The Philippine National Police (PNP) has warned the public against purchasing pre-registered or second-hand SIM cards, stressing that such actions may lead to criminal liability and fuel cybercrimes.
Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr., acting PNP chief, issued the reminder as he ordered a nationwide crackdown on the illicit trade and use of fraudulent SIM cards, which authorities say are driving a surge in online scams and abusive digital lending operations.
The directive follows an Oct. 9 entrapment operation in Parañaque City, where two suspects were arrested for selling 240 pre-registered SIM cards advertised on Facebook Marketplace.
Each SIM card was registered under fictitious identities.
Authorities also seized mobile phones and transaction records linking the suspects to a broader black-market network.
“We have intensified intelligence monitoring, surveillance, and entrapment operations targeting individuals and groups facilitating the large-scale registration and distribution of fraudulent SIM cards,” Nartatez said.
He added that digital forensic examinations are underway on devices recovered from scam hubs and POGO-related operations to trace their sources and syndicate ties.
Investigators have uncovered evidence of identity theft, falsified documents, and mass registration using fake credentials to activate thousands of SIM cards for criminal use.
In response, the PNP is developing tighter enforcement measures to close regulatory gaps and hold enablers accountable.
Nartatez urged citizens to report suspicious sellers and scam activities to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group through its hotlines and online channels. (Aaron Recuenco)
