Latvia Moves to Register Prepaid SIM Cards to Combat Fraud

Latvia’s government is advancing plans to require registration for users of prepaid SIM cards, a measure intended to curb the rising incidence of telephone fraud and other crimes facilitated by anonymous mobile accounts. The Ministry of Communications supports the initiative, which stems from a proposal by the Ministry of the Interior.

Growing Concerns Over Fraud

State police data indicates that approximately 40% of detected crimes, including fraud, involve unregistered prepaid mobile phone cards, and this proportion is increasing. Last year, telephone fraud accounted for 55% of all fraud cases in Latvia, with 6,479 incidents recorded according to the Ministry of Communications.

Impact on Users

Currently, around 400,000 unregistered SIM cards are in use in Latvia. Even as the move aims to reduce criminal activity, it will impact a diverse range of users. Prepaid cards are popular among seniors and individuals with lower incomes, offering greater control over spending. They are also favored by tourists seeking affordable communication options and parents purchasing first phones for their children. Individuals using prepaid cards for short-term advertisements, such as selling property or vehicles, will require to register their numbers.

Government and Industry Response

The Ministry of the Interior has engaged with stakeholders, including mobile operators, the Latvian Pensioners’ Federation, and the Latvian Traders’ Association, to address concerns and refine the proposed regulations. The Ministry of Communications is working with industry associations to define specific recommendations and prepare amendments to existing regulations, aiming to minimize the burden on users and service providers as reported by the Ministry of Communications.

Concerns About Effectiveness

Despite the government’s efforts, some industry representatives express skepticism about the effectiveness of the registration requirement. Oskars Fīrmanis of Tele2 pointed to the experience in Lithuania, where a similar system was implemented without a significant reduction in fraud cases. Tele2 believes that registration alone may not be a “magic wand” to solve the problem .

Combating Fraud Through Location Data

Alongside SIM card registration, the Latvian Saeima is considering amendments to the Electronic Communications Law regarding the processing of location data. These amendments would obligate electronic communications merchants to process location data when receiving calls via interconnection from foreign operators, if necessary to prevent fraud or illegal activities. This measure aims to reduce the use of Latvian numbering for fraudulent calls originating from abroad .

The Ministry of Internal Affairs proposed banning the use of unregistered SIM cards in February 2026 .