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Is It Possible to Clone the SIM Card of Your GSM Phone?

SIM Card image from shop.keytracker.comI have a Blackberry 8700 for work. It’s a great device with some fantastic features, but as a basic cell phone it’s awkward and bulky. When I’m not working, I’d prefer to carry around a basic flip phone but don’t want to pay for an extra phone line. Fortunately my cell provider uses GSM cell technology which means the phones on the network all use a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card (a little device that contains everything necessary for the phone to access and use my providers cell network). Using this cell technology allowed me to go to my provider, purchase a flip phone, and, depending what I needed for the day, simply swap the SIM card between the new flip phone and the Blackberry device. Not the most elegant solution, and repeatedly swapping the SIM does run the risk of damaging it. Unfortunately I have no other option for my situation — or do I? Why can’t I just copy my SIM card and leave one card in each device and only use them one at a time?

What you need to copy a SIM card

I might be simplifying things but you need two basic things from your original SIM card in order to copy (or clone) it:

  1. IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identifier): The number normally written on the SIM card itself
  2. Authentication key (Ki): A hidden number which can only be discovered electronically

Getting the IMSI number is fairly simple: Do a little web research to learn more about what this number looks and where its located, and then examine your card for such a number. Extracting the Ki from the SIM card is much more difficult because you would need a device capable of reading the card and some sophisticated software to decrypt the Ki. Search the web for this device and software and you’ll find several sites selling SIM card duplicators. Matter of fact, most of these items are extremely affordable. Sound to good to be true? It is.

Why SIM card duplication or cloning is nearly impossible

There was a time when SIM card security was less than ideal. Cloning cards was a real concern for cell providers and when money is at stake you can bet they took the necessary steps to address their security weaknesses.

Cell providers currently use SIM cards that have an anti-tamper device built into their software. If Ki cracking software attempts to discover the Ki number through brute force sequential numeric attempts, the SIM locks to a state where it is unusable. In short, you’re phone is useless and you need to go back to your provider and attempt to get a replacement SIM.

V1 SIM cards which I believe were made prior to 2001 are possible to duplicate. Unfortunately, anything younger than that (V2 of 3G SIM cards) contain the anti-tamper software and are almost impossible to clone. And it’s the SIM card version that is the “fine print” on those very tempting SIM card duplicators.

The “fine print” of SIM duplicators

SIM card duplicators are often listed for sale with one of the following titles:

  • Silver cards
  • Green cards
  • Platinum cards
  • 16 in 1
  • 12 in 1
  • 10 in 1
  • 8 to 1
  • Super SIM

All of these items look as if they will do the job of cloning a SIM card, they basically claim that is exactly what they will do. If, however, you read the description closely, you’ll notice that they claim to only work with V1 SIM cards. Those are the pre-2001 SIM cards that do not contain the anti-tamper software and therefore easy to clone. Take one of those duplicators and attempt to clone a V2 or 3G SIM and you’ll likely render your card useless. Buyer beware!

The possibility to clone does exist but not worth the effort

I honestly believe that someone could successfully clone a V2 or 3G SIM card. The process itself is illegal as far as I know, and if you were to simultaneously use the original and copied card (intentionally or by accident), you’re cell provider would undoubtedly know and most likely revoke your access to their cell network immediately. For the average cell customer, the possibility of cloning a newer version SIM card is next to impossible and simply not worth the effort. If, however, you actually know how to successfully clone a 3G SIM card, then by all means let me know.


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67 Responses to “Is It Possible to Clone the SIM Card of Your GSM Phone?”

  1. [...] Read the rest of this great post here [...]

  2. [...] Read the rest of this great post here [...]

  3. Thanks for a great detailed explanation. I too have a PDA phone and wanted a second normal phone but have run into this problem about cloning the SIM.

    Im glad i found your post, its saved me a few quid on ebay, as i nearly bought those blank SIMs and some other Ki decription device.

    Let me know fi you have any sucess.

