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<\/h2>\nSIM swapping, also known as SIM swap fraud, is a form of digital identity theft in which criminals attempt to gain control over your mobile phone number. They do this by having your SIM card number transferred to a new SIM card \u2014 usually one they physically possess. Once they control your number, they can receive MFA (multi-factor authentication) codes (such as SMS messages) and potentially gain access to your (private) email, bank accounts, or other sensitive accounts. <\/h4>\n
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How does It work?<\/h3>\n\n- The fraudster typically begins by collecting your personal information through phishing, data breaches, social media, or dark web marketplaces.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Using the gathered data, the fraudster impersonates you and requests a SIM swap from your mobile provider \u2014 for example, by claiming the phone was lost.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Once the provider processes the request, your number becomes active on a new SIM card that the fraudster owns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- With your phone number, the fraudster receives all verification codes and password resets, which can give them access to critical online services such as email, WhatsApp, or online banking.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>