The SIM swap scam is on the rise, which means your personal information and digital security are at greater risk. In a SIM swap scam, a scammer tricks your mobile carrier into transferring your phone number to a new SIM card or an eSIM. Once they have control of your phone number, they can reset passwords and gain access to your sensitive accounts, including your online banking and email.

How scammers do it:

1. Gather Personal Information: Scammers collect personal information about you through phishing, social media, or data breaches.
2. Contact Mobile Carrier: They impersonate you and contact your mobile carrier, claiming to have lost or damaged their SIM card.
3. Request Number Transfer: They request the carrier transfer your phone number to a new SIM card they control.
4. Access Accounts: With control of your phone number, they can receive authentication codes sent via SMS, allowing them to reset passwords and access your accounts.

What to do:

1. Strengthen Account Security: Use strong, unique passwords and set up a PIN or password with your mobile carrier.
2. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Activate MFA on all important accounts to add an extra layer of security, preferably with an app.
3. Monitor Your Accounts: Regularly check for unusual activity in your mobile and financial accounts.
4. Be Cautious with Personal Information: Avoid sharing personal details unless you are certain of the recipient’s identity.
5. Act Quickly: If you lose service unexpectedly or receive notifications about unauthorised changes, contact your phone carrier immediately to secure your account.

By staying vigilant and prioritising your digital security, you can protect yourself from the rising threat of SIM swap scams.