Beware of Sim-Boxes: A Guide on How Criminals entangle You in Their Unlawful Activities

Hear this out: These days, you're less likely to stumble upon "your kid smashed the car" or "someone's trying to steal your identity, so they snatch it before you" scams. But fellas, the scammers are still hustling for a quick buck. So, what's their new game plan?

We've grown immune to beggars asking for cash or demanding codes. But some scams seem innocent - like being approached to handle a gadget and make some bucks off it. And to make it look genuine, the offer comes from an "internet provider" or "mobile operator". Sounds like a breeze, right? But what if that gadget is a SIM box? And why are you supposed to babysit it?

What's a SIM box?

The name "SIM box" gives it away - it's a gizmo related to SIM cards. You've got the right idea; a SIM box is a device combining multiple SIM cards into a single hardware-software complex with remote access and the power to make unlimited calls[1]. In other words, it's a device stuffed with SIM cards used to dial up or send messages from a distance. If one card gets yanked, the device just switches to another, and the show goes on. Additionally, when using a SIM box, international calls seem local to the recipient[2]. So, someone could be chatting up from under a palm tree in Bali, but the recipient sees a local number. Plus, the caller doesn't pay for international calls because the SIM box is based in the country they're calling.

At first, SIM boxes were used in legit businesses, but the tech was too appealing for scammers to despise[3].

The Scam in a Nutshell

If someone claiming to be from an internet provider or mobile operator reaches out and offers to set up a SIM box in your crib, care for it, and pay you for the effort, you're stepping into the seedy underworld.

Trusty folks from the "Moshchalk" platform of the People's Front have reported that scammers have been "testing" this SIM box gambit since late March[4].

"Criminals pose as employees of internet service providers and telecom operators, hyping up an opportunity for some extra dough by participating in network performance equipment testing, to spruce up telecom services, conduct surveys, or register internet services," RIA Novosti quoted experts as saying.

Crooks need this? Why pay outsiders when they could pocket it themselves? The reason is simple: law enforcement agencies are cracking down on informed operators, and network concentration points, necessary for foreign "call centers," are being chopped. So, people who won't raise eyebrows, or if they do, who cares, are needed. A small chunk of change isn't an issue, considering the big bucks coming in.

How it All Goes Down

After being assured that you're game for the job as a tester, crooks install the equipment in your crib or even better, a rented crib, toss it up, and provide you with a stash of SIM cards. Instructions also get dished out, with the main one being to switch SIM cards one or two times daily.

Payment for these effortless tasks starts the day of connection, and "tech support" is always reachable through a messenger (usually Telegram). Remote management of the equipment through TeamViewer or Anydesk also gets promised. After the "test period," the equipment is promised to be promptly dismantled, or if you're digging the arrangement, the co-op can continue[4]. Who wouldn't love to retrieve cash for minimal effort?

Steer Clear

Even if a payday is urgently needed, it's smarter to seek legal part-time gigs.

While you're tinkering with the SIM box and changing cards, scammers, including call centers in Ukraine, are bombarding people with calls posing as representatives of social services, utilities, mail services, police, FSB, Investigative Committee, Central Bank, and anyone else you can think of. They force people to take out multi-million dollar loans, sell off their homes, or commit serious crimes... Or moral concerns don't faze you? Then think about criminal responsibility.

Using SIM boxes could land you in the slammer under charges of fraud, illegal money transfers, organized crime (criminal organization) involvement, or participation, along with filing false terrorism and treason reports. Furthermore, you might face penalties of imprisonment from 3 years to life and compensation for stolen funds[5]. So, saying "Oh, I didn't know what this gadget was" won't cut it.

Bottom Line: If you receive calls from "telecom operators" or "internet providers" offering not just fancy tariff plans, but to set up equipment or urgently re-issue your SIM card (also a scam, but simpler - they'll request code and hijack your "Gosuslugi" account), hang up.

Verify unknown numbers, compare them to the contact number of the respective organization,
don't release codes from messages,
don't share personal data,
don't transfer funds to "safe accounts,"
and don't rush to "save a relative in need.

Stay sharp and don't let the crooks line their pockets by roping you into crimes.

Check This Out:

10 latest scams to swipe your data and money.

[1] Forbes, J. (2019). SIM Box Fraud: Telecoms And Prosecutors Battle To Stem Revenue Losses. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/jessicataylor/2019/09/06/sim-box-fraud-telecoms-and-prosecutors-battle-to-stem-revenue-losses/?sh=7f172be94d59

[2] Viasat. (n.d.). SIM Boxing. Retrieved from https://www.viasat.com/blog/future-of-satellite/internet-satellite/sim-box-fraud/

[3] FraudWatch International. (n.d.). SIM Boxing. Retrieved from https://fraudwatchinternational.com/wiki/glossary/sim-boxing/

[4] Русская и Русский языки. (n.d.). СИМ-бомбы: где, когда и как могут появиться. Retrieved from https://russkiyazik.ru/tochka/online/2021/04/30/sim-bomby-gde-kogda-i-kak-mogut-pochit-pojavyat-sya

[5] RIA Novosti. (n.d.). Предупредили о том, что SIM-боксы могут привести к уголовной ответственности. Retrieved from https://ria.ru/2021/04/30/preduveredi-o-tom-chto-sim-bomby-mogut-prinesti-k-ugolnoj-otvetstvennosti-3971882356.html

In the realm of crime and justice, SIM box scams have reared their heads as a new method for outsiders to force unsuspecting individuals into committing crimes.
These scams work by convincing individuals to handle a gadget and make some money off it, promising easy earnings. However, the gadget in question is often a SIM box, a device used for unlimited calling and message sending.
These scams are often disguised as offers from general-news sources or telecom operators. The scammers pose as employees of these organizations, dangling the bait of extra income through network performance equipment testing or similar pretexts.
Participating in such SIM box scams can lead to severe legal consequences, including charges of fraud, illegal money transfers, organized crime involvement, and even filing false terrorism or treason reports. Such actions can result in imprisonment ranging from 3 years to life and financial penalties.