Police Scam Warning - SIM Swap Fraud

21st January 2025

What is SIM swap fraud?

Sim swapping involves a fraudster managing to get hold of your mobile phone by convincing.

the phone provider to transfer the service to a SIM in their possession.

This lets them take control of your mobile phone number, which means they can potentially.

hijack your calls and texts, as well as your online banking details and 2 factor authorisation.

codes/one time passwords.

How the scam works
This scam begins with a fraudster gathering personal details about you, either by Phishing emails, social engineering, previous data breaches or reading your social media posts.

The fraudster can then pretend to be you, using this information to pass any security checks requested by your phone service provider. The fraudster can then instruct your phone provider
to route your phone number to the fraudster's SIM card.

The fraudster will then have access to any incoming phone calls and text messages, including one-time passwords to gain access to your financial and social media accounts.

Things to look out for
You've lost the ability to make calls or texts: You may notice that your mobile is no longer connecting, and you are unable to make calls or texts. This is one of the first signs that you
could be a victim of SIM swapping.

You receive a notification of activity elsewhere: Your mobile phone provider may notify you that your SIM card or phone number has been activated on a different device.

You lose access to accounts: If your login credentials no longer work for things like online banking. If this happens contact your bank and other organisations immediately.

Contacts receiving requests for money: Your contacts have started receiving requests for money from you that you have no knowledge of.

What to do if you think your SIM card has been swapped
Call your network provider immediately: If you receive unsolicited text or email about your SIM being ported or a PAC request, or you unexpectedly lose phone service, you will need to notify your provider.

Inform your banks as soon as possible: The fraudster may attempt to make a money transfer online or over the phone and therefore alert the bank so they can stop any unauthorised
transactions.

You can also record your details with cifas the fraud prevention service to apply for protective registration. Once you have registered you should be aware that CIFAS members will carry out extra checks to IDENTIFY when anyone, including you, applies for a financial service, such as a loan, using your address.

How to protect yourself in the future
• Contact your network provider to secure your mobile account and ask what protection they offer to stop this from happening again.
• Don't respond to unsolicited emails, texts, phone calls or click on any unverified links (Phishing attempts). These may allow fraudsters to access personal data which can then be used to convince the mobile phone network or bank that they are you.
• Don’t overshare personal details on social media. Avoid sharing your birth date or that of children or other relatives or other common password recovery phrases such as the name
of your first pet or school.

• Turn on two-step Verification (2SV) which is also known as two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA), helps to keep cyber criminals out of your accounts,
even if they know your passwords.

• Use a password consisting of three random words that only you will know and which are unique. You could add uppercase letters, numbers and symbols to make It more secure.

• Always keep your device’s software up to date.
Additional Links Support and Wellbeing:
● www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware/home
● Cyber Scotland - Up to the minute cyber services information across Scotland.
● Online Abuse - Get Safe Online
● Social Media: how to use it safely - NCSC.GOV.UK
● Social media: protecting what you publish - NCSC.GOV.UK
● Independent UK charity taking crime information anonymously | Crimestoppers (crimestoppersuk.org)
● Home - Victim Support Scotland
● Home | SAMH
● Samaritans

If you have been a victim of crime and it is not an ongoing emergency, you can report this to Police Scotland by calling 101. For all emergency calls, please dial 999.