Fed up with fake parcel texts? SIM farms are now illegal. Here's what that changes, and how to protect yourself today
SIM farm ban, November 2026
The SIM farm ban at a glance
29 Oct
2026
Having or supplying a SIM farm without a good reason is now an offence.
5+
SIM cards in one device
Your dual-SIM phone is fine. The ban targets bulk texting kit.
167m
scam texts, Jan to Mar 2026
Stopped by UK mobile networks before they reached phones.
7726
forward any scam text
It alerts your network so it can investigate and block the sender.
Are SIM farms illegal in the UK? Yes. Since 29 October 2026, having or supplying a SIM farm, a device that can use five or more SIM cards to send texts or make calls, is an offence without a good reason. It should make bulk scam texting harder, but it won't stop scam texts on its own. Keep forwarding scam texts to 7726, and never click a link in an unexpected message.
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Key facts, verified 7 November 2026
- Having or supplying a SIM farm became an offence on 29 October 2026, six months after the Crime and Policing Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April (Home Office, 27 July 2026).
- The law defines a SIM farm as a device that can use five or more SIM cards to make calls or send or receive messages (Crime and Policing Act 2026, section 153).
- Penalties are an unlimited fine in England and Wales and up to £5,000 in Scotland and Northern Ireland (Home Office, 24 April 2025).
- VodafoneThree intelligence helped the National Crime Agency and police make eight arrests and recover more than one million compromised card details (VodafoneThree, 3 November 2026).
- 40% of UK mobile users said they'd received at least one suspicious message in the past three months (Ofcom, survey in February 2026).
- UK mobile networks blocked 166.9 million scam texts from January to March 2026 (Mobile UK, 27 April 2026).
- £1.28 billion was lost to criminals through fraud in 2025 (Ofcom, citing UK Finance, 15 July 2026).
- Ofcom's new rules will require mobile providers to block scam numbers and limit how many texts pay-as-you-go SIMs can send from 18 January 2027, and to check business senders from 15 July 2027 (Ofcom, 15 July 2026).
- You can forward scam texts to 7726 for free, and report losses to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 (Ofcom, checked 7 November 2026).
Who this is for: anyone who gets scam texts, which is most of us, parents and grandparents who want to help family stay safe, and small businesses wondering whether their equipment is affected. We'll follow Jan, an example built from the calls we take, not a real customer. Jan is a retired teacher in Stoke-on-Trent who gets two or three fake parcel and bank texts a week, and wants to know whether the new law will make them stop.
Are SIM farms illegal in the UK now?
Direct answer: Yes. Since 29 October 2026, it's an offence to have or supply a SIM farm in the UK unless you have a good reason or lawful authority. The ban comes from the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which became law in April.
How the SIM farm ban came about
The Home Office guidance says the Act "received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026", with "a six-month transition period" before the offences took effect. From 29 October 2026, anyone convicted faces a fine. Multi-SIM kit can still be sold legally, but only if the seller checks the buyer has a good reason and keeps a record of the sale, so you may still see it advertised.
The government first announced the ban in April 2025, saying the UK would be the first country in Europe to ban the possession and supply of SIM farms. For you, nothing needs to change: you don't need to do anything with your own phone.
What is a SIM farm, and how do scammers use it?
Direct answer: A SIM farm is a box that holds lots of SIM cards at once, sometimes hundreds. Scammers load it with cheap SIMs and send thousands of texts in seconds, each looking like it comes from an ordinary mobile number, so it's harder to block.
How a SIM farm scam text reaches your phone
Step 1
Bulk SIMs
Criminals buy dozens or hundreds of cheap SIM cards.
Step 2
SIM farm
One box uses them all at once, from many numbers.
Step 3
Mass texts
Thousands of fake parcel, bank or tax messages go out.
Step 4
Fake website
The link leads to a site built to steal your details.
The Home Office says "scam texts are frequently traced back to SIM farms", devices that can hold "sometimes hundreds of physical SIM cards" and send "thousands of scam texts and calls in seconds", according to its guidance.
