If you get a call to upgrade 4G SIM to 5G SIM, be careful. The caller can empty your bank account by swiping your SIM ie changing the SIM. Let us know how people are being cheated through SIM swipe…
Thugs often adopt different tactics to trap people in their trap. Sometimes they would call as bank staff, sometimes as callers of telecom companies. These days the incidents of fraud have started increasing even through sim swap. If you get a call to upgrade 4G SIM to 5G SIM, be careful. The caller can empty your bank account by swiping your SIM ie changing the SIM. Let us know how people are being cheated through SIM swipe…
How does fraud happen through SIM Swap?
Sim swipe is a new way of cyber fraud. Simply put, it means changing the SIM card, but when it is done without your knowledge, then understand, it is a fraudulent activity.
- The fraudster obtains the victim’s bank account details and mobile number through social engineering methods such as phishing, vishing etc.
- After this he goes to the retail outlet of the mobile operator with the fake ID proof and gets a new SIM card by blocking the original SIM card.
- After post verification, the operator deactivates the SIM of the genuine customer and issues a new card to the fake customer.
- Now the fraudsters use the new SIM and bank details to make fraudulent transactions with the bank.
How to avoid SIM swap fraud?
- If someone calls you to update your 3G or 4G SIM to 5G, don’t trust him directly.
- If any SMS is received by such caller, do not send it to the telecom provider. As soon as the SMS is received, the telecom operator will deactivate your SIM and issue an eSIM to the fraudster.
- Do not share any bank or card related details with the caller.
- Never open any apps or links when asked by the caller. If you have downloaded any app at the behest of the caller, then uninstall it immediately and secure the phone.
- If your SIM card gets deactivated, contact the bank immediately and get the bank account linked to that number secured. To avoid the worst, change your bank password immediately.
- Register for regular SMS as well as email alerts for your banking transactions. Even if your SIM is deactivated, you will continue to receive alerts via email.
- Also keep checking your bank statement from time to time. Keep checking whether the transactions that have taken place have been done by you or not.
- If a fraud happens to you, immediately call the bank and block the account.
Where to complain about fraud
In case of fraud, you can also file a complaint on the Cyber Reporting Portal. You can complain about any kind of cyber crime by dialing the helpline number of the National Cyber Reporting Portal. The cyber crime helpline number is 1930, while the National Police Helpline number is 112 and the National Women’s Helpline number is 181.
Read here: Complain here if caught in online scam, know the method
