Sim swapping increases your number of attacks

In our connected world, mobile devices are everything. We use iPhones, Androids, and other similar devices for communication, work, banking, and entertainment.

Phones are used to capture and store memories in videos and images. They help us manage private files in our cloud storage accounts and organize our lives.

SIM cards, small cards that contain chips inside our mobile phones, are what allow us to do all these things and stay connected with family and friends regardless of physical distance.

But what happens when the use of these cards is stolen? That is one of the many questions that victims of SIM swapping fraud, or what is known as SIM Swapping, face every day.

A new type of fraud known as SIM Swapping is the weapon that cybercriminals are using to steal accounts and identities by cloning users' phone numbers. Criminal organizations use these techniques to steal credit card data, copies of identity documents, among other sensitive data, but how does it really work?

According to the National Police, SIM Swapping uses phishing and smishing methods to impersonate a trusted person or company and obtain information from the victim. Scammers use social engineering to impersonate legitimate customers to customer service representatives and obtain a new SIM card.

So far there is no effective method to protect yourself from SIM Swapping, but the experts shared some tips to avoid being a victim. The first thing is to identify if the mobile phone has lost a signal, this is the first alert to know if a third party is entering the device.

When cybercriminals activate a new SIM card with the same number, but in a new device, the line is automatically deactivated. The second thing is to contact the telephone company to report the situation and deactivate the accounts linked to a credit card or other digital payment.

It is important to take into account that to protect the accounts in a case of chip cloning it is necessary not to use a PIN code or verification with an associated date or number. The best thing to do in this situation is to avoid two-factor authentication via SMS and opt instead to use an authentication app or physical security key.

There are several methods to protect yourself against a SIM Swapping attack, but the most important thing is to know how to manage your data. Specialists point out that there should be no fear when using applications, social networks or buying online, just be careful in the way you manage confidential information.