31-12-2024 (SINGAPORE) Singapore is implementing stringent regulations governing SIM card usage, with offenders facing potential imprisonment of up to three years starting January 1, 2025.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) unveiled comprehensive legislation under the Law Enforcement and Other Matters Act, targeting the misuse of SIM cards in criminal activities. The new framework mandates that subscribers transferring SIM cards must conduct due diligence regarding the recipient’s identity, location, and intended usage.
Subscribers could face severe penalties if found negligent in preventing their registered SIM cards from being used in criminal activities. The maximum penalties include a three-year prison term, a $10,000 fine, or both.
The legislation comes in response to criminal syndicates’ increasing exploitation of local SIM cards, a strategy adopted to circumvent anti-scam measures implemented in 2022. Official data reveals an alarming quadruple increase in local mobile lines involved in cyber-criminal activities between 2021 and 2023.
Under the strengthened legal framework, possession or distribution of unregistered SIM cards or those registered under false particulars will constitute a criminal offence if linked to illegal activities. Notably, prosecutors need not establish criminal intent in cases involving 11 or more SIM cards or when cards are directly used in criminal activities.
Repeat offenders face enhanced penalties, including imprisonment up to five years and fines up to $20,000. The legislation also introduces criminal charges for retailers facilitating fraudulent SIM card registrations, marking a significant expansion of enforcement scope beyond existing regulatory obligations for mobile service providers.
The MHA’s initiative represents a comprehensive approach to combat technology-enabled crime, addressing a critical vulnerability in Singapore’s telecommunications infrastructure. The measures aim to establish accountability across the entire SIM card supply chain, from service providers to end users.
Industry experts anticipate these regulations will significantly impact the operational methods of criminal syndicates while strengthening Singapore’s position in combating telecommunications-based fraud. The implementation timeline provides stakeholders a brief adjustment period before the full force of law takes effect in early 2025.
