Hacked

The SIM Farm

Oct 16, 2025
Dive into the bizarre world of a massive swatting hoax campaign that cracked a cybercrime operation in New York. Discover how SIM farms work and how they were exploited for criminal gains. Explore the motivations behind targeting high-profile figures and the legal repercussions for those involved. The conversation shifts to the fluctuating AI market, OpenAI's influence, and the controversies surrounding AI-generated talent. Lastly, they discuss the potential for AI to change creative workflows in filmmaking.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

How SIM Farms Evade Telecom Detection

  • SIM farms typically use SIM boxes, rotating SIMs across carriers, and software proxies to evade detection by telecoms.
  • Telecoms flag such behavior, so operators rotate cards and networks to stay operational.
ANECDOTE

How A Teen And Europeans Sparked A Takedown

  • Prosecutors say a teenage swatter in the U.S. worked with two Eastern European men to run a years-long swatting conspiracy.
  • Their Christmas Day spree helped law enforcement trace activity back to a New York SIM farm and dismantle the network.
INSIGHT

Scaling Harassment Requires Big Infrastructure

  • Scaling harassment needs infrastructure: rotating SIMs, multiple carriers, servers, and software to avoid telecom detection.
  • That scale is why operators used dedicated SIM farms instead of single phones or throwaway numbers.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app