  4. Hi Kevin, thanks for the comment. I’m glad to hear I’m not alone in this quest and that my post saved you some cash.

    The only other option I’ve heard about is if you can get your cell provider to split your service and put the phone on one SIM and the data plan on another one. They said they could do it but I would have to pay for a second line. I explained it to them at least 3 times and they still didn’t quite understand exactly what I wanted. Anyway, I have talked to some people that seem fairly knowledgeable in this area and they said the cell provided could do exactly what I wanted them to do, it was just a question of whether they “wanted” to do it.

    I’m still looking for a solution and will post it here at TechTraction should I find one.

  5. I spoke to Orange UK last night regarding a second sim, its known to them as “Single Number” but they told me its only offered to business customers, which im not one of. This has a one off connection charge of £30, then a monthly sub of £3. This would allow us the freedom to run 2 phones.

    Which network are you with?
    I might try asking about splitting the service, but they might just say the same thing again.

  6. I’m using AT&T (formerly Cingular) here in the U.S.. Was much better when it was just Cingular, but still not too bad and based on my previous experiences — much better than Sprint.

    Good luck with trying to get them to split the service. Please let me know how it goes.

    Thanks for the comment

  7. Maybe it can get a little complicated if used in a different way.

  8. Is It Possible to Clone the SIM Card of Your GSM Phone? is a quite interesting post but quite difficult to understand for me.

  9. Hi – just wanted to say good design and blog – cu

  10. Max, simply put, you can copy a GSM phone SIM Card but you might damage it in the process and only V1 SIM cards are capable of being completely copied. Newer version SIM cards have some type of anti-tamper protection on them which prevents an individual from making a complete copy of the card. Hope that answers your question.

  11. Hi,

    I was a member of a team who developped and installed multicard service for O2 Germany.
    You can use up to 5 sim cards all having the same public number. The devices which are supposed to be used for terminating calls, sms ,mms can be chosen by the user (configurable from the mobile set). With last version of the service (using Camel phase 3) the terminating device for different type of traffic can be chosen dynamicaly (with complex logic behind) by the service – also location dependant. Meaning that for example when you are at home and at work your PDA takes the sms and your phone manages the terminating calls, on the way from work home all type of traffic is received on your car cell phone. All devices can be active at the same time (all can be used to make originating calls – for defined destinations and /or users even simultaneously). There is USSD driven user interface for the device management. If interested in details contact me on mrlaskowski@yahoo.fr

  12. Wow. That’s amazing. Thanks for posting the comment. I’m sure most readers will find it extremely useful. In the meantime, do you know if there is a simple way to simply make a copy of a 3G SIM card?

  13. need sim cloning

  14. how to make a 3g sim-card clone?? – if anyone knows :)

  15. [...] hey dude..check this out… TechTraction Is It Possible to Clone the SIM Card of Your GSM Phone? I found it useful in your [...]

  16. Hi Bret,
    I am in the UK and have an Orange Phone sim which is at least 10 years old, would this make it a V1 card and able to be copied.

    I want to put 1 sim in my car phone & 1 in my handheld it will save me swapping sim/phone each time I get in the car.

    Kind regards.

    Bazz

    For information:-
    Orange will only give me single number i.e. 2 sim cards 1 number if I change to a more expensive new monthly tarriff which I do not want to do.

  17. Hi Bazz, have you studied the SIM chip itself? Do you see any serial number or identifying numbers? You might find something on the chip itself. Otherwise, a 10 year old chip is most likely a V1 chip and one of those duplicates will probably work for you.

    Hope that helps.

  18. Hi Bret,

    Thanks for that, I will let you know how I get on.

    Kind regards.

    Bazz

  19. Thanks Bret for this eye opening post. I also love my PDA but find it a bit bulky to carry about. I don’t have a regular cell phone but have been thinking about buying one. I wasn’t sure if it was possible to clone a sim card or not but it seems that you can from what you say. Thanks I shall need to do the further research.

  20. Sorry Linda, but I believe you misunderstood my post. Only the oldest of all SIM chips v 1.0 can be cloned. Anything more recent than those chips CANNOT be cloned.

    Thanks for the comment. Hope that clears things up.

