Unleashing the Mystery: What's a Sim-Box or Sim-Bank?
"Internet-managed devices in phone scammers' accounts are referred to as sim boxes"
Ever heard of a sim-box before? Well, let's shed some light on it! This nifty gadget is a device that can house numerous SIM cards (think dozens) and manage them remotely through the internet. So, what's the big deal? Alex Vurasco, the deputy director of the Solar AURA digital threat monitoring center of the Solar Group, breaks it down for us.
Initially designed for business use, such as external communications for offices and call centers, sim-boxes have a trick up their sleeve. They can handle numerous sim-cards simultaneously, be it in parallel or in a random or programmed sequence. And, if a sim-card gets blocked, no worries! The device switches to another one, seamlessly continuing the communications. What sets this device apart is that it doesn't adhere to any geographical boundaries. A company can install sim-boxes with local sim-cards in country A, operate from country B, and make calls to country A's subscribers without any roaming charges, and the calls will appear as local in country A[1].
But wait, there's more! These bad boys are quite popular among the fraudster community. You might wonder—where do these miscreants get their hands on Russian sim-cards in large quantities[3]?
Well, if it's for legitimate business purposes, obtaining the required number of sim-cards is a breeze—just register them in the company's name. However, when the activities are less than legal, criminal structures acquire the sim-cards through illegal means[3]. Often, they buy these activated sim-cards from employees of mobile stores or other individuals within the telecommunications industry who have access to sim-cards and can activate them illegally. These deals are rampant in the Darknet due to constant and stable demand for this service[2].
Recently, ten suspects in Russia have been under investigation for providing technical support to telephone scammers targeting residents[2]. The criminals operated sim-boxes (23 devices were seized during raids in Moscow, the Moscow region, and the Vladimir region). Investigators are actively seeking other suspects who may have links to the group's activities[2]. So, next time you get an unexpected call, it might be a good idea to double-check before divulging any personal information.
SIM Boxes in a Nutshell:
- SIM Boxes: A device that supports multiple SIM cards (often four or more) at once, allowing connection to various telecommunication channels via a single device to route calls through different networks.
- Operation: Utilizes multiple SIM cards to handle a high volume of calls, and can be programmed to automate the process of routing calls, often making international calls appear as local.
- Misuse: SIM Boxes are often used in fraudulent activities such as SIM Box Fraud (Interconnect Bypass Fraud), call center scams, and number spoofing to deceive victims[1].
[1] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_box#Fraud_and_illegal_activity)[2] (https://russian.kp.ru/daily/26947.8750646/)[3] (https://russian.kp.ru/daily/26947.8597405/)
- Despite their initial design for business use, sim-boxes have found a popularity among the criminal community, particularly Russians who acquire large quantities of sim-cards illicitly.
- Criminal structures procure these sim-cards through dubious means, often purchasing them from employees within mobile stores or the telecommunications industry who can illegally activate them.
- The Darknet, a notorious part of the internet, is a common platform for these transactions due to the constant demand for this service.
- The misuse of sim-boxes often leads to fraudulent activities like SIM Box Fraud, call center scams, and number spoofing, making them a prominent subject in general-news and crime-and-justice sectors.
