European Police Smash Global SIM Card Scam Network

October 21 2025 - European police have dismantled a major cybercrime network, SIMCARTEL, that sold access to thousands of real phone numbers, enabling criminals worldwide to conceal their identities and defraud victims of millions of dollars.

This operation represents a significant blow to global cybercrime.

The network was taken down through coordinated raids across Latvia, Austria, Estonia, and Finland.

Authorities seized over a thousand SIM-box devices, approximately 40,000 active SIM cards, and shut down two websites offering “cybercrime-as-a-service,” per Europol.

Clients used these SIM cards to make fake local calls, send phishing texts, and create fraudulent online accounts, lending scams an air of legitimacy.

Footage from the operation provided by Latvian police:

The operation was linked to thousands of fraud cases across Europe, with significant financial losses, including over C$6 million in Austria alone.

Europol described the SIM cards as the “backbone” of the scheme, allowing criminals to hide their locations while bombarding victims with convincing messages and calls. The system supported scams like fake investment schemes and impersonation frauds posing as banks or police.

While the takedown occurred in Europe, experts warn Canadians are also affected.

Similar SIM-box systems drive spoofed calls appearing as local numbers, often involving threats about passport issues, CRA debts, or arrest warrants.

Authorities say dismantling networks like SIMCARTEL is a critical step in disrupting the global supply chain of phone numbers fueling cross-border fraud.

For more details, see Europol’s official release - https://www.europol.europa.eu/media-press/newsroom/news/cybercrime-service-takedown-7-arrested