Massive SIM Server Network Uncovered: US Secret Service Thwarts Telecom Threat Targeting World Leaders at UNGA

The U.S. Secret Service has neutralized a sophisticated telecommunications threat in New York City, uncovering a network of 300 SIM servers equipped with 100,000 SIM cards, capable of disrupting cell service across the region. The operation, executed in the lead-up to the 80th United Nations General Assembly, targeted a system that could have overwhelmed mobile networks, jammed emergency 911 lines, and facilitated anonymous cyberattacks during a critical time when nearly 150 world leaders converged on Manhattan.

The investigation began with efforts to trace swatting incidents, where false emergency calls provoke armed police responses, targeting high-profile officials. Agents uncovered a complex setup of SIM farms—servers managing thousands of SIM cards to generate anonymous calls and texts at scale—spread across multiple locations within a 35-mile radius of the UN headquarters. These sites, including nondescript properties in the tristate area, housed equipment capable of sending up to 30 million text messages per minute, potentially crippling cell towers and severing communication lines critical for security and emergency response.

The timing of the discovery heightened its urgency. The UNGA, a high-security event drawing global leaders for discussions on pressing issues like climate and international conflicts, transforms New York into a logistical fortress. A telecom disruption could have isolated diplomats, disrupted law enforcement coordination, and created chaos exploitable by malicious actors. The Secret Service, working alongside local and federal partners, seized the equipment before it could be activated, ensuring no interruptions occurred during the summit’s busiest days.

Investigators are exploring whether the network was linked to organized crime, fraud schemes, or even foreign entities, given its scale and strategic placement. The servers, which leveraged SIM cards from multiple carriers, were designed for more than just swatting—potentially enabling mass spam, encrypted communications, or coordinated digital attacks. The operation’s complexity suggests significant resources and technical expertise, raising concerns about similar setups elsewhere.

This seizure, the largest of its kind in Secret Service history, highlights the growing intersection of cyber and physical security threats. As urban centers rely increasingly on interconnected systems, tools like SIM farms, readily available on black markets, pose risks far beyond individual crimes. The successful intervention underscores the agency’s evolving role in protecting not just people, but the digital infrastructure that underpins modern society. As the UNGA continues through the week, New York’s communication networks remain secure, allowing global diplomacy to proceed without disruption