Service for checking SIM cards on "Public services": when it starts working, limits, how to find "gray" numbers

Starting from April 1, 2025, the "Sim Cards" service will be launched on the Gosuslugi portal. With it, Russians will be able to find out which rooms are issued on them and, in case of detection of "gray" or unnecessary SIM cards, they will be able to quickly block them. The introduction of the new service is connected with the updating of the law "On Communications", which is designed to strengthen protection against telephone fraudsters. For more information about when the service will start working on Gosuslugi and how to use it, see the Izvestia article.

Checking SIM cards at Gosuslugi: what is it when it starts working

On Tuesday, April 1, the Gosuslugi portal will launch a service for tracking phone numbers registered to subscribers called "Sim cards". This was reported in the press service of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation.

According to the agency, users will be able to use the new service on April 1. You will need to log in to your personal account and go to the "Sim cards" section. The service will be available from 20:00.

Thanks to the service, it will be possible to quickly and easily find out how many SIM cards are registered per person. This will save Russians from having to contact a cellular operator to make sure that they do not have so-called "gray" or unregistered SIM cards that are actively used by fraudsters.

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Why do I need a SIM card verification service at Gosuslugi?

The main purpose of the innovation is to protect citizens from fraudsters and illegal number trafficking. Theft of personal data and illegal registration of SIM cards is a common deception scheme. These numbers can be used for:

— registration of loans and loans for strangers;

— registration on prohibited sites;

— fraudulent calls or mass SMS mailings.

Previously, it was almost impossible to detect such violations without contacting the mobile operator directly. Now it will be possible to check the list of numbers in one click and, if necessary, instantly block suspicious or unnecessary SIM cards. However, you can do this yourself only if the operator whose SIM card is listed in the personal account has already connected to the additional functionality.

The new service is also useful for monitoring "family" rooms. Many register SIM cards for children, elderly relatives, or backup use. The new verification service will help you remember about these numbers and turn them off in time if the SIM cards are no longer in use.

Another important reason for the introduction of the "Sim cards" section is the amendments to the law "On Communications" (Federal Law No. 126 dated 7.07.2003), which enter into force on April 1, 2025. According to the new rules, starting today, Russians will be able to issue no more than 20 SIM cards in their name, and foreign citizens will be able to issue no more than ten SIM cards.

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Up to what date do I need to check the SIM card limit?

If the number of issued SIM cards exceeds the established limit, it will be necessary to discard the extra numbers, the press service of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation explained. Russians will need to do this by November 1, and foreigners — by July 1, 2025. Otherwise, telecom operators can block the numbers themselves.

"Measures are necessary to ensure that attackers cannot issue SIM cards for mass calls," the department explained.

In the future, mobile operators can automatically notify owners of the number of rooms they have booked. It is important to understand that the owner is responsible for using SIM cards, so if unknown numbers are found, they must be blocked immediately.