SIM Card Black Market in Pakistan || Thieves are selling your data (2025 Report)

Nowadays a very big issue is coming in Pakistan that is SIM card black market. It means that people are selling SIM cards illegally, without any verification.

But selling SIM or SIM owner details is not the only issue, the real problem is that your data is stolen through these SIMs and you do not even know about it.

In 2025, this black market has become even more active. Data dealers, thieves and cyber criminals have created a whole network where your identity, CNIC number, and even biometric data of your hand are being sold.

What is SIM Black Market?

·         SIM card black market is actually an illegal business where people sell registered or fake SIM cards to people without biometric verification.

·         These SIMs are in someone else's name, or in the name of people who have never activated a SIM.

·         This work is often done by franchise dealers, mobile shops, and in some cases people from within telecom companies as well.

·         The price of a SIM database in the black market ranges from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 5000, depending on whose data it is and which network it belongs to.

·         The most misused SIM cards are those registered in the name of foreigners or elderly people who have never used the internet.

How is your data sold?

Now the question is, from where do these people get your data? The answer is: data leaks. Many such cases have been reported where police officials, mobile franchises and people from within NADRA are selling data, they get SIM information with mobile number.

For example, in some areas of Punjab and Sindh, police personnel sold people’s SIM and CNIC data for Rs. 2500-3000. These people are earning up to Rs. 2 lakh a day, just by selling illegal data.

This data then goes to cyber criminals who use it to:

·         activate fake SIMs

·         hack bank OTPs

·         register on fraud apps

·         for scamming, threats, and blackmail

How do SIM clone or SIM swap scams happen?

These thieves clone your SIM card or do a "SIM swap". This means that your original SIM gets disabled and they activate a duplicate SIM.

Then they take your bank OTPs, access your Whatsapp or Gmail, and you don't even know who got hold of your account.

All this happens only because someone has sold your biometric and CNIC data.

What is the government doing?

PTA (Pakistan Telecommunication Authority) and FIA (Federal Investigation Agency) have started taking this issue seriously and use live tracker to monitor the type of issue. Many operations took place in 2024 and 2025 where:

·         More than 7000 illegal SIMs were recovered

·         Dozens of people were arrested

·         Fake franchises were closed

PTA ordered telecom companies not to activate any SIM without biometric verification. But there are still loopholes in the black market where SIMs is activated secretly.

How do you keep yourself safe?

If you want your SIM information not to be misused, then you should take some important precautions:

1.       Check all your SIMs: Send an SMS to 667 to find out which SIMs are running on your CNIC.

2.       If it is an unknown SIM: get it blocked immediately and file a complaint with PTA or your network provider.

3.       Never give your biometric to anyone else: Be present yourself at the time of verification at the mobile shop.

4.       Transfer SIM ownership: If you are giving SIM to someone, then get it transferred in his name.

5.       Get lost SIMs blocked immediately: It is important to report within 24 hours.

A Real Case: Karachi Data Leak Scandal

The FIA ​​caught the owner of a mobile franchise in Karachi who was issuing 300-400 fake SIMs daily. He was found to have CNIC copies, fingerprints and even biometric devices of people.

He would activate SIMs on some other network and sell them to criminals mostly those who were involved in WhatsApp scamming, fake job offers and online frauds. Therefor you must verify that how many sim registered against your CNIC.

Black Market SIMs and National Security

This is not just a matter of individual fraud  it is a national security issue. Terrorist and smuggling groups also use black SIMs so that they cannot be traced, therefor you must know about the stolen SIM card guideline. When these SIMs are used for any illegal work, the users with real names get caught.

FAQs

How will I know if my SIM is being used in the black market?

Check the numbers registered on your CNIC by sending an SMS to 667. If it is an unknown SIM, get it blocked immediately.

Do I have to approach FIA or PTA if the data gets leaked?

Yes, if it is being seriously misused, a complaint should be filed with FIA Cyber ​​Crime Wing.

Do mobile franchise owners also do illegal work?

Yes, many franchises issue SIMs after doing fake verification. Always get SIM from official and reliable shop.

Is my biometric data secured?

If you want to verify your SIM card then you takes out your identity card and never give your biometrics to anyone else, then it is more secure. But there are loopholes in the system.

Can I be arrested because of a fake SIM?

If you cannot prove that you did not use the SIM, then an investigation can take place. That is why it is important to take timely action.