Millions of scam texts are reportedly originating from Southern California, according to cybersecurity expert Ben Coon from Unit221B. These texts have cost Americans nearly half a billion dollars in the past year, as reported by the Federal Trade Commission. Coon tracks fraudulent activities on the dark web and is investigating “SIM farms,” which are facilities used by cybercriminals to send large volumes of spam texts and calls.
A recent discovery in New York revealed a sprawling SIM farm operation that could send approximately 30 million text messages per minute. This operation, capable of overwhelming cell towers, was partially dismantled by the US Secret Service. The Secret Service’s investigation highlighted the potential for these farms to disrupt critical infrastructure, though their primary use is for scams and other profit-driven cybercrimes.
The Secret Service’s Advanced Threat Interdiction Unit seized equipment from the New York SIM farm, which housed over 100,000 SIM cards. These cards were used for various criminal activities, including swatting incidents targeting US government officials. Despite the operation’s size, no arrests have been made yet.
Coon suggests that similar SIM farms may exist in Southern California, contributing to the flood of scam texts. He notes that these operations are often well-organized and professional, with equipment sometimes smuggled into the US disguised as other electronics. The technology behind SIM farms allows for bulk messaging at speeds and volumes that would be impossible for individual users, making them a significant tool for cybercriminals.
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