UK Government Bans Possession and Supply of SIM Farms

The announcement follows a 19% rise in fraud cases in 2024, with fraud now accounting for 40% of all recorded criminal offences.

SIM farms are devices capable of holding multiple SIM cards allowing criminals to send texts to thousands of people at once or setup a large volume of verified online accounts.

The new offence will criminalise the possession and supply of SIM farms without a legitimate purpose, carrying an unlimited fine in England and Wales, and a £5,000 fine in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The ban will come into effect 6 months after the Crime and Policing Bill receives Royal Assent.

✅ Firms should ensure their fraud detection systems and processes are responsive to evolving threats, enabling the prompt identification of scam victims.