Last December, Sharron Fowler from South Bucks received a text from EE stating that her Sim activation request had been processed and her new Sim would be active within 24 hours.
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We were able to pass security by providing only the model of the phone and the last four digits of the account number.
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However, one call was troubling – because we were given the PAC over the phone despite deliberately getting the account password wrong (the call handler even hinted this was the name of our first pet). Even when we pretended our phone was broken or unable to receive texts, call handlers suggested we put the Sim card in a borrowed phone or visit a store with photo ID. Both measures would stump the average malicious caller.
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When we asked volunteers to make two phone calls from a landline to their networks (BT, EE, O2, Sky, Tesco, Three and Vodafone) and request the PAC, we found security was generally robust.Ĭall handlers typically asked us to quote a code that was sent to us via text, or said they would send the PAC via text to the original Sim card. If you go into a phone store and ask for a replacement Sim card, staff should ask for your passport or driving licence, although a 2018 BBC Watchdog investigation found that employees don’t always follow official procedures.Ī more obvious route for fraudsters is to call your network’s customer services helpline, where they can’t be asked for photo ID. While Sim-swap fraud is not new, Action Fraud reports suggest that attacks are ramping up:Īre mobile networks doing enough to stop Sim-swap fraud?
move your number to another network by requesting the Porting Authorisation Code (PAC).swap your number to a new Sim card on the same network, perhaps by claiming that ‘their’ phone is lost, or,.The fraudster’s aim is to take control of your number, by convincing your network to either: Social media accounts can also prove fruitful for learning answers to common security questions, such as birthdays, names of pets and favourite sports teams.Īrmed with enough information to pose as you, the scammer will contact the customer services department of your network provider – over the phone, via webchat or even in store – and ask for your number to be switched to a Sim card in their possession. Fraudsters start by gathering data about you via social engineering (sending fake emails, texts, phone calls to trick you into divulging personal information) or by paying for stolen data on underground online forums.