SIM Swapping Scam
Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, according to the FTC.
Quick Answer
SIM swapping is a type of identity theft where a criminal convinces your mobile carrier to transfer your phone number to a SIM card they control, leading to losses of nearly $26 million in the U.S. in 2024 according to the FBI.
Think you've seen this scam?
Paste any suspicious text, email, or voicemail into our free checker — get a verdict in 5 seconds. Or get our free Scam Defense Playbook.
Free. No credit card. No signup required for the checker.
How It Works
1
A criminal gathers your personal information through phishing emails, buying it on the dark web, or finding it on social media. This information can include your full name, address, date of birth, and answers to common security questions.
2
The scammer contacts your mobile phone provider, impersonates you using the stolen information, and claims your phone was lost or damaged. They then request to activate a new SIM card in their possession with your phone number.
3
Once the carrier transfers your number to the new SIM card, your phone will lose service. The criminal now receives all your incoming calls and text messages, including one-time passcodes and security alerts from banks and other services.
4
Using the intercepted verification codes, the attacker gains access to your sensitive accounts, such as bank, email, social media, and cryptocurrency accounts. They can then change passwords to lock you out and proceed to steal funds or personal data.
Red Flags
- Your mobile phone suddenly loses service, showing "No Service" or "Emergency Calls Only" in an area where you normally have a strong signal.
- You stop receiving calls and text messages unexpectedly.
- You receive notifications from your mobile provider about a SIM card change or account activity that you did not authorize.
- You are suddenly locked out of your email, social media, or banking accounts and password reset attempts fail.
- You receive alerts about login attempts, password resets, or transactions on your accounts that you did not initiate.
What to Do If Targeted
- Contact your mobile carrier immediately from a different phone to report the fraud and ask them to deactivate the criminal's SIM card and restore service to your device.
- Notify your bank and any other financial institutions about the potential compromise so they can freeze your accounts and monitor for fraudulent activity.
- Change the passwords for all your critical online accounts, starting with email, financial accounts, and social media.
- Place a fraud alert or credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).
- Report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission at identitytheft.gov.
- File a report with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov.
How to Report It
- FTC — Report identity theft and get a personalized recovery plan.
- FBI IC3 — Report the incident to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
- FCC — File a complaint about phone scams, robocalls, or unwanted calls with the Federal Communications Commission.
- AARP Fraud Helpline — Call 877-908-3360 for free support from trained fraud specialists. Available to anyone, not just AARP members.
- FTC — File a fraud report with the Federal Trade Commission.
Key Statistics
- In 2024, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 982 complaints about SIM swapping, with adjusted losses of $25,983,946. — FBI IC3 2024 Internet Crime Report
- Reported losses from SIM swapping in the U.S. were over $72 million in 2022 and over $48 million in 2023. — FBI IC3
- In 2021, the IC3 received 1,611 SIM swapping complaints with adjusted losses of more than $68 million, a significant increase from the approximately $12 million in losses reported between 2018 and 2020. — FBI IC3 2022
- According to the FBI's 2024 data, victims aged 60 and over suffered the highest financial losses from SIM swapping, totaling $6.3 million. — DeepStrike analysis of FBI 2024 data
Get scam alerts before they hit your parents' inbox
One email per week. The scam that's spreading right now, the red flags, and what to tell Mom and Dad.
Free forever. Unsubscribe in one click.
Frequently Asked Questions
A SIM swapping scam, or SIM hijacking, is a type of identity theft where a criminal tricks your mobile carrier into transferring your phone number to a SIM card they control. This allows them to intercept your calls and text messages, including security verification codes, to gain access to your sensitive online accounts. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 982 SIM swapping complaints in 2024 with losses totaling nearly $26 million.
The most immediate sign of a SIM swap is a sudden and unexpected loss of cellular service on your phone. You will be unable to make calls or send texts. You may also receive a notification from your provider that your SIM has been activated on another device, or you might find yourself locked out of your bank, email, or social media accounts.
To protect yourself, set a unique PIN or password with your mobile carrier that must be provided before any account changes are made. Avoid using SMS-based two-factor authentication, opting instead for authenticator apps or physical security keys. Be cautious about sharing personal information online that could be used to answer security questions.
Act immediately. The first thing you should do is contact your mobile provider from a different phone to report the fraud and regain control of your number. Next, contact your bank and other financial institutions to alert them to the situation and secure your accounts. You should then change the passwords on all your important online accounts.
Has this scam reached your family?
Ready to protect yourself?
We've vetted the tools that actually work — VPN, threat protection, and identity monitoring.
See our recommended tools →Get weekly scam alerts
One breakdown per week. Real threats. Zero fluff.
You're in! Check your inbox.