The UK has become the first country in Europe to legislate against multi-SIM devices. Such hardware can hold multiple SIM cards simultaneously. Criminals use these devices to send bulk scam SMS and register large volumes of fake verified accounts, making them a key tool for SMS-enabled telecom fraud. Faced with a 19% year-on-year rise in fraud offences, which account for over 40% of all reported crimes in England and Wales, the UK has introduced this dedicated ban.
Under the Crime and Policing Act, possession or supply of multi-SIM devices without lawful justification constitutes an offence. Penalties vary by region: unlimited fines apply in England and Wales; the maximum fine in Scotland and Northern Ireland stands at £5,000. The ban will enter into force six months after the Act receives Royal Assent.
UK telecom industry data shows carriers have blocked more than 1 billion suspected scam SMS messages cumulatively since 2023. However, network-level blocking by operators alone cannot eliminate the source of criminal activity. Organisations including Vodafone and the National Crime Agency have backed the ban. This legislation gives law enforcement new powers to combat fraud and complements Ofcom’s anti-scam SMS rules to curb mass SMS fraud.
