Signs You’re a Victim of a SIM Swap Attack (and What to Do Next)
Changing a SIM card (or hacking a SIM card) is one of the most unpleasant methods of hacking, of which you can also become a victim. Basically, it forwards your mobile number to another SIM card and another phone. Not only does this mean that all your text messages and calls are redirected somewhere else, but it also means that your two-factor codes , often required to log into online accounts like email and banking, are redirected as well.
The scam occurs in the same way as if you registered a new SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card yourself, if you changed carriers but wanted to keep your number, or if you somehow lost your original SIM card and you need a new one – only it’s not you asking for a change, it’s someone pretending to be you.
As potentially dangerous as a SIM swap attack can be, there are ways to protect against it, as well as ways to try to regain access to your phone number and your accounts if you believe you have been subjected to this particular form of hacking.
How does a SIM swap attack work?
The key to a SIM swap attack is to trick your cell phone provider into replacing your existing cell phone number with a new SIM card. Different carriers have different security checks to prevent this, but essentially the scammer will need access to some sensitive information in order for them to impersonate you. This could be an address, a password, or the answer to a security question.
Hackers can get this information in a variety of ways, and all the usual strategies can be used: you could be sent a phishing link via email or social media, your details could be exposed in a data breach, and there’s little you can do. take your time or someone might notice them looking over your shoulder in the café.
Sometimes the exchange can be attempted in a physical store, sometimes over the phone through a call center, and sometimes online – it really depends on the information the scammer was able to obtain and how the phone company operates. According to the FBI , this can even be done by bribing someone inside to hand over your data.
Not every SIM swap hack is successful, so you may notice suspicious behavior even if nothing happened, such as an email from your carrier asking you to confirm that you want to move your number somewhere else. Even if the scam is unsuccessful, you should still take precautions in case it tries again (possibly after more data has been stolen).
How to protect yourself from a SIM swap attack
The methods used to obtain personal data for a SIM swap attack are fairly traditional, which means the precautions you can take to protect yourself from it are quite traditional. Being aware of the potential threat that SIM swapping is (and what it involves) is a good start in terms of keeping yourself safe and minimizing the risk of your own number being stolen.
As always, to protect your data, be careful when clicking any links you receive via email, social media, or messaging apps—double check the source and, if possible, go directly to the site (such as your bank) to log in instead of clicking on the link. Keep your web browser and other software updated to ensure you have the latest security features, and make sure your passwords are long, complex and impossible to guess .
It’s also worth checking with your cell phone provider about the precautions they take to prevent SIM card replacement. Most are now well set up to block fraudulent number switching attempts. It may also help to review the security measures required to access your bank account. If you know what details and security information are needed to access your accounts, you can better detect when someone is trying to steal that data.
To make it more difficult for scammers to gain access to your digital accounts, you should enable two-step verification wherever possible. As we explained earlier , if you have this option, you should always use an authentication app to do this rather than your phone number – this way you can still control access to your accounts even if someone manages to steal the number your mobile phone.
Signs that you are a victim of a SIM attack
There are a few telltale signs that a SIM card has been swapped: calls and texts aren’t reaching you, you have no cell signal, and you’re getting alerts about suspicious activity on your accounts (such as your bank account or email ). It can be scary when all of these problems start piling up, but it’s important not to panic and methodically work to regain control of your number.
What to do next
The sooner you take action after a suspected SIM swap attack, the better. For any accounts you still have access to, change passwords where possible, and follow the instructions for signing out all other devices from your accounts (for example , here’s how to do it for your Apple account).
Contact your cell phone provider as soon as possible, although you may have to borrow someone else’s phone to do this. Because you are truly yourself, you should be able to validate your identity and do something about what happened. It also makes sense to contact your bank; Focus on recovering and protecting your most important accounts first before turning your attention to the rest.
The good news is that the increased use of biometrics and passwords is making it harder for others to pretend to be you, although it is by no means impossible. If you have other trusted devices in addition to your phone, such as tablets or laptops, set them up as quickly as possible to report violations and restore access to your accounts.