  21. Okay a lot of explanation and info here. But let us say I want to use 3 sim cards in one phone. Got a blackberry 8100 from work. Nice little phone and has all the options I need. Now I went out and got myself a supersim only cost me 5 USD with S/H so if it doesnt work I wont be heartbroke. I hate to cary 3 phones. work/privte and out of country line which I got coz I travel abroad. Anyway I tried it withthe software and it just kept searching and calculating without result. needless to say it doesnt work. fortunately the current solution is getting a phone with 3 simslots and most of these babies work together, so you dont need to switch between sims or forward calls to another phonenumber.
    Ohh since I have the device would be nice if I could actually clone my own sims…does work with the addressbook and sms messages…it is a shame couldnt get the (ki)

  22. i am very intrested of cloning 3G card and create a 12 in 1 SIM in thatcase i can use my Smartphone with my Mobile broadband and my regular mobileSIM

  23. Sorry Markus, cloning a 3G chip is impossible with easily accessible software and utilities.

    Thanks for the comment.

  24. FIGURED IT OUT!!! CLONE A 3G SIM!!! I cloned a 3g sim card!!!!! I will show you how! Ok, download magicsim first..Then download simeditor rom download.com for your contacts. buy your sim card reader/writer… you cant use the 12 in 1 card,YOU HAVE TO USE A BLANK 3G CARD!! CHANK CARDS WONT WORK!!only another blank 3g card…. Go into your phone settings, get to the sim unlock setting, select it, it will ask for a passcode… note that i have had at&t for about 3 years now… call at&t tech support and tell then that you want the code. They will give it to you. i they wont ask them to connect you to another tech person… they will give you the unlock code, and that enables your reader to find the simcard and the ki. once you unlock it on the phone put it in the reader, click connect… once it says connected, select crack… once it is done finding the ki, it will prompt you to save it. save it to the desktop… then insert your blank 3g card, select write… it will ask you to select your dat file, select the one you saved to the desktop.. it will take about 5-10 minutes to write it, depending on if you have many contacts or not. and wala. you have a cloned 3g sim card. I have run 2 phones at once but it says call failed when you try to dial out on one when the other is on a call, so you can only use one at a time.

  25. Wow Donjuan, looks like you’ve managed to solve a problem that many of us have been looking to solve. If you have a website/blog that details your instructions, please let me know and I’ll check it out and post it as a Friday Find if the instructions look good. Thanks for adding to the discussion.

  26. Bret/Donjuan,

    Any progress on getting a website/blog which details the 3G sim card clone instructions? I am very curious as to the details, for I have a very similar need. I would like to have a cloned SIM card used in a second phone so that I can have a choice in which phone I use, given the particular circumstances at hand. This way I only maintain one phone line but have a choice of which phone I use for he given moment. Please post reply asap.

  27. Sorry Bob M, but I’m not any closer to cloning a SIM chip than you are. It appeared that DonJuan had a solution but I have not heard back from him regarding my request for further details. At this point I still believe that cloning anything other than a V1 SIM chip is completely impossible. If anyone out there disagrees, please chime in with specific details on how to do it.

    Sorry I couldn’t be of more assistance Bob.

  28. I also have AT&T and have had to call them for an unlock code, I’ve not tried to clone a SIM but I can tell you this, the unlock code they gave me unlocked the PHONE and not the SIM. I am a 10+ year customer of SWB/Cingular/ATT they gave me the code no problem, but I was prompted to get the number when I tried to use an overseas SIM card in my Cingular Phone and it wanted an UNLOCK and PIN code. I’m not sure if DonJuan is talking about the same thing or not, but it sounds a little fishy to me.

  29. Eric, you’re probably right. DonJuan might be confusing cloning SIM cards with unlocking phones. I know that there are numerous people dying to do exactly what we both want to do (web site statistics show this post as my most popular post). Therefore, I have to believe that if someone had figured it out, we’d all know about it by now.

    Thanks for the comment.

  30. i am also very intrested of cloning 3G card. But my problem is, i think also the problem of the others, to get the Ki number. Because if i would had this, i could clone a virutal sim card with the mobilesoftware SIMORE. Someone now how to get the Authentication Key?

    Thanks

  31. I have a cingular sim card, now with AT&T. I was in Astakos, Greece, and made a phone call to the U.S. Starting one hour later, $1400 worth of calls were made and charged to my account, to Jamaica. I have always had the phone in my possession, and did not make these calls. AT&T says their research indicates the calls came from my phone. I called Motorola, they say my phone, a RAZR, is not clonable, but that phone specific information is not transmitted anyway…so AT&T cannot know that the same phone was used, only the same (or a cloned?) sim card.

    It would appear to me that my sim card was cloned, via information broadcast during a call (or by bluetooth access?), and used to make these calls. I am looking for corroborating information to support this hypothesis to fight these charges on my AT&T wireless phone bill. I would greatly appreciate any information you can provide in this regard.

    Thank-you

  32. redpike, that really sucks, but in those countries, they can have cell phone listening devices and stuff that the fcc wont let us have here, thats why you cant buy a scanner that goes in the 800-1900mhz range of cellphones. my guess is that they intercepted your call, got your ki number and other info and then saved it to a sim and made the calls…. or a simple way would be to take your phone while you were sleeping and use it, then put it back. and i have cloned my sim card, not unlocked my phone, att gave me my cards code, its like a sku number, go to your menu in your phone, select unlock sim and it asks for a code. i will try to make a website with full instructions, but you cant do it without the code from at&t.

  33. Donjuan, thanks for the response.

    They didn’t get my phone, physically. It was always in my possession, and when I was sleeping (which was after the first calls were made) I was on a ship at anchor, at quite a distance from shore (a 20 minute boat ride), with military equipment on board…and the security personnel and systems in place that go along with that.

    So, the information had to be stolen via some sort of electronic sniffer, to pick up my phones info during a transmission.

    Thanks,

    Red.

  34. I am in the unique position where I work for a cellular company, have access to all the sims I need, phones and can extract any information i need out of customer service. DonJuan, if you need a tester, I would gladly offer my resources.

  35. when you guys talk about ” clone ” a sim card from original one, some peple already work on ” create ” a new sim card without need to use original sim card:

    1. get the proper software ( tell you where to buy later)
    2. get the proper card reader ( about $15/unit )
    3. get the proper blank super sim card ( important!)
    4. key in target phone number to software
    5. take 45 minutes, the software will ” translate ” Ki out from target mobile phone number
    6. copy everything to blank sim

    now you have other people account to make phone call as well as spy on others converstaion!

  36. ki can be translated from phone number…clone sim from another sim is no longer a tech…

  37. Thanks everyone for your recent comments and bringing life back into this discussion.

    First, Redpike I’m sorry but I have no idea how someone could have co-opted your phone to the tune of $1400 worth of calls. I have no expertise in that area but suspect that covertly making calls with a bluetooth connected device might have been possible but is just my uneducated guess. Sorry.

    As for the discussion about how to clone or copy a SIM chip, I’m sticking with my original assessment — it CANNOT be done. A few of the comments in this thread suggest that it be done, or even that some people have done it. However, the necessary details for cloning or copying a SIM chip are always missing from these claims of success. Again, if you are someone that has said you have done it, then by all means tell all of us exactly how to do it, or include a URL to a complete article that outlines everything needed to clone a chip. If a link is provided, and it “really” does explain everything, I will leave the link in the comment. If not, it’ll be considered spam and removed.

    Sorry to be a pessimist but I haven’t seen or read anything in any of these comments that leads me to believe cloning a SIM Chip is possible.

  38. Pringles, thanks, i do need help trying to get around customer service, i cloned mine, and i am running two sims with 1 number on the same account, but i cannot clone my friends cards because i need to call customer service to get the sims unlock code… it unlocks the anti tamper software and it enables my cardreader to recognize it. do you know a way to disable the software or a way to get around it? I want to be able to clone a card without a hassle. and how do you guys translate the ki through the phone number? and i was able to clone a few tuyo cards i got on ebay for cheap but those are v1 cards i believe. still, it works on tmobiles network.

