FIA Initiates Action Against 200,000 Illegally Issued SIMs

It has been revealed that 200,000 SIM cards were fraudulently issued using fake fingerprints in Pakistan. Responding to this, the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cybercrime Wing has launched a nationwide operation to address the proliferation of these illegal SIMs, particularly targeting those in use but not registered under the names of current users in Pakistan.

FIA officials have disclosed that these 205,000 SIMs, issued with fake fingerprints, are implicated in various criminal activities, including terrorism and extortion. Over the past four years, 500 criminals have been apprehended, with 53,000 fake SIMs seized in 2021 alone.

The FIA’s cybercrime teams have conducted 270 raids, resulting in the confiscation of over 100,000 fake fingerprint SIMs. Law enforcement agencies have also seized 81,000 seals with silicon thumbs, a crucial component in obtaining fake SIMs. Notably, unregistered SIMs have been identified as tools used by terrorists.

This widespread operation has led to the confiscation of 294 biometric devices and the registration of 102 cases in courts. Pakistani cybercrime teams have successfully arrested 201 individuals involved in these illegal activities. These collective efforts against fraudulent SIMs aim to protect national security and curb the misuse of communication tools by criminal enterprises.