How SIM farms like the one found near the UN could collapse telecom networks PBS News
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Shawn Chen Associated Press
Shawn Chen Associated Press
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Julie Walker Associated Press
Julie Walker Associated Press
ppLeave your feedbackppNEW YORK AP The US Secret Service has found and is quietly dismantling a massive network of SIM farms across the New York area just as world leaders gather for meetings at the United NationsppMatt McCool the special agent in charge of the Secret Services New York field office said agents found multiple sites filled with servers and stacked SIM cards of which more than 100000 cards were already active Though the investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made he described it as a wellfunded highly organized enterprise and possibly run by nationstate actors perpetrators from particular countriesppOfficials also warned of the havoc the network could have caused if left intact McCool compared the potential impact to the cellular blackouts that followed the Sept 11 attacks and the Boston Marathon bombing when networks collapsed under strainppSo what are these SIM farms and what are they capable ofppREAD MORE The Secret Service has dismantled a telecom threat near the UN It could have disabled cell service in NYCppSIM farm equipment confiscated in New York by the US Secret Service Photo by US Secret ServiceppSIM farms are hardware devices that can hold numerous SIM cards from different mobile operators These devices then exploit voice over internet protocol VoIP technology to send and receive bulk messages or callsppWhile initially developed for legitimate purposes such as low cost international calling the technology has become a cornerstone of organized fraud targeting mass audiences phishing texts and scam callsppScams have become so sophisticated now Phishing emails texts spoofing caller ID all of this technology gives scammers that edge said Eva Velasquez president and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource CenterppIn this case the devices were concentrated within 35 miles of the UN building The investigation is ongoing but McCool said forensic analysis currently believe the system could have been used to send encrypted messages to organized crime groups cartels and terrorist organizationsppSIM farm equipment confiscated in New York by the US Secret Service Photo by US Secret ServiceppAnthony J Ferrante the global head of the cybersecurity practice at FTI an international consulting firm said the photos show a very sophisticated and established SIM farm that could be used for any number of nefarious activities including the potential to overwhelm cellular networks with millions of calls in just a few minutesppSo if you can imagine that type of magnitude on cellular networks it would just overwhelm them and cause them to shut down Ferrante said in an interview He also notes that its possible the system could be used for surveillance operations given its proximity to the United Nations potentially that equipment could be used to either intercept communications eavesdrop on communications or actually clone devices as wellppFerrante who previously served in key security positions at the White House and the FBI says hes awaiting the results of the investigation before drawing any conclusions about the nature of the setup but he emphasizes that the scale of the operation shows how simple tools can pose real risks to critical infrastructureppThe masterminds could have set this up a long time ago and be operating from thousands of miles away he said Its a stark reminder of how deeply interconnected our world has become where local vulnerabilities can be exploited globallypp
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SIM farm equipment confiscated in New York by the US Secret Service Photo by US Secret Service
ppBy Eric Tucker Associated PressppBy Aamer Madhani Associated PressppBy Frank Bajak Dake Kang Associated Presspp
Shawn Chen Associated Press
Shawn Chen Associated Press
ppAssociated Presspp
Julie Walker Associated Press
Julie Walker Associated Press
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ppSubscribe to Heres the Deal our politics
newsletter for analysis you wont find anywhere elseppThank you Please check your inbox to confirmpp 1996 2025 NewsHour Productions LLC All Rights ReservedppPBS is a 501c3 notforprofit organizationppSectionsppAboutppStay ConnectedppSubscribe to Heres the Deal with Lisa DesjardinsppThank you Please check your inbox to confirmppSupport for News Hour Provided Byp
Shawn Chen Associated Press
Shawn Chen Associated Press
pp
Julie Walker Associated Press
Julie Walker Associated Press
ppLeave your feedbackppNEW YORK AP The US Secret Service has found and is quietly dismantling a massive network of SIM farms across the New York area just as world leaders gather for meetings at the United NationsppMatt McCool the special agent in charge of the Secret Services New York field office said agents found multiple sites filled with servers and stacked SIM cards of which more than 100000 cards were already active Though the investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made he described it as a wellfunded highly organized enterprise and possibly run by nationstate actors perpetrators from particular countriesppOfficials also warned of the havoc the network could have caused if left intact McCool compared the potential impact to the cellular blackouts that followed the Sept 11 attacks and the Boston Marathon bombing when networks collapsed under strainppSo what are these SIM farms and what are they capable ofppREAD MORE The Secret Service has dismantled a telecom threat near the UN It could have disabled cell service in NYCppSIM farm equipment confiscated in New York by the US Secret Service Photo by US Secret ServiceppSIM farms are hardware devices that can hold numerous SIM cards from different mobile operators These devices then exploit voice over internet protocol VoIP technology to send and receive bulk messages or callsppWhile initially developed for legitimate purposes such as low cost international calling the technology has become a cornerstone of organized fraud targeting mass audiences phishing texts and scam callsppScams have become so sophisticated now Phishing emails texts spoofing caller ID all of this technology gives scammers that edge said Eva Velasquez president and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource CenterppIn this case the devices were concentrated within 35 miles of the UN building The investigation is ongoing but McCool said forensic analysis currently believe the system could have been used to send encrypted messages to organized crime groups cartels and terrorist organizationsppSIM farm equipment confiscated in New York by the US Secret Service Photo by US Secret ServiceppAnthony J Ferrante the global head of the cybersecurity practice at FTI an international consulting firm said the photos show a very sophisticated and established SIM farm that could be used for any number of nefarious activities including the potential to overwhelm cellular networks with millions of calls in just a few minutesppSo if you can imagine that type of magnitude on cellular networks it would just overwhelm them and cause them to shut down Ferrante said in an interview He also notes that its possible the system could be used for surveillance operations given its proximity to the United Nations potentially that equipment could be used to either intercept communications eavesdrop on communications or actually clone devices as wellppFerrante who previously served in key security positions at the White House and the FBI says hes awaiting the results of the investigation before drawing any conclusions about the nature of the setup but he emphasizes that the scale of the operation shows how simple tools can pose real risks to critical infrastructureppThe masterminds could have set this up a long time ago and be operating from thousands of miles away he said Its a stark reminder of how deeply interconnected our world has become where local vulnerabilities can be exploited globallypp
Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue
pp
Left
SIM farm equipment confiscated in New York by the US Secret Service Photo by US Secret Service
ppBy Eric Tucker Associated PressppBy Aamer Madhani Associated PressppBy Frank Bajak Dake Kang Associated Presspp
Shawn Chen Associated Press
Shawn Chen Associated Press
ppAssociated Presspp
Julie Walker Associated Press
Julie Walker Associated Press
pp
Support Provided By
Learn more
ppSubscribe to Heres the Deal our politics
newsletter for analysis you wont find anywhere elseppThank you Please check your inbox to confirmpp 1996 2025 NewsHour Productions LLC All Rights ReservedppPBS is a 501c3 notforprofit organizationppSectionsppAboutppStay ConnectedppSubscribe to Heres the Deal with Lisa DesjardinsppThank you Please check your inbox to confirmppSupport for News Hour Provided Byp
