SIM swap scam is a cybercrime where scammers trick phone companies into handing over control of someone's phone number. Once they have it, they can access important things like OTPs for transactions, social media accounts, and other sensitive digital information. Hence, all of us must stay aware and safe against all such SIM swap fraud activities.
Read the article to learn more about SIM swap scam, ranging from its meaning and types like SIM jacking & SIM card swap to operations and preventive measures.
Overview
The table below summarises some key details about the SIM card scam that one should be aware of.
| SIM card scam | Fraudsters take undue advantage of someone else's SIM card for personal gain |
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| Types | SIM card swap, SIM jacking |
| Preventive measures | Use unique passwords, don't share personal info over calls, and secure your devices with 2-factor authentication |
What Is A SIM Swap Scam?
In India, where there are over 1.17 billion mobile users, this kind of fraud is growing fast because getting a new SIM card is easy. Scammers persuade company staff to transfer a victim's number to their own SIM card. Then they can do things like reset passwords, access emails, and make illegal transfers using OTPs sent to the swapped number.
SIM swap attack is a well-thought-out cybercrime in which scammers fool phone carriers into giving them control of someone's phone number. Once they have it, they can access critical information such as OTPs for transactions, social media accounts, and other sensitive digital data.
How Is SIM Swapping Getting Easier?
It seems that now the process of SIM swapping has been made even easier for scammers. Now, a SIM swap attack is done just through a two-step verification process. The scammers first call the person whose SIM they want to swap. They impersonate officers or other officials to get sensitive information from people.
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One such way is when they call, saying they want to improve your internet connection speed. They then convince them to give them the 20-digit number on their SIM card.
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It is known as the Integrated Circuit Card ID (ICCID), which is printed on the back of a SIM card. It is for network registration, security, and device activation.
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So, when a person shares their ICCID with scammers, it helps them activate the scammer's SIM card.
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After getting the ICCID, they will then ask the victim to press 1, which finally activates the SIM card.
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After the SIM card activation, the victim’s SIM card is deactivated.
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No internet will work using that SIM card.
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All the sensitive and personal information on the phone will then be transferred to the new SIM card. All information, including messages on all the apps, will also be forwarded.
The Target Audience
This scam is targeted at people who are most likely to easily fall for it. It is very important to remember that no legitimate organisation will ask you to share such information with them. Especially on the phone, make sure not to convey any personal details. Scammers may get hold of all your information and might use it to withdraw all the money in the victim's accounts.
Read More: TRAI's New Rule: Big Smiles for SIM Users!
How Do You Protect Yourself?
Some of the ways through which people can protect themselves against SIM swap fraud are as follows:
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To protect yourself from scams, use strong and unique passwords.
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Always be cautious of random calls that ask you to convey personal information through calls.
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Always remember to update all your systems to prevent any scammers from hacking into your devices.
Read More: TRAI Proposes To Connect Your SIM With Aadhaar
Growing Number Of Cyber Frauds In India
The instances of SIM card scams have also been rising fast. According to a report of 2024, people of India lost around Rs. 22,800 crore to various types of cyber frauds. The Reserve Bank of India has also reported that around 36 crore have been lost in criminal activities of cyber fraud. These aren’t merely numbers but a representation of how criminals are devising creative ways of defrauding people through ways like SIM jacking or other types of SIM swap fraud.
Conclusion
With such SIM card scams becoming more and more common everywhere, always remember to be extra cautious regarding all your personal information and data. Be updated on such scams to know their new techniques and stay ahead of scammers. Report any suspicious activity to the authorities as well. Inform and educate all your friends and family to make sure they don’t fall prey to these scammers.
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