SIM-farms are a modern Trojan for mobile operators

The widespread use of SMS in business is accompanied by the problem of the vulnerability of this communication channel to unauthorized actions regarding network traffic. Now one of the main problems of the market is players who use illegal methods of promotion and loopholes in the legislation for profit.

SIM-farms — the most common fraudulent method to increase the results of business messaging.

What are sim-farms in simple words?

So, imagine a large number of SIM-cards collected in a single place and functioning through special devices called SIM-banks, or gateways. In fact, these are consumer-grade mobile operator cards designed to receive/send text messages or voice calls.

Now let's imagine a situation when you contacted an SMS service provider and instead of doing business mailings through a telecom operator under an agreement, he carries out it from a set of ordinary SIM cards. This is the scheme of operation of standard SIM-farms.

They are designed to bypass standard A2P messaging channels and typically offer exceptionally low rates. SIM-farms can have from tens to hundreds of thousands of numbers.

“Efficiency” that harms your business

From the point of view of optimization and return, this method has the right to life. Due to the low cost of technology, companies can reach a larger number of users and direct resources to other processes. This makes SIM-farms attractive for businesses that have low social responsibility or do not understand the nuances of commercial messaging.

However, this practice violates the rules of telecom operators and is considered illegal in many countries. Let’s take a look at what specific risks so-called SIM-farms pose to businesses and consumers.

Real threats to SIM-farms

The activity of SIM-farms poses a real threat not only to companies but also to their clients.

If you are an organization applying for a SIM-farm, you need to understand the following:

1. There is no guarantee that the messaging will reach the recipients.
2. There is a high chance of getting into spam.
3. Companies that knowingly or unknowingly use SIM-farms are seriously violating the General Data Protection Regulation.
4. Trust in the brand in the market and among users can be undermined.

Remember, the main goal of SIM-farms is not to make business life easier but to enrich yourself. Unfortunately, most SIM-farms are run by scammers and you can't be sure who you're giving your customers' sensitive data to. It is possible that the information provided by you will be used to compromise subscribers or theft.

In conclusion

As a licensed virtual telecom operator that officially provides our customers with direct communication channels, we categorically do not recommend that companies resort to using SIM-farms for mass messaging of business SMS.

Decision Telecom offers flexible rates for sending messages within the country and abroad. Contact the manager - we will select the best solution for you at an affordable price: +38 (044) 561-7171.

Trust your business to reliable and honest service providers!