With a SIM card, most mobile communication devices can make and receive calls, send and receive text messages, and connect to the internet. A hacker may gain access to your mobile SIM account through a technique known as SIM swapping attack. By doing so, they may take full control of your mobile SIM card and all of the related phone numbers and transfer them to another SIM card they control. Because your mobile phone can’t establish a connection with your mobile operator, you won’t have any service whatsoever, including the ability to make or receive calls or texts.
Generally, hackers use SIM-swapping attacks to get access to your phone number and then change the passwords associated with your online accounts. Financial fraud, including the theft of funds from cryptocurrency or bank accounts, and the compromise of email and social media accounts, are all possibilities for a victim of a SIM swap attack.
If you have been the victim of a SIM swap assault, this guide will walk you through the steps you need to follow.
Call Your Phone Provider Immediately
If you have been a victim of SIM switching fraud, the first thing you should do is contact your mobile service provider. Remember that your phone can’t make calls anymore; if you’re lucky, you’ll be with someone willing to give you theirs. Using Google Hangouts, Voice, FreedomPop, Line, Skype, or Viber, you can make a landline call to the service provider.
Lock or Freeze All Your Accounts
Compile a list of the accounts that need immediate protection. Work your way down the list and apply a hold on any accounts that contain potentially sensitive information. Probably, the scammer has already changed your passwords; thus, if you have the option of freezing accounts on your phone rather than logging in, do so.
Disable 2FA and Increase Security
To disable two-factor authentication, adjust the settings of any account that you can still access. Eliminate any possible contact information for recovery as well. Possess an abundance of papers to be turned over to the authorities if the need arises.
Make sure the attacker can’t access any of your accounts by changing the two-factor authentication phone number. You should also activate all available security features and alarms. Ensure you take screenshots of each connected account, such as Facebook, before deleting them.
Notify Your Banks
You should inform your bank and other financial institutions about the potential identity report and request the holding of your accounts and bank card. The next step is to contact all major credit reporting agencies, where you may inquire about the possibility of having your credit blocked and report any instances of suspected credit theft. You may even want to change the number linked to your bank or credit card for security reasons.
Monitor Your Accounts
Please keep a close eye on your online accounts, credit reports, and bank statements to look for any unusual behavior that suggests that someone has accessed your account without proper authorization.
Call Your Phone Provider Again
Find out what kind of information you can get from them right now. Before you submit a complaint to the police, find out how they want you to mention your case. Find out if they can make any recommendations for you.
At times, they might divulge details such as the nature of the incident, the time it occurred, and if it took place in person or via phone.
You should also talk to them about the problem and implement any remedies they have to protect your account and stop this from happening again. Unexpectedly, they may be able to provide you with an additional degree of security that they hadn’t considered before.
Report an Incident
You should file a complaint with the law enforcement agency in your area, and you should also consider reporting it to the appropriate cybersecurity organizations in the country you live in.
Conclusion
If you feel you are a victim of a SIM swap fraud, take immediate action. As soon as possible, notify your mobile network operator of the event and request that they delete your SIM card. You should also notify your bank and any other financial institutions you may have so that they are aware of the risk of fraud. Make sure to capture any pertinent paperwork and correspondence about the event, as this will assist you in answering any further inquiries.
Do not hesitate to alert the local authorities to the fraud and provide them with any information they may require carrying out their investigations. Remember that the sooner you disclose the fraud, the better your prospects of collecting damages and identifying the offenders.
