The Prosecutor General's Office of Kazakhstan has warned citizens about the illegal circulation of SIM boxes, which is punishable by up to five years in prison, according to infohub.kz.
As noted in the official Telegram channel of the supervisory body, exactly one year ago, on August 30, 2025, a legislative ban on the illegal use of these devices came into force in the republic. According to paragraph 4 of Article 4 of the Law "On Communications," the import, registration, sale, and use of GSM gateways are allowed only to telecom operators holding the relevant license.
Despite this, some individuals continue to illegally import, sell, and use such equipment without a license. These include private sellers posting ads on online platforms, as well as stores selling telecommunications equipment, the agency emphasized.
As an example, the Prosecutor General's Office cited a case in the North Kazakhstan region, where an administrative protocol was drawn up against a citizen who posted an online ad for the sale of a four-slot GSM gateway for 120,000 tenge. The issue of bringing him to administrative responsibility is currently being considered.
The supervisory body explained that SIM boxes allow international telephone traffic to be routed through Kazakhstani SIM cards. This enables fraudsters to call from abroad disguised as local numbers, hiding the true source of the call. The availability of such equipment to criminals creates conditions for mass fraudulent calls and theft of money.
"In this regard, do not purchase or use SIM boxes in violation of the established procedure," the Prosecutor General's Office urged. Owners of GSM gateways purchased before the ban are advised to contact the authorized body to resolve the issue of further use of the devices. "Until appropriate clarifications are received, SIM boxes should not be used. This carries a penalty of up to 5 years in prison," the agency added.