Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung has asked localities and departments of information and communications nationwide to inspect mobile phone subscriptions to wipe out “junk” SIM cards.

The crackdown will be carried out from April 5 to June 5.

The ministry said many businesses and individuals have registered thousands of SIM cards without a clear purpose. Cyber criminals increasingly use junk SIM cards to trick people and appropriating money.

Under a decree on mobile telecommunications, all mobile subscriptions must be accompanied by accurate personal information to help protect the interests of customers using the service and limit the number of junk SIMs in the market.