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SIM swapping is a form of fraud where criminals trick mobile providers into transferring your phone number to a SIM card they control, allowing them to intercept calls and text messages. This hijacking gives them access to your banking, email and social media accounts, often resulting in significant financial theft. How SIM theft works Gathering information: Scammers use phishing, social media, or data breaches to obtain your personal information, such as your date of birth, address and bank details.Impersonation: The fraudster contacts your mobile service provider, posing as you and claims their phone was lost or broken, requesting the number to be moved to a new SIM card.Account takeover: Once the swap is successful, they recieve our 2FA (two factor authentication) codes and can reset passwords for your financial and personal accounts.Signs of a SIM Swap Attack Sudden loss of signal: Your phone stops making calls, sending texts or connecting to data.Unexpected account changes: Your receive notifications from your provider that a SIM change has occurred.Locked out of accounts: You are suddenly locked out of banking or email apps.Unusual account activity: Alerts from bank apps regarding logins or transactions you did not initiate.How to Protect Yourself Set a PIN: Contact your mobile provider and add a security PIN or passoword to your account, which is required for any changes.Use strong security: Switch from SMS based 2FA to app-based authenticatiors (e.g. Google Authenticator) or physical security keys.Be careful with personal information: Avoid sharing personal details like birthdates, phone numbers or home addresses on social media.Be skeptical: Do not click on suspicious links in emails or texts (phishing) that ask for your personal information. Ignore unexpected requests for your details.Monitor accounts: Regularly check your bank accounts and credit reports for strange transactions or activities. Set up alerts for any significant changes to your accounts. | 
