This article is from Trend Micro.
A SIM swap scam, aka SIM swapping, SIM jacking, or SIM hijacking, is when a criminal steals someone’s mobile phone number by tricking the victim’s cell phone provider into transferring the number to a SIM card that is in the criminal’s possession.
After the number has been transferred, the criminal can insert the SIM card into their phone and use it to access the victim’s online accounts by bypassing two-step verification.
Here is a breakdown of what happens during a SIM swap scam:
According to a recent FBI public service announcement, SIM swap scams are on the rise — and causing massive losses to victims. Throughout 2021, the FBI received 1,611 reports of SIM swapping, with losses totaling over $68 million. This is in contrast to the entire two-year period between January 2018 and December 2020, when there were just 320 SIM swapping-related complaints, with victims losing approximately $12 million.
The FBI recommends people take the following precautions to stay protected from SIM swapping scams:
Wondering how a criminal would even get their hands on the personal information needed to pull off a SIM swap scam in the first place? It’s no secret — they most often get it from data leaks.
The 2021 T-Mobile and LinkedIn data leaks exposed over 800 million people’s data — including personal information such as their full names, physical addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and more. Leaked data is commonly posted to underground internet forums and the dark web, where criminals can get their hands on it and use it to commit various crimes, including SIM swap scams.
Trend Micro ID Security — available for Android and iOS — can scan the internet and the dark web 24/7 for your personal information. If your data is leaked, the app notifies you immediately so you can take action to avoid people stealing your identity. If your information is out there, you’ll be the first to know!
Here are some of the features offered by Trend Micro ID Security :
To learn more about Trend Micro ID Security and claim your free 30-day trial, click the button below.
If so, here’s what the FBI says you should do:
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