Balance with interest: in the Russian Federation they want to ban the sale of SIM cards with money in the account

In Russia, they propose to abandon the sale of SIM cards with pre-credited funds. As follows from the draft law "Anti-fraud 3.0" prepared by the Ministry of Finance, SIM cards will be sold with a zero balance, and it will be possible to replenish the account only after signing an agreement with the operator. Nowadays, attackers can use prepaid SIM cards, often issued with someone else's passports, to preserve anonymity. Experts note that mandatory replenishment of the account after signing the contract will allow you to create a digital trace of the payment, which will help identify the real user. What other measures are provided for in the new package of anti—fraud initiatives can be found in the Izvestia article.

Which SIM cards will be banned

The ban on the sale of prepaid SIM cards is being discussed as part of the so-called third anti-fraud package ("Anti-fraud 3.0"). It is proposed to make appropriate changes to the laws "On Communications", "On Consumer Rights Protection" and a number of other regulations. The Ministry of Finance has already sent the draft document for interdepartmental approval. Izvestia got acquainted with it.

"It is not allowed for the operator to deposit funds into a personal account intended for payment for communication services before concluding a service agreement," says the draft amendments to the Law on Communications.

Currently, SIM cards with a starting balance of 100 to 300 rubles are actively sold on marketplaces and other online platforms. According to Leonid Konik, a partner at ComNews Research, on some resources you can purchase, for example, a card for 66 rubles, while 200 rubles will already be in her account.

Izvestia's source in the telecom market believes that the new rules may significantly complicate the use of such SIM cards in fraudulent schemes. According to him, now attackers can gain access to an account on Gosuslugi, remotely issue a SIM card with a prepaid package of services, use it and immediately get rid of it. If the activation of the number requires self-replenishment of the account after the conclusion of the contract, then the digital trace of the payer will remain.

Igor Bederov, the founder of the Internet Search company, also believes that mandatory replenishment of the balance will allow deanonymizing the user, since the payment will immediately come to the attention of control systems, including banking ones. When depositing funds through a terminal or a communication salon, the payer's identity can additionally be recorded by video surveillance cameras. In addition, payment analysis will help identify suspicious transactions. For example, if the card was issued in Moscow, and funds were credited to its account almost immediately from Khabarovsk, this may be the basis for additional verification by the operator's information security service.

The Ministry of Finance confirmed to Izvestia that it is discussing the introduction of a duty for operators to sell SIM cards with a zero balance, as well as a ban on the sale of pre-activated SIM cards. The ministry stressed that all proposed initiatives are being developed taking into account the need to maintain a balance between improving security and protecting user rights. Their main goal is to strengthen the protection of citizens from fraud in the digital environment.

— These measures will make it impossible for intruders to commit fraudulent acts using prepaid or numbers purchased in other people's names. Now they can purchase such cards, immediately gain access to communication services without proper identification, use numbers to deceive citizens, and then get rid of them. This makes it much more difficult to find scammers and bring them to justice," the ministry noted.

However, the Ministry of Finance clarified that there is no final version of the third package of measures yet, the industry's proposals have yet to be worked out, therefore it is premature to talk about the composition of the final document.

The bill is not limited to changing the rules for the sale of SIM cards, it follows from the document. In particular, the introduction of mandatory indication of the sender's personal data in SMS newsletters is being discussed. If violations or inaccuracy of the information provided are revealed, the telecom operator will be obliged to terminate the contract within five working days after notifying the subscriber.

Another initiative provides for a ban on mass calls that are not aimed at establishing a connection, such as "mute" auto-calls, which are used to check the activity of the number. Operators can also get the right to block such traffic.

In addition, owners of Internet resources and mobile applications are proposed to be required to store information about user registration and authorization for three years in order to transfer them to law enforcement agencies if necessary.

Server of Changes: how the new anti-fraud package will change the lives of Russians

Among the key innovations is a ban on registering on domestic websites using foreign mail and a restriction on the number of bank cards.

How anonymous are prepaid SIM cards today

Until recently, SIM cards with a starting balance could actually be used anonymously: after spending money on the account, they could simply be thrown away, Leonid Konik, a partner at ComNews Research, recalled. However, since the spring of 2025, amendments to the law "On Communications" have been in effect in Russia, according to which operators activate numbers only after presenting a passport or authorization through Gosuslugi. According to the expert, it is currently impossible to use the funds on the initial balance before user registration.

Representatives of major operators confirm the strictness of the current rules. T2 said that the company does not sell SIM cards without identification, and activation is possible only after passing the legally required data verification procedure.

— SIM cards with a starting balance remain an effective tool for attracting new customers, including through marketplaces, as they allow you to test the services of a new operator for free. At the same time, the try and buy format also requires user identification," says Daria Kolesnikova, a representative of the operator.

The company believes that the implementation of new initiatives will require adjustments to internal processes, but it should not significantly affect the business, provided there are uniform rules for all market participants.

Beeline also stressed that access to communication services is provided only after identification of the client and conclusion of the contract. Therefore, the possibility of anonymous use of SIM cards before registration for the company's subscribers has already been excluded.

— The regulation of the initial balance on the account, in our opinion, will not affect the effectiveness of the fight against fraud. If the goal is to reduce the availability of SIM cards, then it can be achieved by introducing a requirement that the starting balance cannot exceed the cost of issuing them, Vimpelcom believes.

On Avito, SIM cards of Russian operators are presented only in official stores of telecom companies, they noted. Advertisements for the sale of SIM cards from unofficial sellers do not pass moderation and are not allowed to be posted, the company says.

RVB also noted that Wildberries sells only non-activated SIM cards. Their implementation complies with the current legislation: before using them, the buyer must independently identify himself with the operator and activate the number. The sale of already activated contracts on the platform is prohibited.

"We closely monitor compliance with legal regulations and monitor the showcase around the clock in order to promptly identify and prevent the placement of goods that do not comply with the established rules of the site, current legislation and security requirements," the company added.

The ban on the sale of SIM cards with a starting balance is aimed at reducing the level of telephone fraud, said Oleg Yablokov, NTI expert on wireless communications. According to him, the lack of funds in the account eliminates the possibility of anonymous use of communication, and replenishment of the balance after user identification creates an additional digital footprint to identify intruders.

— The starting balance is a common marketing tool of operators to stimulate the activation of the card. There is no information about the exact share of such SIM cards on the market. The new rules will change the usual mechanics: first, identification and replenishment of the account will take place, and only then — the use of communication services. This can reduce the number of impulsive purchases at illegal outlets. Probably, at the first stages, the innovation may create certain inconveniences for subscribers, but in the long run it will make the market more transparent," the expert noted.

At the same time, the requirement to sell SIM cards with a zero balance has a legal aspect, Leonid Konik believes. In his opinion, the regulator seeks to eliminate a legal conflict in which the amount of money has already been transferred to the user as a gift, but the gift object itself is formally absent. However, since such cards are a popular tool for attracting customers, operators will probably promise to add the same 100-300 bonus rubles to the balance after their activation, the expert believes.