Because the texts come from ordinary-looking mobile numbers, you can't tell them apart from a real person's message by the number alone, and neither can your phone. That's why the content of the message is your best warning sign, and why reporting each one helps networks spot the pattern.
Jan's last scam text claimed a parcel was waiting and asked for a £1.45 redelivery fee. It came from a normal 07 number, which is exactly what a SIM farm is designed to do.
What exactly does the new law ban?
Direct answer: It bans having or supplying a SIM farm without a good reason or lawful authority. The law defines a SIM farm as a device that can use five or more SIM cards to make calls or send or receive messages. Suppliers must also check buyers and keep records.
Banned, and not banned
Having a SIM farm without a good reason
A device that can use five or more SIM cards to call or text.
Supplying one without checks and records
Sellers must check why the buyer wants it and keep a record of each sale.
Your phone, even if it's dual-SIM
Two SIM slots is well below the five-SIM threshold.
Kit that can't call or text
For example, broadcast video encoders that only send data.
eSIMs, for now
The law covers physical SIM cards, though the government can add other kit later.
Section 153 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 defines a SIM farm as "a device which is capable of using five or more SIM cards simultaneously or interchangeably" to make calls or send or receive messages. A SIM card means "a removable physical subscriber identity module".
The government can add other devices or kinds of SIM by regulations, after consulting the people affected, so the rules you read today could widen. That gives it a way to catch new kit if criminals switch to it, which matters to you because scammers change tactics quickly.
| Nation | Maximum fine | Prison? |
|---|---|---|
| England | Unlimited | No |
| Wales | Unlimited | No |
| Scotland | £5,000 | No |
| Northern Ireland | £5,000 | No |
These are penalties for having or supplying a SIM farm. Anyone who uses one to commit fraud can also be prosecuted for fraud, which carries prison sentences.
Who can still use multi-SIM devices legally?
Direct answer: Businesses with a good reason, such as train companies, freight firms and phone networks. The Home Office's examples include on-train Wi-Fi gateways and network testing, while live video encoders that only send data aren't SIM farms at all. No licence is needed, but suppliers must check buyers and keep records.
The Home Office guidance says "licences to possess or supply SIM farms will not be required". Instead, if you have one, you need a good reason, and suppliers must record the date, a description of the device, the buyer's name and address, and what checks they made.
Its examples include on-train Wi-Fi gateways using several SIMs, and phone networks testing their own systems. Broadcast video encoders that only send data, and can't make calls or texts, don't meet the definition at all.
If you run a small business and aren't sure whether a router or gateway you use counts, check how many SIM cards it can take and whether it can send texts. Most home and office routers, including 4G and 5G ones, use a single SIM, so you're very unlikely to be affected.
What happened in the SIM farm arrests announced in November?
Direct answer: On 3 November 2026, VodafoneThree said its intelligence helped the National Crime Agency and police bust criminal SIM farm networks. Eight people were arrested, and more than one million compromised card details were recovered, which law enforcement described as potentially the largest haul of its kind ever recovered.
VodafoneThree said it shared intelligence with the National Crime Agency and City of London Police, and the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit, which the banking industry funds, investigated. Police seized cash and equipment as well as the card details. If you think your card details were ever entered on a scam site, your bank can tell you what to do next.
Nick Sharp of the National Crime Agency said "SIM farms are a key enabler of large-scale fraud", and fraud minister Lord Hanson said "it only takes one fraudulent text to deprive people of their hard-earned money".
VodafoneThree didn't say when the arrests were made or whether anyone has been charged, so it's not yet clear whether the new offences will be used in this case. What it does show is networks and police working together, which is good news if you're tired of scam texts.
How many scam texts are there in the UK?
Direct answer: A lot, though networks block most before they arrive. Ofcom found 40% of mobile users had a suspicious message in three months. UK networks blocked 166.9 million scam texts in the first quarter of 2026, falling from 97 million in January to 21 million in March.
