The Mechanics of SIM Swapping Attacks

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SIM swapping is a sophisticated form of attack where cybercriminals hijack a victim’s mobile phone number by convincing the telecom provider to transfer the number to a new SIM card controlled by the attacker. Here’s how it typically unfolds:

The attacker begins by gathering personal information benin phone number list about the victim—such as their name, address, date of birth, or social security number—often through social engineering, data breaches, or social media reconnaissance. Armed with this information, the attacker contacts the telecom provider’s customer support, impersonating the victim. They may claim that the original SIM was lost, damaged, or stolen and request a new one.

If the attacker successfully convinces the support agent, the provider deactivates the old SIM and activates the new one in the attacker’s possession. Consequently, all calls, texts, and verification codes intended for the victim are rerouted to the attacker’s device. This grants the attacker access to sensitive accounts, especially those secured with SMS-based two-factor authentication.

Once in control, cybercriminals can reset passwords, disable alerts, and even initiate financial transactions. The attack’s success hinges on exploiting weaknesses in the telecom provider’s identity verification processes, which often lack multi-layered security.

To defend against SIM swapping, users are advised to set up PINs or passcodes with their service providers, enable additional account security measures, and be cautious about sharing personal information online. Telecom providers must also implement stricter verification protocols to prevent unauthorized account changes.