SIM card scams: Criminals steal passport details
Buying a SIM card abroad can seem like a simple way to get internet access. But in many countries, it comes with serious risks. Criminals exploit SIM card registration requirements to steal passport details from unsuspecting travellers. This leads to identity theft and financial fraud.
Why SIM card registration poses a risk
Many popular travel destinations, including Thailand, France, Spain, Italy, Kenya, Morocco, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Australia, require passport or ID registration when buying a local SIM card. Travellers looking for cheap mobile data often purchase SIM cards from unauthorised sellers, unknowingly exposing their personal information to scammers.
Fraudsters use stolen passport details to access bank accounts, apply for loans, commit identity theft, or sell data to third parties. Some even offer pre-registered SIM cards, which might be linked to someone else’s identity, creating legal risks for the buyer.
Vykintas Maknickas, CEO of Saily, a travel eSIM provider, warns: “Registering a SIM card helps prevent crime, but criminals also exploit this process. Never trust the first SIM seller you see outside an airport or train station.”
How to protect yourself from SIM registration scams
Use a travel eSIM
Instead of relying on physical SIM cards, consider an eSIM-based mobile provider like Saily. eSIMs offer secure and transparent mobile internet access without the need for physical registration. Some providers also include built-in cybersecurity protection.
Buy from authorised sellers
Always purchase SIM cards from official carrier stores, airport kiosks, or authorised resellers to ensure they are genuine and properly registered.
Verify the registration process
Make sure the SIM card is registered in your name with valid ID and confirm this with the network provider. Unregistered or pre-registered SIM cards could put you at risk of legal trouble.
Monitor your bank accounts
After registering a new SIM card, check bank statements and phone bills for unusual activity to detect possible identity theft.
Stay safe with a travel eSIM
Saily provides affordable and secure eSIMs with instant setup, flexible data plans, and coverage in over 200 destinations. Created by the experts behind NordVPN, Saily also includes anti-malware protection to safeguard your data while travelling.
For more information, visit Saily.com.
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