New law targets SIM card misuse

Offenders may face fines of up to $10,000, jail for up to 3 years or both.

The government has passed a new law allowing authorities to target individuals who misuse local SIM cards to facilitate scams.

The government categorises offenders into “irresponsible subscribers," middlemen providing SIM cards to scammers, and errant retailers registering SIM cards with fake or stolen credentials sold to scammers.

The new legislation also holds individuals accountable if they knowingly supply a SIM card registered under their name or permit their information to be exploited for illicit purposes.

Subscribers will also face liability if they give out a SIM card for profit or without verifying the recipient's identity or their purpose for acquiring it.
Offenders may face fines up to $10,000 (US$7,390), a maximum of three years in prison, or both.