Prepaid SIM cards limited to three per subscriber from tomorrow

Prepaid SIM cards limited to three per subscriber from tomorrow

Measure intends to curb the use of prepaid SIM cards for illicit activities

PUBLISHED: MARCH 31, 7:25 PM UPDATED: MARCH 31, 7:26 PM

SINGAPORE — With effect from tomorrow (April 1), the maximum number of prepaid SIM cards allowed per subscriber will be reduced from 10 to three.

The new regulation means a subscriber can only register up to a maximum of three prepaid SIM cards in total, regardless of which mobile service providers the cards are purchased from.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) first introduced regulatory controls on prepaid SIM cards in 2005.

Currently, a subscriber must be at least 15 years old, and can subscribe to up to a maximum of 10 prepaid SIM cards.

The government said criminals continue to exploit prepaid SIM cards as an anonymous channel of communications for their illicit activities, and this revised limit will reduce the security risks associated with the anonymous use of prepaid SIM cards.

MHA said fraudulently-registered prepaid cards have been used to perpetuate criminal activities including unlicensed moneylending, cheating scams, vice-related and gambling-related activities.

For example, unlicensed moneylending syndicates have been found to make use of prepaid SIM cards for communications with debtors and among syndicate members in support of their illegal activities.

This revised limit makes it more onerous for errant dealers to sell prepaid SIM cards that could potentially be used for such illegal activities.

In determining this new limit, MHA and IDA said they have consulted the mobile service providers and taken into consideration the prevailing prepaid SIM card ownership patterns among consumers.

The majority of prepaid SIM card subscribers today hold three or fewer prepaid SIM cards.

The new limit will only be applied to new prepaid SIM card registrations.

Existing subscribers can continue to use their prepaid SIM cards but will not be allowed to register additional prepaid SIM cards.

CHANNEL NEWSASIA

- wong chee tat :)