The Director General of the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM), Maxwell Hinga Massaquoi, has been hailed for last week arrest of 44 sim cards fraudsters in possession of 1,755 unregistered sim cards.

Many have impressed with the proactive move of NATCOM leadership to intercept the alleged fraudsters as well as other tremendous strides under President Bio’s

New Direction to transform the regulatory company to international standard.

After the bust which netted 44 suspects, the NATCOM MD commented that, such fraudsters have amassed huge sums of money using unregistered sims to demand money from unsuspecting people.
In the latest bust, he said, 44 suspects were arrested and 1, 755 unregistered sims seized.

He called on mobile phone users to verify the numbers of callers, noting that the fraudsters now focus on ministers, parliamentarians and ambassadors. They also target every segment of society.

Head of the Police Scientific Support Unit, Superintendent Ibrahim Joseph Lahai, said whilst some countries he has visited are very methodical in their sale of sim cards, in Sierra Leone they are sold like peanuts.

His Deputy, Mr.Sesay, warned that sales agents are breaking the law by not demanding for national ID, adding that they neglect the rule because the more sales made, the higher the commission made.

However, he said the police have increased their skills in running down cyber criminals.
With technology having moved from traditional to modern methods, the police he sad will work closely with NATCOM to catch fraudsters.

He appealed to NATCOM to engage with GSM providers on this all important national concern.
NATION cyber-crime officer, Abdul Kamara, narrated a lot of such incidents which he said have affected the country internally and internationally.

He expressed NATCOM’s commitment to engage in a countrywide sensitization tour and called on the media for cooperation at all times as proper registration of sim cards remains NATCOM’s greatest challenge.

Other speakers including lawyers and NATCOM staff waged war on cyber criminals.