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SIM Swapping

SIM swapping is a type of account takeover scam where fraudsters take control of a victim's phone number to access personal information. They do this by impersonating the victim to their mobile carrier and having the SIM card reassigned to their device. This allows them to intercept text messages and calls meant for two-factor authentication and password resets, taking over the victim's online accounts. Carriers and users can help prevent SIM swapping by adding pins or passwords to accounts and using authentication methods that don't rely on SMS.

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23 views

SIM Swapping

SIM swapping is a type of account takeover scam where fraudsters take control of a victim's phone number to access personal information. They do this by impersonating the victim to their mobile carrier and having the SIM card reassigned to their device. This allows them to intercept text messages and calls meant for two-factor authentication and password resets, taking over the victim's online accounts. Carriers and users can help prevent SIM swapping by adding pins or passwords to accounts and using authentication methods that don't rely on SMS.

Uploaded by

mothewockstar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SIM Swapping

SIM stands for subscriber identity Warning Signs You’ve Been SIM Swapped
module, and it’s commonly known as
Symptoms occur quickly when a SIM-swapping attack hits. Here are
that small, removable chip card used in a
a few warning signs that SIM swapping has occurred:
mobile phone. Each SIM card is unique
and is associated with your mobile • Friends might tell you that your social media accounts have been
account. SIM-swapping frauds are on the hacked and you see the posts you never made.
rise. SIM swapping is a type of account
takeover scam where fraudsters take • The phone might start behaving strangely. Texting and calling
control of your phone number to access may not work or the phone network will show no signals. In
all kinds of personal information. They addition, your SIM card will not show your service provider
can even use it as an attack vector for company.
two-factor authentication and one-time • If you’re on Wi-Fi, you might start getting emails about account
passwords (OTP). It requires only minor changes.
tech skills for an attacker to target your
cellphone number, which is why it has • Some wireless carrier services use client email to send
become popular with younger, less notifications. For example, if your email account is not
sophisticated fraudsters. compromised yet, you will receive a notification via email. Now you
know that your new SIM card got activated even though you never
How SIM Swapping Occurs requested a new SIM card.

The SIM swapping scam starts with a • You are no longer the owner of your accounts. It is because your
person impersonating you as they account detail got changed by the attacker.
contact your mobile carrier. They will
• Unauthorized bank activity could start happening. Common
claim that they have a new SIM card to
scams targeting your members
activate for your account. They might say
the original phone and SIM card were Preventing a SIM - Swapping Attack
lost, destroyed, or sold with the SIM card
left in accidentally. The mobile carrier will • An effective method is to contact their mobile phone carrier to
most likely request some identity add a PIN or password to the account. If an attacker doesn’t
verification, such as the account PIN or extricate this PIN before attempting to hijack the account, it could
security questions that you set up, or the thwart any attack altogether. Some carriers may even allow their
last four digits of your social security customers to set up isolated PINs for SIM cards inserted in phones.
number. Once the criminal has
• To protect your accounts, consider the use of a two-factor
persuaded the mobile carrier’s customer
authentication device or app that doesn’t rely on SMS text
service representative that they’re legit,
messages. Two-factor authentication is a great way to bolster
they’re able to get your phone number
security.
reassigned to their SIM. The fraudster
can now intercept all your member’s text • Some carriers also have features that could potentially stop SIM
messages and phone calls – meaning they swapping. For example, Verizon has a feature that can be enabled
can interfere with any password resets from their My Verizon app called “Number Lock.” This feature
via call or text. They can also receive two- enables customers to prevent an unauthorized port out or SIM
step verification passcodes for accounts swap of your mobile number.
where it is enabled. The criminal has
essentially disconnected your phone
number from your phone and assigned it
to their SIM card

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