Fraud Rises With Bodong SIM Cards, ATSI Encourages Strict Supervision

JAKARTA - The recycle of SIM cards carried out by cellular operator operator operators in Indonesia is still in the spotlight because of the many use of bodong' SIM cards to commit fraud.

This was conveyed by a member of Commission I of the DPR, Frederik Kalalembang, who highlighted the weak supervision of the use of conventional eSIMs and SIM cards that are often misused for illegal activities such as digital fraud, online gambling, and pornographic content.

"The source of problems such as fraud, online gambling, and pornographic sites often begins with the misuse of SIM cards," said Frederik during a working meeting of Commission I of the DPR with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), Tuesday, July 7.

Responding to the complaint, the All-Indonesian Telecommunications Organizers Association (ATSI) said there needed to be stricter supervision of this process.

ATSI Executive Director, Marwan O. Ba'asir, said that the number recycling process had been regulated in the Regulation of the Minister of Communication and Information Regulation Number 5 of 2021, but still needed to be closely monitored so as not to be misused.

"Regarding the recycling number, it was indeed done by the organizers and the grace period has been set, approximately 90 to 180 days," Marwan said when met after the Selular Business Forum on Tuesday, July 16 in Jakarta.

Referring to the Minister of Communication and Information Regulation Number 14 of 2018 concerning the Basic Technical Plan for National Telecommunications, which according to policy, cellular numbers that are not used for 60 days will be considered inactive and charred. After that, the number will be recycled and can be given to new users.

According to him, the circulation of numbering like this is carried out to optimize the limited use of numerical resources. However, the potential for abuse must still be anticipated.

"If the question is how to prevent fraud through a recycling number, we have to talk further about monitoring the digital space. This requires cooperation between operators, regulators, and the community," he said.

He emphasized the importance of public participation in reporting if they found allegations of misuse of recycling numbers. The public can report to the call center of the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) at number 159.

On the other hand, the Minister of Communication and Digi, Meutya Hafid, also stated that she would review the regulations related to sanctions to be given to South Police who violated the registration rules for numbers with a single NIK system for three phone numbers.

"For those who don't have e-SIM, actually there is already candy that regulates before us that one NIK can only be three per cellular operator. But the Permen has not set sanctions. Maybe we will issue new candy that regulates sanctions for cellular operators who do not comply with it," said Meutya.