How do sim swapping scams work?

Most of us have our smartphones on our person more or less all day, every day. Our photos, payment methods and a lot of personal data are stored on them. So we’re all wary of the risk of having them stolen when out in public. But did you know there’s another way someone can take control of your phone line without you even losing the device? It’s called sim swapping and while it’s not new, it’s been on the rise in recent years. According to the FBI, Americans lost a combined $68M to sim swapping scams in 2021. One of the most high-profile examples saw Twitter founder Jack Dorsey fall prey to it in 2019. How does SIM swapping work? How can I avoid falling victim to SIM swapping? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠What are the pros and cons of homeownership in the UK?⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠How can I make and keep my new year’s resolutions?⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Why does the year begin on January 1st?⁠⁠⁠⁠ A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First broadcast : 7/5/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices