How the global market in SIM cards powers fraud and influence
Written by stingfm on December 12, 2025
A massive international grey market in mobile phone SIM cards is fuelling large-scale manipulation and fraud online, a University of Cambridge study has found.
The researchers say physical and virtual SIMs from providers like SMSActivate, 5Sim, SMShub and SMSPVA were being used to verify fake accounts on social media platforms and e-commerce services.
“We find a thriving underground market through which inauthentic content, artificial popularity and political influence campaigns are readily and…
The researchers say physical and virtual SIMs from providers like SMSActivate, 5Sim, SMShub and SMSPVA were being used to verify fake accounts on social media platforms and e-commerce services.
“We find a thriving underground market through which inauthentic content, artificial popularity and political influence campaigns are readily and…
