Latvia to require prepaid SIM registration to combat phone fraud

Latvia’s parliament has approved a requirement for prepaid SIM card users to register, as part of efforts to curb phone fraud and other crimes, LSM reported on Thursday.

The amendments to the Electronic Communications Law were passed in their final reading. The registration requirement will apply to prepaid SIM cards bought after the changes take effect.

The Interior Ministry says unregistered SIM cards are often used in phone scams, financial and cybercrime, and other illegal activities, including the smuggling of migrants. Identifying prepaid SIM users is expected to help prevent and investigate crimes and make it harder for offenders to conceal their identities.

Police recorded 8,701 phone fraud cases last year, with losses exceeding 23.7 million euros. According to police data, unregistered prepaid SIM cards were used in an average of 30% of crimes under investigation over an extended period, and that share has been rising.

Lawmakers also approved changes to emergency call arrangements. Numbers 01 and 02 are being dropped; telecom operator Tet says no calls were made to them in the past year. The amendments also phase out numbers 03 and 04. Ambulances can be called on 113 and the gas emergency service on 114.