Personal Appearance May Soon Be Required for SIM Registration
MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos may soon need to appear in person to register their SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) cards, as the government considers stricter measures to combat fraud and identity misuse.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) announced on Tuesday that it is conducting a thorough review of proposed improvements to the implementation of the SIM Registration Act.
Among the key suggestions is requiring personal appearance during SIM registration, similar to how individuals apply for a driver’s license or an NBI clearance.
This move comes amid growing criticism of the current online registration system, which authorities say has made it easier for scammers to exploit the process by selling pre-registered SIM cards or fake identities.
“The current online system has been linked to a spike in text scams, where fraudsters take advantage of lax identity verification,” the NTC said in its statement.
Crackdown on Pre-registered SIM Cards
Telecommunications companies and the NTC have expressed concern over the illegal sale of registered SIM cards, which are often used in scams. To address this, the commission previously directed telcos to upgrade their SIM registration systems and implement stronger validation methods for existing registrations.
Penalties for those caught engaging in SIM-related fraud include imprisonment of six months to six years and/or fines ranging from ₱100,000 to ₱300,000.
Strengthening Verification Systems
The NTC has also proposed giving the agency the authority to limit the number of SIM cards an individual can own and restrict the number of government-issued IDs accepted for registration.
Another proposal includes creating a shared platform where telcos can verify SIM registrants’ identities using official government ID databases.
Alexander Ramos, executive director of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, said during a media briefing in Makati that the government is exploring the creation of an accessible ID database for telcos. He emphasized the importance of multi-layer authentication and using multiple IDs to ensure accurate identity verification.
“We can’t rely on just one form of ID. It has to be a multi-authentication process,” Ramos said, noting that a “cleansing” of the current SIM registry is already underway due to ongoing scam issues.
Rising Scam Losses
Text scams continue to plague Filipinos. A 2024 report by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance revealed that scam-related losses in the Philippines reached $8.1 billion (around ₱460 billion) over the past year. On average, each Filipino victim lost about $275—or ₱16,000—to scams, most of which were carried out through text messaging.
How to Register Your SIM
To avoid service interruptions and ensure compliance with the law, users are encouraged to complete or verify their SIM registration through official channels: