Russian Minister Proposes Blocking All SIM Cards of Scammers Banned in MAX Messenger
Blocking a fraudulent account in MAX may lead to further restrictions at the mobile network level. Maksut Shadaev, head of the Ministry of Digital Development, proposed considering the disconnection not only of the number used in the messenger but also of all other SIM cards belonging to the same owner.
The minister’s statement, reported by TASS, emphasizes that banning the messenger account alone is not enough and that operators must continue the countermeasures. Authorities are also discussing a cooling-off period during which the person would be unable to register new numbers, aiming to complicate any return to fraudulent activity after a block.
The duration of the restrictions, the procedure for transmitting information to operators, and the appeals process were not detailed in the statement. Accurate identification of the owner and confirmation of their involvement in fraud remain key challenges, as a number may be used by someone other than the registered owner or may have been compromised.
The proposal does not imply that every ban for violating MAX rules will automatically result in mobile service disconnection; the minister specifically referred to measures against fraudsters.
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