How do SIM swapping scams work?

IM swapping scams are a type of fraud in which criminals take control of your phone number by tricking your mobile carrier into transferring it to a SIM card in their possession. Once they have control of your phone number, they can use it to access your online accounts, including your bank accounts, email, and social media.

SIM swapping scams typically involve the following steps:

1. The criminals gather as much personal information about you as they can find, such as your name, address, email address, and phone number.
2. They call your mobile carrier and impersonate you, claiming that you have lost or damaged your SIM card.
3. The customer service representative at your mobile carrier asks the criminals for some security information, such as your date of birth or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If the criminals have enough information, the customer service representative will transfer your phone number to the SIM card in their possession.
4. Once the criminals have control of your phone number, they can use it to access your online accounts. For example, they can reset your passwords and gain access to your email, bank accounts, and social media accounts.

The risks of SIM swapping scams include:

• Financial loss. The criminals can use your phone number to reset your passwords and gain access to your bank accounts. They can then make unauthorized transactions, such as wire transfers or credit card purchases.
• Identity theft. The criminals can use your phone number to open new accounts in your name. This could lead to financial loss, as well as damage to your credit.
• Cyberbullying. The criminals can use your phone number to send harassing or threatening text messages.
• Loss of access to online accounts. If the criminals gain access to your email and social media accounts, they can lock you out of these accounts. This could make it difficult to communicate with friends and family, or to access important information.

There are a number of things you can do to protect yourself from SIM swapping scams:

• Be careful about what information you share online. The more personal information you share online, the more likely it is that criminals will be able to target you for a SIM swapping scam.
• Use strong passwords for your online accounts. And make sure to change your passwords regularly.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for your online accounts. 2FA adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring you to enter a code from your phone in addition to your password.
• Be suspicious of any emails or phone calls from your mobile carrier. If you receive an email or phone call from your mobile carrier asking you to confirm your personal information, be sure to verify the caller’s identity before providing any information.
• Report any suspicious activity to your mobile carrier immediately. If you think that you have been the victim of a SIM swapping scam, report the activity to your mobile carrier immediately. They will be able to take steps to protect your account and prevent the criminals from accessing your online accounts.

By following these tips, you can help protect yourself from SIM swapping scams.

See Scam and Fraud Protection for 2023 for more information and make sure to Sign Up for our Scam Prevention Newsletter.

Automatically Send Unknown Callers to Trash

Spam calls are a major nuisance, and they can be even more annoying when they come from unknown numbers. If you’re tired of being interrupted by these unwanted calls, you can automatically send them to voicemail or trash.

Here’s how to do it on your iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Phone.
3. Under Silence Unknown Callers, toggle on the switch.

This will send all calls from unknown numbers directly to voicemail. You can still listen to these voicemails if you want, but they won’t interrupt you with a ringing phone.

If you have an Android phone, you can usually do the same thing by going to your phone’s settings and looking for a setting called “Block Unknown Callers” or something similar.

In addition to automatically sending unknown callers to voicemail, you can also try these other tips to reduce the number of spam calls you receive:

• Add your phone number to the Do Not Call Registry. This won’t stop all spam calls, but it will help.
• Use a spam blocking app. There are a number of free and paid spam blocking apps available.
• Be careful about what information you share online. Scammers can use your personal information to target you with spam calls.

By following these tips, you can reduce the number of spam calls you receive and keep your phone free from unwanted interruptions.

Here are some additional tips for blocking spam calls:

• If you receive a call from an unknown number, don’t answer it. If it’s important, they’ll leave a voicemail.
• If you do answer a call from an unknown number, don’t give out any personal information.
• Be suspicious of any calls that ask you to pay with a gift card or wire transfer.
• If you think you’ve received a scam call, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

By following these tips, you can help protect yourself from spam calls and keep your personal information safe.

See Scam and Fraud Protection for 2023 for more information and make sure to Sign Up for our Scam Prevention Newsletter.

Setup a Family Authentication Password to Help Prevent Phone Scams

Phone scams are a growing problem, and they can be very costly for victims. One way to protect yourself and your family from phone scams is to set up a family authentication password.

A family authentication password is a secret word that only you and your family members know. If you receive a phone where the call may be using Voice AI Emulating a Voice You Know or maybe using something like a Grandparents Wire Transfer Scam, you can use your family authentication password to confirm it is in fact the family member calling your or they are truly in trouble. If they don’t know the password, you can be sure that the caller is not legitimate.

Setting up a family authentication password is easy. Just choose a word or phrase that is easy for you and your family to remember, but difficult for someone else to guess. You can write the password down and keep it in a safe place, or you can memorize it.

Once you have set up a family authentication password, make sure that everyone in your family knows it. You should also teach your family members about phone scams and how to spot them.

Here are some tips for spotting phone scams:

• The caller will often be very aggressive and demanding.
• The caller may claim that you have unpaid bills or that your account has been compromised.
• The caller may ask for your personal information, such as your Social Security number or credit card number.
• The caller may ask you to make a payment immediately.

If you receive a phone call that seems suspicious, hang up the phone and do not give out any personal information. You can quickly call the family member in question and really see if they were in trouble.

Here are some additional tips for preventing phone scams:

• Never give out personal information over the phone, unless you are sure that the caller is legitimate.
• Be wary of calls that come out of the blue. If you don’t recognize the caller, don’t answer the phone.
• If you do answer a suspicious call, don’t be afraid to hang up.
• If you think you have been scammed, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You can do so online at ftc.gov/complaint or by calling 1–877-FTC-HELP.

See Scam and Fraud Protection for 2023 for more information and make sure to Sign Up for our Scam Prevention Newsletter.