The activity of some swindlers in the context of internet transactions is even beyond our imagination, with the scam called sim swapping.
Ο George Bouloukos, a lawyer who has handled cases of citizen fraud through the internet warns and reports in the scam called sim swapping. As he stressed in his statements to ERT, "We have now reached another category (of deception), to be issued through e-gov.gr fake authorizations and with them to achieve the change sim card».
There is a specific case of an perpetrator, who in all lengths and breadths of Greece has scalped accounts from various of our fellow citizens, having in many of these cases hacked the e-gov, according to his own confession in a criminal case.
The action of some in a modern context, such as that of online transactions, is truly beyond our imagination. According to the confession of the specific perpetrator, who has been active for quite some time, he hacked the e-gov, issued authorizations with names without the full details of the victims and with them issued mobile phone cards (sim) and thus took control of his mobile phone where the bank sends notifications. The real user has no contact with mobile "because the specific perpetrator has taken it over", Mr. Bouloukos explained.
The sim swapping
This method is called sim swapping and the perpetrator "takes control of your card so he can get into your bank account and get your money through web banking".
According to the lawyer, in Greece there are three - four lawsuits in relation to the action of the specific person and his accomplices, which, however, have not been correlated.
A few months ago, The Cybercrime Prosecution had given some instructions on the occasion of a fraud case with the method of replacement / change of SIM card. As mentioned, the sim swap method is a technique in which the perpetrator, using social engineering techniques (manipulation) gains control of the victim's mobile phone SIM card.
Specifically, the perpetrator having access to the user's personal data (eg with "electronic fishing»- phishing, using malicious applications - programs, etc.), takes advantage of the possibility of changing the SIM card, obtaining a new card to replace the one held by the legal holder.
In this way, it receives calls and messages intended for the victims and steals the one-time passwords (OTP) or security verification messages, etc.
But let's see below what exactly is SIM Swapping and how you can protect yourself, according to what the Bitdefender on his blog.
Η scam is known as YES swap and can be used to withdraw money from your account. SIM swap is based on telephone authentication. In a successful SIM exchange scam, cybercriminals could hack into your cell phone number and use it to gain access to your sensitive personal data and accounts.
How does it work;
You can try to access one of your bank accounts that uses two-factor authentication. This means that you first access your account by entering your username and password. The bank then sends you a password on your mobile phone to complete the login process.
But what if scammers can change the SIM card attached to your mobile number? This would give them control over this number - and they would automatically receive the password for your account.
So it is quite important to know what SIM swap is. This way you can protect yourself from this type of fraud - or identify if you have been a victim.
How does the SIM swap scam work?
A SIM swap scam - also known as SIM splitting, simjacking, sim hijacking or port-out scamming - is a scam that occurs when scammers take advantage of a two-factor lack of authentication and verification in which the second step is a verification message (SMS). or call your mobile phone number.
First, here are some basic SIM card details. The Subscriber Identity Unit (SIM) is the storage of user data on Global System for Mobile (GSM) phones. Without a SIM card, your phone will not be authorized to use a mobile network.
Thus, checking your cell phone number would be valuable for fraudsters. To steal your number, scammers start by gathering as much personal information as possible about you and especially from social media.
Scammers call your cell phone provider, impersonating you and claiming to have lost or damaged your SIM card. They then ask the customer service representative to activate a new SIM card held by the scammer. This transfers your phone number to a device that contains a different SIM card. Or, they may claim that they need help to transfer it to a new phone.
But how can they answer your security questions? This is where the data they have collected about you through phishing, malware, or social media become useful.
Once they have access and the ability to control your cell phone number, fraudsters can then gain access to your telephone communications with banks and other organizations and in particular, your messages. They can then receive passwords or new passwords sent to this phone by dialing or texting to any of your accounts.
How do they get your money's worth? They may create a second bank account in your bank and in your name - where, because you are already a bank customer, there may be less robust controls. Transfers between these accounts in your name may not cause alarms.
Social media and SIM swap
Scammers can use your social media to gather information about you that can help them impersonate you. For example, if your mother's last name is the answer to your security questions, a scammer may find out about this information on your Facebook profile.
Signs that you may be a victim of SIM swap fraud
It can be difficult to identify such a scam. It is important that you recognize warning signs so that you can immediately block access.
- A warning sign, is the social media activity that is not yours.
- You can not make calls or send messages. This probably means that fraudsters have turned off the SIM card and are using your phone number.
- You have been notified of a strange activity. You will know that you are a victim if your telephone provider notifies you that your SIM card or telephone number has been activated on another device.
- You do not have access to accounts. If your login credentials no longer work for your accounts like your bank and credit card accounts, you have probably fallen victim to fraud. Contact your bank immediately.
Ways you can protect yourself from SIM swap
- Internet behaviorBeware of phishing and other ways intruders may try to gain access to your personal information to help convince your bank or cell phone provider that you are.
- Account securityEnhance your mobile account security with a unique, strong password and powerful Q&A that only you know.
- PIN codes: If your mobile carrier allows you to set a separate password or PIN for your communications, consider doing so. It could provide an extra level of protection.
- Authentication applications: You can use an authentication application, such as Google Authenticator, which gives you two-factor authentication but is linked to your device rather than your phone number.
- Banking and mobile notifications: See if your banks and cell phone company can alert you to strange activity.
Behavior analysis technology: Banks can use technology that analyzes customer behavior to help them detect compromised devices by warning them not to send SMS passwords.
- Call-backs: Some organizations call back customers to make sure they are who they say they are - and to catch scammers.
The YES swap is one reason why a phone number may not be the best verifier of your identity. It is a breach of authentication. Adding protection levels could help keep your accounts and identity secure.
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