In many cases, it can also be a sign of a dangerous SIM Swap Attack carried out by cyber thugs. This is the reason why government agencies are advising people to be cautious in such matters.
What is SIM Swap Attack?
SIM Swap Attack is a cyber fraud in which criminals deceive your mobile company and get your mobile number transferred to the SIM card they have. As soon as the number is activated on another SIM, the network in your phone stops and calls, messages and OTP start reaching the fraudster directly.
Nowadays banking, social media and many online services verify identity through mobile number. In such a situation, if someone else gets access to your number, he can access your important accounts and misuse them.
Government issued warning
Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) of the Government of India has warned people about this danger on social media platform X. The ministry said that if your phone suddenly does not have network for a long time, calls and messages have stopped receiving and there is no apparent reason for the problem, then it should not be taken lightly.
Although sometimes network outage can also happen, prolonged service interruption without any reason can be a sign of SIM tampering.
What to do if you suspect SIM Swap Attack?
If you feel that something like this is happening to you, then first contact the customer care of your telecom company from another phone. Ask them if there have been any recent changes to your SIM or mobile number.
If you detect any suspicious activity, immediately lodge a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930. The sooner action is taken, the sooner your bank accounts, social media profiles and other digital services can be secured.
How to protect yourself from SIM Swap fraud?
Some important precautions should be taken to avoid cyber criminals. For additional security on your mobile number, use features like Carrier PIN or IVR Lock provided by the telecom company. Do not share OTP, banking information, password or other personal details with any person, even if he claims to be an employee of a bank or telecom company.
Apart from this, if any unusual activity is seen on your mobile number like network suddenly disappearing, calls or messages stopping, then immediately contact your service provider and get the matter investigated.
