Beware, SIM card sellers can misuse Aadhaar biometrics 

Marri Ramu 
 
HYDERABAD, April 29, 2018 00:00 IST



Thumb rule:Linking of Aadhaar card being done for a new SIM card.Photo: G. 
RamakrishnaG_RAMAKRISHNA 

New cards can be activated using fingerprints multiple times
Next time you want to buy a new Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card for your mobile device, be wary if your retailer tries to take your Aadhaar-linked fingerprints more than once.

The retailer can get a new SIM card activated — without your knowledge — using your thumb impression multiple times. Cases have surfaced of SIM cards thus activated being sold to persons who have then used them to commit crimes.

A SIM card retailer of Yasin Mobiles shop, Mohammed Rahmatullah, in Amberpet of Hyderabad was caught by Department of Telecommunications officials here two days ago on such a charge. “He admitted to have sold over 150 SIM cards fraudulently acquired in this manner. Some of these cards are being used to operate illegal Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone call rackets at different places in the country,” a senior DoT officer told The Hindu .

VoIP racket

A Hyderabadi woman grew suspicious when she got a phone call from abroad with a local mobile phone number. She complained to a DoT call centre. “Our inquiries confirmed that she got phone call from abroad through someone operating a VoIP racket, who purchased a local SIM card from a retailer. The latter got that SIM card activated by misusing Aadhaar biometrics of an unsuspecting person,” they explained. Further investigations suggested that SIM cards obtained by misusing customers were being used by many illegal phone call operators in other parts like Delhi. “We’re alerting officials concerned and catching them with the help of local police,” the DoT officials said. VoIP call rackets are not only making a huge dent on the exchequer but also raising security concerns. The authorities are worried that these cards may land in the hands of terrorists.

Mobile phone service SIM card sellers have Aadhaar card biometrics readers, and the scanners are connected to a computer to process applications for different service providers. Retailers verify customer’s fingerprints often with customers not being able to see the confirmation of identify on computer screens.

“Customers do not know if biometrics matched in the first attempt. Hence, retailers collect fingerprints multiple times,” the authorities said. When the fingerprints match, automatically all details, including photograph, available in Aadhaar card, are captured in the mobile phone service provider’s Know Your Customer (KYC) form.