The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has ordered telecommunications companies in the Philippines to tighten their checks on subscribers who have registered more than 100 SIM cards under a single name, warning that numbers failing verification could face permanent deactivation.
The directive is part of the government’s intensified campaign against organized scam operations, fraudulent financial transactions and illegal activities involving mobile networks.
Under a newly issued memorandum order, mobile network operators have 15 days from receipt of the directive to conduct stricter Know-Your-Customer (KYC) verification on subscribers with unusually large numbers of registered SIM cards.
The checks will determine whether these subscribers still have physical possession and control of every SIM registered under their names and whether the numbers are being used for legitimate purposes.
The NTC said the measure is intended to prevent the misuse of telecommunications services by organized criminal groups, small-time scammers and operators of illegal SMS blaster devices.
SIM Cards Could Be Permanently Deactivated
Subscribers who cannot demonstrate legitimate ownership, possession and control of their registered numbers risk having the affected SIM cards deactivated.
The crackdown also covers SIM cards that may have been illegally sold, transferred or distributed without following the required registration procedures.
NTC Deputy Commissioner Alvin Blanco warned that deactivation would be permanent unless affected individuals could present valid identification documents proving that the SIM cards were personally registered under their names.
The regulator emphasized that the verification drive is not intended to penalize legitimate subscribers simply because they own multiple mobile numbers. Instead, the focus is on unusually large registrations that cannot be adequately justified or verified.
No Legal Limit on SIM Cards, but Transfers Are Regulated
Under Republic Act No. 11934, or the SIM Registration Act, there is no statutory limit on the number of SIM cards an individual may register.
However, the law requires SIM cards to be registered properly and prohibits unauthorized transfers.
Selling or transferring registered SIM cards without complying with the required procedures is a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment ranging from six months to six years, a fine of ₱100,000 to ₱300,000, or both.
The NTC’s latest order therefore focuses on whether large SIM registrations reflect legitimate personal or business use rather than allowing questionable numbers to remain active simply because they were registered under an individual’s identity.
Crackdown Aims to Disrupt Organized Scam Networks
The regulator said the initiative reinforces enforcement of Republic Act No. 12010, also known as the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA).
Authorities have raised concerns about the use of multiple SIM cards in coordinated fraud schemes, including financial scams, deceptive investment offers and illegal mass messaging operations.
SIM cards used in SMS blaster devices are particularly concerning because the technology can distribute large volumes of messages to nearby mobile phones, potentially exposing unsuspecting consumers to fraudulent links and offers.
The Philippine National Police has also flagged deceptive business and agricultural investment schemes that have taken advantage of public concerns surrounding El Niño.
By identifying and deactivating suspicious SIM registrations, authorities hope to make it more difficult for scammers to obtain and maintain the large number of mobile connections needed to operate their networks.
Mobile Banking and E-Wallet Users Urged to Check Their SIM Registration
The NTC is reminding consumers to ensure that the SIM cards they personally use are registered under their own names.
This is particularly important for mobile numbers connected to digital banking applications, mobile wallets and over-the-top messaging platforms.
Subscribers who use SIM cards registered under another person’s identity could encounter problems if those numbers are flagged during the verification process.
Consumers are therefore encouraged to check their registration details and address any ownership or transfer issues before telecommunications companies begin implementing the deactivation orders.
The NTC assured the public that subscribers who properly registered their SIM cards and continue using them lawfully are not the intended targets of the campaign.
The 15-day verification period marks another major enforcement step under the country’s SIM registration framework. For consumers, the message is clear: owning multiple SIM cards is not automatically illegal, but every number must have a legitimate purpose, proper registration and verifiable ownership.
