NCC to Launch Portal to Combat SIM Recycling Fraud
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is set to introduce a new cross-sector platform aimed at curbing fraud linked to recycled SIM cards. The initiative, known as the Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS), is expected to go live by the end of March.
According to a document obtained by TheCable, the portal will allow financial and security regulators to monitor recycled phone numbers, helping prevent scenarios where users receive messages intended for previous owners or are wrongly implicated in crimes associated with former subscribers.
The NCC explained that the challenges posed by SIM recycling have implications for both security and the integrity of phone number ownership, especially as its churn policy increasingly intersects with other industries.
“TIRMS is designed to collect and share information on churned (recycled) mobile numbers and those flagged for fraudulent activity, as reported by sector regulators,” the document states.
“The platform will provide relevant stakeholders across various sectors with the data they need to prevent the misuse of numbers when they change hands.”
The agency noted that the success of the portal will require careful coordination, given that Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements differ across industries and must be harmonized for the system to work effectively.