Four in ten of us got a suspicious message in three months
40 in 100 got at least one suspicious message
60 in 100 didn't
Scam texts blocked by UK networks, 2026
Mobile UK says networks have blocked more than 2.8 billion scam texts since it started tracking. Ofcom says they block "an estimated 600 million plus each year", and that £1.28 billion was lost to fraud in 2025.
A falling number of blocked texts could mean fewer attempts, or criminals moving to other routes, so one quarter isn't proof of a trend, and you should keep treating every unexpected text with care. Virgin Media O2's Scam Index found 34% of people saw a scam in July to September 2026, with fake delivery texts the most common.
Will the SIM farm ban stop scam texts?
Direct answer: It should help, but it won't stop them on its own. It makes cheap bulk texting kit risky to have. But criminals also use fake phone masts called SMS blasters, messaging apps and calls from abroad, which the SIM farm law doesn't directly target.
What the ban helps with, and its limits
Helps with
Bulk texting boxes
Having a SIM farm without a good reason is now an offence.
Police powers
A clear offence, with powers of entry, to use against criminal kit.
Supply checks
Sellers must check buyers and keep records.
Doesn't cover
SMS blasters
Fake phone masts that text nearby phones directly.
Messaging apps
Not directly covered, though bulk fake accounts may get harder to set up.
Calls from abroad
Scam calls, which separate Ofcom guidance targets.
SMS blasters are another threat. A UK Finance release describes one as a device that "acts as an illegitimate phone mast to send messages", tricking nearby phones into connecting. A man was jailed for over a year in 2025 for driving one around London.
Ofcom expects the combination of measures to help. It says that together with the SIM farm ban and the networks' own commitments, its rules should "significantly reduce the likelihood" of people receiving scam messages. That's a forecast, so it's worth watching the blocking figures over the next year, and we'll update this page for you when they're published.
What else is being done to stop scam texts?
Direct answer: Ofcom's new rules will make networks block numbers used by scammers and limit how many texts a pay-as-you-go SIM can send from 18 January 2027, then check bulk business senders and their sender names from 15 July 2027. Networks already use their own filters.
Five layers of protection
SIM farm ban
Having bulk texting kit is now an offence.
Blocking
From January 2027, networks must block scam numbers and messages.
Volume limits
From January 2027, pay-as-you-go SIMs will have text limits.
Sender checks
From July 2027, business senders and their names will be checked.
Your reports
Every text you forward to 7726 helps.
Ofcom's rules say mobile providers "must also set volume limits for pay-as-you-go SIM cards", which from 18 January 2027 should make it harder to blast texts from cheap SIMs even without a SIM farm, according to Ofcom's statement. From 15 July 2027, providers must also stop fake sender names, the business name that shows in place of a number. A text from an ordinary 07 number can still claim to be anyone, so always check before you act, even if it looks like it's from your bank.
Our round-up of Ofcom's July 2026 update explains the new text rules and their start dates in more detail, if you want the full picture.
Scams can reach you by phone too. Our guides to scam calls pretending to be your broadband provider and missed-call scams cover the other tricks to watch for.
How can I spot a scam text?
Direct answer: Be wary of any unexpected text that creates urgency, asks you to click a link, or asks for a small payment or your details. Fake parcel redelivery texts are the most common, and fake bank, account and tax messages are widespread too. If in doubt, contact the company using a number you already know.
Five signs a text is a scam
You weren't expecting it
A parcel you didn't order, or a refund you didn't claim.
It's urgent
"Act now", "final notice" or "your account will be closed".
It wants you to click
Real companies rarely need you to tap a link in a text.
It asks for money or details
A small redelivery fee is a classic way to get your card number.
Something doesn't match
A misspelt name, an odd website address, or an ordinary mobile number.
Fake delivery texts were the most common scam people saw in July to September 2026, according to Virgin Media O2. Our guide to spotting a scam call or text has real examples to compare against.
Jan now checks parcel texts against the tracking number in the shop's own app, and has stopped clicking links in texts altogether. If you help an older relative, that one habit is worth sharing.
How do I report a scam text?
