Sim swapping is becoming more common. According to security experts, changing a SIM card in a mobile phone is something that happens more and more. Fortunately, there is something that can be done about it.
Sim Swapping
SIM swapping occurs when a cybercriminal has a duplicate SIM card. For this he or she needs your personal data. Think of an ID, phone number and full name. Information that is sometimes easy to obtain with a simple phishing attack. They then contact your provider, pretending to be you and can bypass the often mandatory two-factor authentication of, for example, banks. All they have to do is insert the SIM card into a device and they have instant access to all kinds of victim information, such as call logs and messages.
Check Point Software Technologies has put together tips on how to counteract these annoying practices. First, you need to ensure that you are careful with personal data. Actually, that is the standard phishing talk: be careful which websites you visit: does a url start with https? Also check whether you see other crazy things, for example: does ING suddenly have a red lion instead of an orange one? Is the Albert Heijn logo wrong?
Be careful
Do you see spelling mistakes or other suspicious things or do you have to give away all kinds of data that the company already has or that doesn’t seem necessary at all? Also check the domain name carefully. If you have received an e-mail from info@androirdworld.nl, you have probably received phishing. Also, don’t hesitate to contact the company that appears to be emailing you. Prevention is better than cure.
However, specifically for SIM swapping, there is another essential item on the checklist: are you losing your signal? Your mobile signal will probably be completely lost as soon as a malicious person uses the duplicate SIM card. You probably won’t be able to call and text anymore (and if you’re not on WiFi, you can’t WhatsApp and use the internet on your phone either). If something like this does happen, contact your provider and have your number blocked immediately and explain what might be going on and discuss what steps you can take next. For example, also check the police website for more information on SIM swapping.
Are you or do you know someone who has been the victim of SIM swapping? How did you discover and solve that? Leave it now in the comments.
– Thanks for information from Androidworld.