To date, the problem has not been thoroughly resolved, as junk SIM cards are still widely sold for just tens of thousands of VND.
Spam SIMs are widely sold for just tens of thousands of VND (Photo: CNN).
Speaking with Dân trí reporters, a representative of a network provider stated that to limit junk SIMs and unregistered SIMs, all sales points must use specialized corporate tools and comply with regulations to ensure that newly activated subscribers have complete information as required by law.
“Network providers also cross-check identification documents with the national population database, perform eKYC separation of customer document information to combat impersonation, and conduct video calls to verify the real person,” this representative shared.
The network representative also noted that telecommunications companies are actively coordinating with the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Science and Technology to find the best customer identification solutions.
In 2023, authorities required network providers to standardize subscriber information to eliminate junk SIMs and unregistered SIMs from the system. Following a wide-ranging crackdown, a total of 19.6 million subscribers with mismatched information were processed.
However, the problem of spam calls continues to plague mobile users in Vietnam. To this day, many people report being constantly bothered by unwanted calls offering loans, brokerage services, product introductions, or even scams.
According to many experts, junk SIMs typically have a significantly larger number of messages and calls compared to normal SIMs. Some even send hundreds of messages and make dozens of calls every day.
To date, the problem of spam calls continues to plague mobile users in Vietnam (Photo: Engadget).
This also means that junk SIMs generate revenue for network providers. Therefore, the responsibility for junk SIMs – one of the primary tools used in marketing calls, scam calls, and advertisement messages – primarily lies with the network providers.
Mr. Do Van Thinh, Director of CMC Cyber Security Operations Center (CMC Cyber Security Company, CMC Technology Group), stated: “For calls where no one speaks, the main objective of these individuals is to confirm the status and classification of the data they possess.
When users receive a strange phone call where no one speaks, it is a method for these individuals to filter user data, sell data, or devise suitable scam scenarios.”