Direct answer: Forward it to 7726 for free, then delete it. On an iPhone, tap and hold the message, tap More, then the forward arrow. On Android, tap and hold, then Forward. For WhatsApp or other apps, use the app's own report tools.
Ofcom's advice is "do not click any links in the message" and "do not reply, even to opt out", because replying confirms your number is active. You can also report texts, including RCS messages and iMessages, using the built-in tools on your phone.
Reporting matters even when the text is obviously fake to you. Each report alerts your network so it can investigate and, where it can, block the sender, and it helps improve the filters that stop millions of scam texts. It takes you ten seconds.
What should I do if I've clicked a link or paid?
Direct answer: Act quickly. Call your bank on 159 to stop any payments, then report it to Report Fraud online or on 0300 123 2040, or to Police Scotland on 101. Change any passwords you entered, and watch your accounts closely.
Five things to do straight away
Call your bank on 159
It connects you safely to most UK banks. If yours isn't covered, call the number on your card.
Report it
Report Fraud online or on 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.
Change passwords
Start with any you typed in, then your email.
Forward the text to 7726
So the network can block the sender.
Watch for follow-ups
Criminals sometimes call pretending to be your bank or the police.
Stop Scams UK says 159 connects you to "more than 99% of the UK's retail bank current accounts". Ofcom says you can report to Report Fraud online or on 0300 123 2040 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and to Police Scotland on 101.
Be extra careful after a scam: criminals sometimes follow up with a call pretending to help you get your money back. Our guide to broadband and telecoms scams explains the tricks.
Help your family stay safer online
ParentalControl.uk is our free guide for families. It walks you through the safety settings on your router, phones and apps, step by step.
Visit ParentalControl.uk →What should I do now?
Today
Forward any scam texts on your phone to 7726, then delete them. Don't click the links or reply.
This week
Save 159 in your phone as "My bank", and share the five warning signs with older relatives.
Going forward
Check parcel and bank messages in the company's own app, and report every scam text, even the obvious ones.
Protect your home network too
Compare broadband deals at your postcode, and check our guides to keeping your home network secure.
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- ✓Guides to router security and safe Wi-Fi
In summary
- Having or supplying a SIM farm without a good reason has been an offence in the UK since 29 October 2026.
- A SIM farm is a device that can use five or more SIM cards, so your dual-SIM phone isn't affected.
- Penalties are fines: unlimited in England and Wales, up to £5,000 in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- The ban should help, but SMS blasters, messaging apps and calls from abroad aren't covered.
- Forward scam texts to 7726, and if you've paid, call your bank on 159 straight away.
Alex's closing thought
Scam texts are a daily nuisance for millions of us, and for some people they're far worse than that. It's good to see a law aimed at the kit behind them, alongside Ofcom's new rules coming in 2027 and the networks' own blocking. None of it replaces a healthy bit of suspicion, so keep forwarding those texts to 7726 and look out for each other.
Keep going: scams and staying safe
Spot and report
Stay safe at home
Know someone who gets scam texts?
Send them this. It explains the new law, the warning signs, and what to do if they've clicked.
Cite this page
You're welcome to quote or link to this guide. Please credit BroadbandSwitch.uk and link to this page.
In a sentence: Having or supplying a SIM farm, a device that can use five or more SIM cards to send texts or make calls, has been an offence in the UK since 29 October 2026 under the Crime and Policing Act 2026, though it won't stop scam texts on its own.
Martin-Smith, A. J. (2026, November 7). SIM farms are now illegal: will scam texts slow down? BroadbandSwitch.uk. https://broadbandswitch.uk/insights/sim-farms-banned-scam-texts-uk/
Frequently asked questions
When did the SIM farm ban start?
The offences came into force on 29 October 2026, six months after the Crime and Policing Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026.
Is my dual-SIM phone now illegal?
No. The law only covers devices that can use five or more SIM cards to make calls or send texts, so an ordinary dual-SIM phone isn't affected.
Does the SIM farm ban cover eSIMs?
Not at the moment. The law defines a SIM card as a removable physical SIM, though the government can add other kinds by regulations after consulting.