  39. FULL INSTRUCTIONS:
    1. Buy simcard reader/writer.
    2. Buy blank 3g simcard
    3. Download Magicsim at http://www.magicsim.com/en/multi-sim.asp?new_id=6
    4. Download http://www.filecart.com/Windows/System-Utilities/Backup-Restore/USB-SIM-Card-Reader-Software_1711_1.html
    5. install programs.
    6. go in phone tools, select sim card, then select unlock sim, it will promt for a code.
    7 call att&t, they will ask for your phone number, your account info, name and security code, then they will ask why you want to unlock your simcard, just tell them you need to unlock your sim to get it to work with your overseas phone or something.
    8. once they give you the sim unlock code, enter it, and it will say sim unlocked.
    9. remove the sim from your phone, place it in the cardreader, click read from card in magic sim program.
    10. once it says connected, select crack sim in the toolbar. click strong ki and clink all of the other find options and then click start.
    11. Once your ki is found and the crack is finished, click file, save as and save your cracked sim info to a dt file.
    12. IMPORTANT!!! you must click disconnect from the file menu or you will ruin your simcard. once it says disconnected, remove the sim. put it in your phone and see if it still works, it should. if not, you either did not unlock your sim, or you tried to copy it instead of crack and save.
    13. insert black 3g card Use other program, not magic sim at this point.
    14. click connect
    15. it will say no info found if it is truly blank.
    16. select write to sim, it will promt you to select a dat file, select the one you saved before, now click start, it will take about 10 minutes to write it, once it is complete, it will ask for a security code, enter the security code at&t gave you, then click finish.
    17. your card is cloned. if you try to make 2 calls at the same time, one will go through, the other will say call failed, and both phones will get the same messages, text and voice, and both will recieve the same calls, but only one can talk at a time.

  40. DonJuan, the only sim code which is with customer service and no one else is an actual PUK code. This is the master code which bypasses all SIM security in the event the wrong sim unlock sodes are used on a handset. I am not sure if this is the same code you are referring to. It is unique to every sim card and it is the code you get when you lock yourself out of your sim. If this is it, I have ready availabilty to such a code with any sim card I activate for this testing, and we can give it a shot with your method.

  41. Hi everyone, thanks for the continued interest in this article. Just as an FYI, I’ve taken DonJuan’s cloning instructions and put them in a new post. If you try these instructions, please share them with a comment on the new post. Thanks.

    http://www.techtraction.com/2008/10/01/how-to-clone-your-cell-phones-sim-card-maybe/

  42. [...] para la siguiente ya he aprendido la lección, buscaré información antes y me cercioraé por duplicado.  Posted on: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 23:27 pm  electrónica. Puedes seguir las [...]

  43. Just know that indeed the older cards can be cloned. I’ve done it.

    My original GSM phone was the brick 9100 Nokia Communicator. I bought it on eBay and then went to a local multi-brand cellular store. So, I got whatever TMO card they had in stock. This would have been late 2001 to mid 2002, not sure.

    Since then, the card has served in a number of Nokia 9290’s, either they fail or I’ve broken one. I cloned the card and used it in a Sumsung T509 or a data card. Unfortunately, I messed up on the boot code and the card locked. I have another kit and someday I’ll get around to duping it again.

    I think that if the second card is in data service, there is no conflict. Rumors abound that if “the system” sees two identical sims it shuts down and big goons come and break your knees. I don’t think so. I mean, all you are doing is saying, “Hey, I’m a customer and I want to log onto the GPRS system.” No two way calls.

    Another unaddressed issue is where to buy blank, unbranded sim cards. You can buy the kits with ones, but it seems ridiculous to keep buying a kit to get a card. IIRC, I’ve tried to copy later model TMO cards and to write to them to no avail.

  44. i want to know wheather it is possible to clone a sim & record the calls made & recived on that sim card.

  45. i want to know wheather it is possible to clone a sim & record the calls made & recived on that sim card.

    please help me this is necessary

  46. Based on everything I have read, seen, and tried the answer is no.

  47. Sorry, the answer is simply no it cannot be done. Some may claim it can be but I have yet to see anyone make good on this claim.

  48. DONT DO IT. I just god done serving a 15 month sentence for breaking the fcc cell phone cloning law, thankfully at&t didnt file any lawsuits against me because i agreed to tell then how i did it. If you check att’s user guide, it specifically tells you the tampering and cloning laws. You dont want to go to a federal prison like me. its not worth it at all. i spent only 3 months at Lompoc Federal Correctional Complex in socal, it wasnt very dangerous, i met a guy in there that got busted dubbing movies while he worked at paramount films. The bottom line is, just dont do it. I was released early for good behavior and because i agreed to help the fcc and now im on probation for 10 years, i cant have a cell phone, and i am no longer able to do anything without my po knowing. I also have a nice little gps anklet that tracks me everywhere i go. I am allowed out of state with approval of a judge, but i cant leave the continental us (no hawaii or alaska fishing trips). Just dont do it, but if you do dont get caught!

