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hyperhopper | 5 months ago

100k is the number of active cards. It is being reported that they had 2-3x as many cards in total.

Seems like a nation-state level attack from somebody that has millions to spend to keep this up their sleeve

discuss

bhouston|5 months ago

Why even have cards when there are eSims, but maybe cards have some advantages in terms of deniability or something?

It sounds sophisticated, but nation state or cartel or something else big?

jandrese|5 months ago

Probably because it's way easier to pull a SIM out of the package and stuff it into the reader than it is to go through the QR code/web site/phone app you need to get the eSIM up and running for your provider.

What I'm really curious about is the money trail. These cards weren't bought in one off cash purchases or via some penny ante crypto reseller. Someone bought in bulk using real money. They probably had to talk with the salesguy at the MVNO to make an order that large. This kind of thing must leave a footprint.

9cb14c1ec0|5 months ago

Most the these SIM card stations require physical SIM cards, just because they always have.

bflesch|5 months ago

You could buy normal sim cards with cash

bflesch|5 months ago

Could simply be a propaganda botfarm. Each of these sim cards registers on facebook, youtube, reddit and the faraway propaganda teams use them to relay messages.

bhouston|5 months ago

Yeah, it feels like it could be related to various propaganda effects on social media networks, stuff like this:

https://readsludge.com/2025/09/15/democratic-pr-firm-to-run-...