Gendarmerie de la Somme warns of SIM swapping scams

The Gendarmerie de la Somme has issued a warning regarding 'SIM swapping' scams, a method used by cybercriminals to hijack mobile numbers and drain bank accounts. The fraud typically begins with identity theft, where attackers obtain personal details such as names, birth dates, and email addresses.

Once identity theft is successful, the perpetrator impersonates the victim to contact their mobile operator or hacks into their online customer account. The attacker then generates an instant eSIM on their own device, which causes the victim's original SIM card to lose all network connectivity. A primary warning sign is a phone suddenly displaying 'No Service' or 'Emergency Calls Only.'

By controlling the phone number, hackers can intercept SMS-based two-factor authentication codes to bypass banking security and lock users out of their accounts. To mitigate these risks, authorities recommend using authentication apps like Google or Microsoft Authenticator instead of SMS, utilizing complex passwords for mobile accounts, and immediately contacting both mobile operators and banks if a sudden loss of network occurs.