  49. Fascinating, Donjuan! My question is, but what did you do with the cloned SIM? There’s a big ethical difference between copying your own SIM so that you don’t have to move it from device to device and copying in order to ride for free.

    Legally, is it the cloning that is illegal or the use of the cloned SIM? Or the use for illegal purposes, to gain something without paying for it?

    Speaking for myself and most others here, we have no intentions to defraud anyone, paying for all minutes and services used.

    PS Couldn’t they at least allowed you a CDMA phone??? I’ve discovered that most judges and probably juries are technical idiots.

  50. Is it possible for a Telecom operator to provide Authentication key (Ki) if the Operator wants???
    And if it is possible, then with the Ki whether clonning is possible with the existing 3G SIM/V-2.0 SIM Card or not.

  51. Saiful, I wouldn’t worry about it. In a few follow up articles on this subject I’ve basically concluded it is completely impossible to clone a SIM chip with simple over the counter software. I have yet to meet anyone that can clearly demonstrate the process. Sorry.

  52. Bret, you have to qualify that. The old 1.0 was easy to clone with the reader HW and appropriate SW. I’ve done it, as mentioned above.

    Later versions, I agree based on both my attempts and the consensus of posters here and elsewhere. It can’t be done, at least at the level of sophistication available to us mere mortals.

  53. A great read – got my hopes up there for a minute. I have sucessfully cloned a sim1 card.
    My situation was that I had both a hand-held mobile phone and a car with a built in gsm phone. I quickly got tired of dismantling my hand-held to insert the sim into the car and visa versa.
    After a lot of scratching around the net I discovered http://www.sim-max.com from whom (in 2005) I purchased software to clone sims and blank sim cards. I was a bit nervous about ordering the product in the first place and then again when I slipped my sim into the card reader….it all worked out perfectly. I used a sim card reader purchased from Jaycar in New Zealand. Now, I live in Australia – cancelled the phone account in NZ. I still have the sims (they’re re-writable) and I shipped the car here so..I am back to square one. Sim V1 are still in use all over the planet and they can be cloned.
    I think Sim-max have all but given up trying to cobble together software to crack sim v2 or anything later. They were trying for a while there.

    The telcos can’t tell if you are using a clone. The clone can only hold the same information as the original card anyway, and besides, its’ no different to putting your card into a new phone or your mate’s phone when your battery goes flat. We experimented with both cards on at the same time – only once. We could call out with two phones on – but couldn’t receive a call. I figured why push my luck and never tried again. There is a good market for sim cards in NZ on the online auction sites, but the chances of getting your hands on a sim1 are pretty slim nowadays. There are no regs on obtaining sim cards in NZ – over the counter affair, no ID, no dramas. In Australia – best to take a passport with you. They want to know everything about you before they let you use a mobile phone.
    If you happen to have an original sim1 and you want to confidently clone it – talk to the sim-max people. While they don’t advertise the software or the blank cards anymore, I’m sure they will be able to supply both.

  54. Bret
    Is there no way to clone SIM only 2 in 1 if the operator itselt wants by any means? Can you describe any possible way to clone?

  55. Saiful, based on everything I have read on the subject the answer is, no you cannot clone anything beyond a v1 sim chip.

  56. Jafa thanks for sharing your experience with us. Your experience with v1 SIM chips further confirms my statements that cloning a v1 chip is possible but anything beyond that is not. Thanks for the comment

  57. All of the cloners and cards available on eBay that I’ve seen come from Hong Kong. None on these shores. It’s just there in the mail (the post for some!) one day about a week later.

    Let’s not forget that it is your original SIM that must be v1. I know that sounds over simple, but just a reminder. In the interest of trying to solve a problem on my phone I got a new SIM card. TM had to be notified of the change for my account to be valid. That card was new, old stock, and a v2. And no, it didn’t solve my UMA problem, but it was only $5.

