backThe scam known as SIM Swap, or the “chip scam,” happens when criminals take over a victim’s phone number by transferring it to a new SIM card without permission. Through social engineering tricks, they pose as legitimate customers and request a chip replacement, claiming their phone was lost or stolen.
Once the new SIM is activated, the old one is disabled, allowing the fraudsters to receive the victim’s calls, texts, and authentication codes — giving them access to social media, emails, and even bank accounts. The damage can be severe, leading to financial fraud, fake account openings, loans in the victim’s name, and extortion attempts. Warning signs include suddenly losing cell service, being unable to receive messages, and getting alerts about unfamiliar logins.
To stay safe, users should avoid sharing personal information online, create strong and unique passwords, use app-based two-factor authentication instead of SMS, and set a PIN for their SIM card. If the scam does occur, the victim should file a police report, change all passwords immediately, contact the carrier to recover the number, and warn friends and family. Major carriers like TIM, Claro, and Vivo now provide dedicated security tools to protect against SIM Swap attacks.
share
