SIM swap scams target mobile users to hijack accounts

Criminals are utilizing SIM swap scams to hijack mobile phone numbers. In this method, attackers gather personal information about a victim and impersonate them when contacting a mobile operator. This leads to the original SIM card being deactivated and a duplicate being activated on the criminal's device.

Once the attacker controls the phone number, they can intercept SMS messages and verification codes. This allows them to bypass security measures for online banking and other digital services, potentially leading to the theft of funds and unauthorized account access. A sudden loss of mobile network signal or unexpected service unavailability can be a warning sign of such an attack.

To mitigate damage, users who experience sudden connectivity issues should immediately contact their mobile operator and their bank to block access to accounts.