    As the old v1’s go to the land fills and they have a smaller and smaller user base, this whole cloning thing is essentially academic or for those whom the light bulb just went on, “No you can’t.”

  58. Hi Bret,

    I read all of the comments about cloning and the only person that seemed to know how to clone of V2 sims was “Marek”. He left his email, did u contact him? Any luck?

    Donjaun said “I just god done serving a 15 month sentence for breaking the fcc cell phone….” doesn’t make scene… his last post before jail is on September 26th, 2008 at 4:25 pm and after jail was on March 5th, 2009 at 4:20 am. From which I can conclude that he served 8month… or he had pc in Jail… or He did only 3month.. Still smells fishy and no one had success so far following his instructions.

    V1 and V2 (3g) sims were mentioned a lot in the comments, the only thing I didnt understand is:

    1) Is it possible to visually identify the V1 and V2 sims? by looking to the number printed on sims?

    What I have in my head is: If i could buy the V1 sim and ask the telco that i want my change my current phone (sim) to this sim1 and try to clone it… (I have a friend working with telco here… so hope he can do sim swap for me)

    What is your opinion? Would it work?

    I live in Sydney, Australia for 5 years now. Saiful says that in here telcos wants to know everything about u, with which I don’t agree, cause you can buy PRE-PAID sims in major supermarket like you buy apples in fruit section.
    However they do check ur ID if you are going for contract

  59. in Saudi Arabia there is Mobile Operator STC.
    they offer these options for small fee

    CHECK

    http://www.stc.com.sa/cws/portal/en/individual/ind-aljawal/ind-alj-discover/ind-alj-dis-3gservices/ind-alj-dis-3gsrv-3gmsim?favouritLang=en

    AND

    http://www.stc.com.sa/cws/portal/en/individual/ind-aljawal/ind-alj-discover/ind-alj-dis-3gservices/ind-alj-dis-3gserv-MultiNo?favouritLang=en

    previously i was able to read the IMEI from the SIM card and insert it into blank SIM which can hold upto 9 lines
    only one works at a time.

  60. Hi Bret,

    Thanks for posting this. I have a similar problem with my GSM phone and an EDGE PCMCIA card where I have to take the SIM from the phone and put it into the card when I want to use the internet. I was hoping to be able to clone the card but I guess it’s not such a big deal to swap it out! Thanks again.

    Regards,

    Colin.

  61. Bret
    which phone co have you worked for?

  62. Hi Simmer, sorry if I gave the wrong impression, but I don’t work for a phone company.

  63. Bret, is it your opinion that Donjuan was fabricating his instructions, and did not actually clone a card at all? Did you try his method, following each instruction carefully? He did give very specific instructions. He was very pro-cloning, then he disappeared for a number of months, and reappeared saying he had served time. It’s possible he did indeed figure out how to clone V2 sim cards, and was using that knowledge in a less-than-honest manner. I’m just wondering if the instructions he posted were ever tried by you or anyone else.

    In any case, this is one of the most interesting threads I’ve stumbled upon in a long time, and it seems ever-lasting. Bookmarked.

  64. Bret, do you know if anyone tried the method posted above by donjuan?

  65. Sorry EricRon, I don’t know of anyone that has successfully executed DonJuan’s instructions.

  66. Hi EricRon, hard to say. The instructions sound good but the recommended software did not pass a virus scan. Of course there is the outside chance that the scan was a false positive. In my opinion, I don’t believe the instructions work as I have to yet see anyone say they were successful. If they do work, then it is only with a SIM v1 chip. My recommendation — don’t do it.

  67. I don’t believe Don Juan ever cloned a recent card. For one thing, there is no such thing as a “3G card.” There are V.1., V.2, and (I think) a V3. As everyone here knows, “3G” is a data protocol.

    The “unlock code” he refers to is just that, to open the phone to other carriers. It has NOTHING to do with the SIM card.

    His crappy spelling and sentence structure doesn’t make it any easier to figure out what he’s saying, but the bottom line – hey, prove me wrong, I’d love it! – is that no V.2 or later card has been cloned with ordinarily available tools.