After a Delhi man was duped and robbed of over Rs 50 lakh by unknown scammers via a series of missed calls without sharing any One-Time Password (OTP) or personal details with the accused, the Hyderabad city police warned citizens to be wary of the SIM-swap technique.
Criminals gain access to a victim’s phone through phishing emails, vishing phone calls, smishing text messages, and other methods. They then use personal information to create a false ID, impersonate the victim, and trick the telecom service provider into issuing a duplicate SIM card. The original SIM is blocked once the duplicate SIM begins to function.
The fraudster can obtain an OTP and other alerts required to complete financial transactions through the victim’s bank account using the duplicate SIM.
If residents believe their SIM card has been switched, they should contact their service provider immediately.
Some early warning signs of a SIM-swapping attack:
When you are subjected to a SIM-swap attack, your device will begin to malfunction. You are unable to send or receive text messages or phone calls. You will be signed out of all your applications and other accounts and will be unable to log back in. Your email or social media accounts could be hacked.
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If you have the appropriate settings enabled, you may receive notifications or email alerts indicating that the profile information for your service provider and other accounts has been changed or that logins have been made from unknown locations or devices.
In some cases, your provider will notify you that your phone number or SIM card has been activated elsewhere. Your financial institutions will notify you of any fraudulent or suspicious activity.
How can SIM swapping be avoided?
It is required to use authentication apps to set up two-factor authentication. Never, ever click on links in suspicious emails. Most web browsers will ask you if you want the sites you visit to remember your password or even your debit or credit card information. It is preferable if you always say no and avoid using auto fill as a shortcut.
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