A massive network of SIM farms was dismantled by the U.S. Secret Service in the New York Tri-State area—just 35 miles from the United Nations headquarters—posing a severe threat to U.S. telecommunications infrastructure. The operation involved over 300 colocated SIM servers controlling more than 100,000 SIM cards, capable of sending up to 30 million texts per minute. This network could have overwhelmed and disabled cell towers, disrupted emergency services, and caused widespread communications blackouts similar to those seen after 9/11 and the Boston Marathon bombing.
The SIM farm, believed to be a sophisticated and well-funded enterprise potentially run by nation-state actors, was used to communicate with organized crime groups, cartels, and terrorist organizations through encrypted messages. It covertly handled an enormous volume of phone traffic, with operators continuously swapping SIM cards to evade detection.
Authorities warn that such networks represent a growing threat to critical infrastructure security in the U.S., and this bust highlights the need for vigilance against similar hidden operations nationwide. While no arrests have been made yet, investigations continue to trace the full scope and culprits behind the scheme.
This event underscores increasing concerns about telecommunications threats amid geopolitical tensions and the critical role of federal agencies in protecting infrastructure.
- https://www.theregister.com/2025/09/23/secret_service_sim_bust/
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