SIM Swapping Fraud: The threat of SIM swap is increasing rapidly in the digital age and your mobile number can become a means to steal your money and other personal data. Through this SIM swap, scammers start controlling the messages you read or even the calls you make. This level of attack is only possible if they can copy the SIM card running on your phone and create a clone that works on their device. SIM swapping is not a new scam by any means but scammers use a variety of tactics to get access to the data people keep on their phones and once they have obtained a duplicate SIM, they can misuse your phone’s vital information.
Here are all the details about SIM swap fraud, how these attacks are carried out and how to keep yourself safe-
What is SIM swap attack?
SIM swap scammers want to get your personal data. They can use it together with anyone on the mobile network. After getting the duplicate SIM card, after knowing your address details, Aadhaar card information, they get access to your data and start executing it. For this, first of all scammers may contact you through a support agent, courier delivery person or any other person to ask for your address and share your identity.
They may then send you phishing links or ask you to install random apps. However, this happens only in some cases. Most of the times a few calls can be enough to collect the users’ data and issue a duplicate SIM card based on it. Criminals trick telecom operators by taking information like your name, date of birth and address to swap SIMs.
When scammers have enough information they contact the customer care of your mobile operator. They impersonate you and claim that either my SIM card is lost, my SIM is damaged, I have to get a new SIM activated. They then use your stolen information to impersonate the real owner and convince the company to transfer (port) your number to a new SIM card they have.
As soon as the telecom company activates the SIM present with the scammer, your SIM gets switched off and your phone signal goes away. After this, all the calls and SMS go to the scammer after which they can get the OTP of your bank account, email and social media.
How to avoid becoming a victim of SIM swap
- To stay safe from SIM swap fraud, never disclose address, Aadhaar number, or any other sensitive data like your PAN that can be used to impersonate a telecom operator. Apart from this, you can also use SIM locking for your security.
- Most people keep a lock on their phone, but not on the SIM. Set the SIM PIN by going to your phone’s settings. The benefit of this will be that if someone inserts your SIM in another phone, he will have to enter that PIN first.
- If you enter the wrong PIN, the SIM will be locked and the scammer will not be able to use it.
- Do not rely only on SMS based OTP. Criminals can see your SMS by swapping SIMs. Use apps like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator. These are linked to your phone’s hardware rather than the SIM card. If possible, use physical security keys like YubiKey.
- Don’t make your personal information (especially phone number and email) public on social media.
- Do not click on unknown links as your identity can be stolen.
- If your mobile network suddenly disappears and shows ‘No Service’ for a long time, immediately call your customer care from another phone and ask if there is a SIM exchange request on your number.
- If you receive any unknown SMS or email asking for SIM change, take immediate action.
- Also keep email alerts on in your bank account. If the SIM is locked you will get information about unusual transactions via email.
- Have a separate private email ID for your bank and important accounts which is not used anywhere publicly.
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