IT News
Pune, May 28:
The cybercrime police have registered five SIM card swap cases in the last six days, which enables fraudsters to steal sensitive information such as bank details and passwords stored in cell phones and siphon off money from the targets’ accounts.
In view of the increasing SIM card swap cases, the cyber police have advised people to be alert about calls from individuals posing as cell phone company’s call centre executives. The “executives” ask information about the SIM card and its 20-digit unique identification number, which enables them to deactivate the actual card holder’s connection, Senior Police Inspector Jayram Paygude of the cybercrime police station said.
“The fraudsters claim that they are speaking from a cellular comp and ask for the Internet connection, its speed and other issues. People unknowingly share the 20-digit number. The suspects process the unique number through the online software, which generates an OTP that allows SIM swapping,” Paygude said.
Usually 20 digit SIM card No is sent on mobile by SMS by the fraudsters. The caller asks the target to forward this number to 12345. When the number is forwarded, the senders SIM card network stops functioning and his/her mobile number starts functioning on the caller’s SIM card. The caller uses OTPs and SMS sent by bank to withdraw money.