What is the penalty for having a SIM farm?
A fine: unlimited in England and Wales, and up to £5,000 in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Using one to commit fraud can be prosecuted separately.
Do businesses need a licence for multi-SIM devices?
No. The Home Office says no licence is needed, but owners need a good reason or lawful authority, and suppliers must check buyers and keep records.
Will I get fewer scam texts now?
Hopefully, over time. The ban makes bulk texting kit risky to have, and Ofcom's new rules add blocking and limits from January 2027, but criminals also use other methods.
What is an SMS blaster?
A device that acts as a fake phone mast, so nearby phones connect to it and receive scam texts directly from it.
Is it free to forward a scam text to 7726?
Yes. Ofcom says forwarding texts to 7726 is free, and you can forward a scam caller's number there too.
Should I reply STOP to a scam text?
No. Ofcom advises not to reply, even to opt out, because a reply tells the sender your number is active.
What is 159?
A phone number that connects you safely to your bank if you think you've been targeted by a scam. It covers more than 99% of UK retail bank current accounts.
Where do I report a scam if I've lost money?
To Report Fraud online or on 0300 123 2040 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or to Police Scotland on 101. Call your bank first.
How do I report a scam on WhatsApp?
Use WhatsApp's own report and block tools. The 7726 service is for texts and calls, while each messaging app has its own reporting option.
References
- Crime and Policing Act 2026, c. 20, s. 153. Retrieved 7 November 2026, from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/20/section/153
- Home Office. (2025, April 24). Major step for fraud prevention with landmark ban on SIM farms. GOV.UK. Retrieved 7 November 2026, from https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-step-for-fraud-prevention-with-landmark-ban-on-sim-farms
- Home Office. (2026, July 27). Crime and Policing Act 2026 guidance: offences relating to the possession and supply of SIM farms and legitimate uses of multiple SIM devices. GOV.UK. Retrieved 7 November 2026, from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/possession-and-supply-of-sim-farms/crime-and-policing-act-2026-guidance-offences-relating-to-the-possession-and-supply-of-sim-farms-and-legitimate-uses-of-multiple-sim-devices-accessi
- Mobile UK. (2026, April 27). Protecting UK customers from mobile fraud: Q1 update. Retrieved 7 November 2026, from https://www.mobileuk.org/news/protecting-uk-customers-from-mobile-fraud---q1-update
- Ofcom. (2026a, July 15). 7726: reporting scam texts and calls. Retrieved 7 November 2026, from https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/scam-calls-and-messages/7726-reporting-scam-texts-and-calls
- Ofcom. (2026b, July 15). New rules to thwart text message scammers and protect consumers and businesses. Retrieved 7 November 2026, from https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/scam-calls-and-messages/new-rules-to-thwart-text-message-scammers-and-protect-consumers-and-businesses
- Ofcom. (2026c, July 15). Statement: combatting mobile messaging scams. Retrieved 7 November 2026, from https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/consultations/category-3-4-weeks/consultation-combatting-mobile-messaging-scams/main-document/statement-combatting-mobile-messaging-scams.pdf
- Crime and Policing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 3 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2026, S.I. 2026/960, reg. 5. Retrieved 7 November 2026, from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/960/regulation/5
- Report Fraud. (n.d.). Report Fraud. Retrieved 7 November 2026, from https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/
- Stop Scams UK. (n.d.). 159. Retrieved 7 November 2026, from https://stopscamsuk.org.uk/159
- UK Finance. (2025, June 23). Police warn of SMS scams following prison sentence for criminal who conducted smishing campaign. Retrieved 7 November 2026, from https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/news-and-insight/press-release/police-warn-sms-scams-following-prison-sentence-criminal-who
- Virgin Media O2. (2026, October). Scam Index: Q3 2026. Retrieved 7 November 2026, from https://news.virginmediao2.co.uk/scam-index/q3-2026/
- VodafoneThree. (2026, November 3). VodafoneThree intelligence helps National Crime Agency bust criminal SIM farm networks. Retrieved 7 November 2026, from https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/?p=51377