New: recently got a call from France. That's what my phone said. Turned out the caller was using a SIM that spoofs any number they want. Went into the underground industry of these SIMs, that can also add voice manipulation.

"They are the crime SIMs" https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/n7w9pw/russian-sims-encrypted

These SIM cards, sourced through word of mouth networks, companies online, or street dealers, even let people spoof the number of a bank to scam victims. Want to ring up someone, but leave a random number on their phone? Also possible https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/n7w9pw/russian-sims-encrypted

Here's someone selling a so-called Russian SIM. In the demonstration, they show how easy it is spoof whatever number you want. Some cards also add the worthwhile benefit of being worldwide, unlimited data SIMs criminals obtain anonymously via Bitcoin https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/n7w9pw/russian-sims-encrypted

We obtained one of these so-called Russian/encrypted/white SIM cards via a source close to the criminal world. Paid around $100 in Bitcoin, a small package arrived very quickly after. Allowed us to buy a data SIM without giving identifying info to a teleco https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/n7w9pw/russian-sims-encrypted

Multiple people in the trade of these SIMs said they worked by first connecting to a server overseas, which then makes the actual call on the users' behalf. This is where the spoofing/voice manipulation comes in. People drawn to the term "Russian SIMs" https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/n7w9pw/russian-sims-encrypted

And serious criminals are using these SIMs. Beyond sources close to crime world who said as much, we also got documents as part of our piece looking at Encrochat, the encrypted phone network. Those docs repeatedly mention Russian SIMs + drug dealing https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/n7w9pw/russian-sims-encrypted

Some of the companies marketing these SIMs to those who want to avoid law enforcement do make other bold, and largely unfounded, claims, such as the SIMs being able to keep you anonymous. But it's still a SIM, on a network. A bad place for a criminal https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/n7w9pw/russian-sims-encrypted

The organizations operating these so-called Russian SIMs are likely running their own MVNO (an entity that essentially uses an established teleco's infrastructure) to do their operations https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/n7w9pw/russian-sims-encrypted

The National Crime Agency, kinda like a UK FBI, said it has seized so-called Russian SIMs from suspects during investigations https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/n7w9pw/russian-sims-encrypted

Here's one site that is selling some of the SIM cards https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/n7w9pw/russian-sims-encrypted