SIM Card Recycling: How to Protect Yourself When You Buy a New SIM Card

Many Nigerians have been sharing disturbing experiences about what happened to them after buying and registering new SIM cards in the country. Understanding how SIM card recycling works and what steps to take can protect you from becoming a victim of the same problem.

What Is a Recycled SIM Card?

A recycled SIM card is a SIM card that was previously used by another person and later abandoned. After a certain period of inactivity, the telecommunications company wipes the data associated with that SIM card and repackages that phone number as a new line available for sale.

According to lawyer Abimbola Orogade, based in Ibadan, Oyo State, this practice is not illegal because it is approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

An MTN spokesperson confirmed this, stating that mobile numbers are not the permanent property of the owner. The NCC permits all GSM operators to recycle lines that have been inactive for 360 days.

This inactivity includes no calls, no SMS, no data subscription, or any revenue generating activity on the phone line. WhatsApp calls made over WiFi are not counted.

After this period, the operator can reassign that inactive line to a new customer. So if the previous owner of the SIM card did not remove the number from activities and accounts it was previously linked to, the new owner may start receiving information and calls that have nothing to do with them.

What Should You Do?

If you are abandoning a phone number:

If for any reason you no longer want to use a phone line that was previously assigned to you, you must inform the relevant authorities and remove that number from all activities it was linked to, including bank alerts, government databases, and official documents.

This is because when a mobile operator recycles a line, their only responsibility is to wipe your personal details from the SIM, such as your National Identity Number, date of birth, and other biometric data. It is not their responsibility to contact your bank and instruct them to remove the number from your account. That is your responsibility.

If you are buying a new SIM card:

There is unfortunately no way to know in advance whether a SIM card you are buying is recycled or not. However, once you have purchased the SIM card, take the following steps immediately:

Register the SIM with the mobile operator yourself and provide accurate personal information.

Cross check with the operator to confirm that no other person’s data is connected to that phone line. Only your details should appear.

To check which NIN is attached to your number, dial *996# and select the option to view the phone numbers associated with your NIN. You will receive a text message showing the details.

You can also visit the mobile operator’s office in person to make this enquiry directly.

If you begin receiving strange calls, text messages, or other information that you suspect belonged to the previous owner of the phone line, go to the mobile operator’s office immediately and make an official complaint. They will know how to ensure your number is properly secured.

Key Facts to Remember

A SIM card can be recycled after 360 days of inactivity. Any line with no calls, no SMS, and no data activity for that period is eligible to be reassigned to a new customer.

The mobile operator is only responsible for wiping the previous owner’s biometric data from the SIM. Everything else,bank alerts, government registrations, and other linked accounts,must be removed by the original owner before abandoning the number.

There is no way to tell whether a SIM card is recycled at the point of purchase. Your protection comes from the steps you take immediately after buying it.

Dial *996# at any time to check which phone numbers are linked to your NIN and confirm your registration details are correct.