via social media and dating sites into fake projects, then pressured to compensate losses through a new scheme involving installation of an antenna gateway (part of a SIM-box) in their apartment. — vedomosti
- SIM-boxes can handle from eight to 256 SIM cards, and their use may involve NFC-based theft schemes starting with a call to obtain SMS codes and access to the 'Gosuslugi' account. — vm
Coverage (4 sources)
- Russia has introduced a ban on SIM boxes for individuals — Ведомости
- In Russia, use of SIM boxes will be restricted starting March 2027 — Коммерсантъ
- Restrictions on the use of SIM-boxes introduced in Russia — Вечерняя Москва
- In Russia, restrictions on SIM-box usage introduced, according to cabinet decree, TASS learned. — ТАСС (Telegram)