Secret Service Dismantles Massive SIM Farm Network Near UN, Foiling Potential Telecom Collapse

The U.S. Secret Service has revealed it is actively dismantling a vast network of “SIM farms” across the New York metropolitan area, a significant operation unfolding as world leaders convene for critical meetings at the United Nations. This sophisticated enterprise, which involved over 100,000 active SIM cards, posed a severe threat to telecommunication infrastructure and national security.

Special Agent Matt McCool, head of the Secret Service’s New York field office, described the operation as highly organized and well-funded, suggesting possible involvement from nation-state actors. While investigations are ongoing and no arrests have yet been made, officials warn the network could have caused widespread cellular blackouts, akin to those experienced after the 9/11 attacks or the Boston Marathon bombing.

SIM farms are hardware devices housing numerous SIM cards, exploiting Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to send bulk messages and calls. Though initially developed for legitimate uses, they have become a primary tool for large-scale fraud, including phishing and scam calls. In this specific case, the farms were concentrated within 35 miles of the UN building, raising concerns they could have been used for encrypted communications by organized crime, cartels, or terrorist groups, or even for surveillance.

Cybersecurity expert Anthony J. Ferrante highlighted the advanced nature of the discovered farms, capable of overwhelming cellular networks with millions of calls in minutes. He also speculated on their potential for intercepting or eavesdropping on communications, given their strategic proximity to the United Nations. The ongoing investigation underscores the critical vulnerability of interconnected systems to seemingly simple tools, and the global reach of such threats.

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