Column by Deputy Chairman of the Council for the Development of the Digital Economy under the Federation Council Artem Sheikin about telephone fraud
[ad_1]
One of the main problems when committing crimes in the field of telephone fraud remains the large number of illegal SIM cards used to accept funds from victims – this is no less common than transferring funds to bank cards. When checking the data about the owners of such numbers, it turns out that the indicated persons and places of their registration do not exist. This is due to the violation of the Law “On Communications” by telecom operators and dealers (agents) who sell SIM cards and issue them without confirming the passport details of subscribers.
As a solution to the problem, strengthening the administrative liability of telecom operators for failure to comply with the procedure for verifying the accuracy of subscriber information is being discussed. The issue of qualifying the actions of criminals under Art. 187 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in case they use gray SIM cards to withdraw stolen funds. Illegal trafficking of SIM cards must be strictly suppressed and provide for criminal liability.
Another problem, in my opinion, is the lack of a reliable system for protecting citizens’ SIM cards. Nowadays, most telecom operators set the same PIN codes for all clients and do not even activate their mandatory entry, which, in the event of theft or loss of the phone, makes it easier for fraudsters to gain access to banking applications, instant messenger accounts, social networks and “Government Services”.
In this regard, we are discussing with operators the establishment of different PIN codes on SIM cards, as well as the inclusion of a mandatory PIN code check function when activating a SIM card on a new device.
We also discuss with operators the causes of problems that arise and their solutions. For example, current legislation does not limit the number of SIM cards that can be issued for one person. There are cases of mass registration of SIM cards for one subscriber, which can later be used to commit various illegal actions. It would be advisable to consider introducing different limits on the number of SIM cards issued to individuals, legal entities and non-residents.
First of all, we are talking about the fight against illegal SIM cards and the gray market for their distribution, which directly affects the commission of various fraudulent actions.
Telecom operators should strengthen the implementation of measures aimed at suppressing unfair practices in the distribution of SIM cards to third parties, and improve the quality of identification of their subscribers.
Telephone fraud causes negative damage to all parties: citizens, operators, banks, and the state.
It is beneficial for operators to participate in the fight against telephone fraud, since the reduction of unwanted calls helps to increase subscriber confidence in communication services. In addition, victims may have claims against operators, which may entail not only reputational risks, but also financial losses in the form of damages.
In my opinion, the main recipe is an integrated approach. On the one hand, fines to the state and the consequences of attacks cause damage to business, but on the other hand, they encourage businesses to invest in information security, which will further help protect the interests of ordinary citizens.
[ad_2]
Source link
