Politics · Mexico · 17 hrs ago
Mexico’s mandatory phone registration has not stopped fraud and extortion
Mexico is requiring mobile users to register their phone lines by linking them to a national ID number and an official identity document.
The measure is intended to help fight crimes such as extortion by identifying who holds each line.
SILIKN says attempts at phone fraud, scams and extortion have risen by up to 90% this year, based on its own monitoring, not official national statistics.
The company says criminals can use internet-based calls, stolen identities or caller ID spoofing, so registering a SIM may not reveal who is making a call.
Some scammers are using the registration process to trick people, posing as phone company staff or officials and asking for personal details or text-message codes.
Extortion victims per person were 65% higher in January–September 2026 than in the same period of 2015, according to Mexico Evalúa; its reported rate has stayed around 6.4 victims per 100,000 people since 2022.
Registration may help some investigations but is not a complete solution, and SILIKN says personal data must be protected against leaks and misuse.
Mexico’s mandatory mobile-phone registration has not stopped fraud and extortion, according to a report by cybersecurity company SILIKN.
SILIKN reported an increase of up to 90% this year in attempted fraud, scams and telephone extortion.
The company said its figure came from its own research unit and was not an official national statistic.
The registration requires users to link phone lines to their CURP and an official identity document, with the aim of helping identify people behind numbers.
Mexico Evalúa reported 65% more victims of extortion per capita in January–September 2026 than in the same period of 2015.
- Who
- Mobile-phone users in Mexico, and people targeted by fraud and extortion. SILIKN and Mexico Evalúa reported on the issue.
- What
- Mandatory phone-line registration is advancing, but fraud and extortion remain high.
- When
- The article was published on November 9, 2026. The cited victim comparison covers January–September 2026 and the same period of 2015.
- Where
- Mexico.
- Why
- The registration aims to help combat crimes such as extortion by identifying phone-line holders. SILIKN says criminals can use methods that make identifying callers difficult.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mexico implemented the National Registry of Mobile Phone Users, which was later eliminated.
Mexico Evalúa says the increase in the extortion rate was most pronounced during this period.
The extortion rate has remained around 6.4 victims per 100,000 inhabitants, without a sustained decline.
Mexico Evalúa recorded 65% more extortion victims per capita than in the same period of 2015.
- SILIKN estimate
- Up to 90% increase in attempted fraud, scams and telephone extortion during 2026
- Source of estimate
- SILIKN’s research unit; not an official national statistic
- Registration requirement
- Link phone lines to a CURP and official identity document
- Extortion comparison
- 65% more victims per capita in January–September 2026 than in the same period of 2015
- Reported extortion rate
- Around 6.4 victims per 100,000 inhabitants since 2022