Scam Watch 2024: SIM Swapping
Just like scammers are working hard to come up with new ways to grab your money or data, we will persist in making you aware of their tactics so you can avoid them.
We’ve done research on what scams will be new, “improved,” and persistent next year.
One of the scariest scams of 2024 that remains pervasive is called SIM swapping. It’s not new, but it’s one to look out for as it can be incredibly dangerous, especially in its newest iteration.
Here’s how it works:
In its previous iteration, criminals would pop out the physical SIM card in an unattended phone and put it into their phone. However, there is a newer version of the scam that doesn’t steal a physical SIM at all.
It begins with scammers harvesting personal data that can be used to answer your security questions. They can do this in a variety of ways, such as through social media polls or in conversations with you over text (see our “wrong number” scam to see how this might happen).
After gathering key personal information, the criminal contacts your cell phone carrier and convinces them to switch your phone number to a different SIM card, placed in the scammer’s phone. This means all calls and text messages will now go to their phone, not yours. Most importantly, it enables them to override two-factor authentication many institutions now use, granting them access your bank, your email, and more.
The way to avoid the SIM Swapping scam is to never leave your phone unattended in public, AND be very careful with giving out seemingly innocent information. This could include: your pets or childrens’ names, their birthdates, your anniversary date, where you met your significant other, your favorite sports team, etc. Do not participate in online polls or emailed surveys that ask for this information! And encourage others to avoid them as well.
Reporting and sharing information is also key to catching scammers. If you suspect you’ve unwittingly participated in a scam, call the National Elder Fraud hotline at 1-833-372-8311.
That’s 1-833-FRAUD-11.
Want to learn more about protecting your phone? Learn about guided access!
Want help making this change to your system? Digital Helpmates offers one-on-one tech tutoring to home and business users at affordable prices. Find out more about our dedicated tech tutoring and Jumpstart Office Teams at https://digitalhelpmates.com.
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