Criminals have been illegally distributing SIM cards belonging to deceased Russians
Watch Out: Crooks Gaining Control of Your Accounts Through Phone Numbers
Guess what? Russian residents, especially those in Biysk, should be wary of a devious new scheme involving SIM cards. As reported by RIA Novosti, Deputy Anton Nemkin of the State Duma has warned citizens about this sinister scam.
The trick? Crooks are snatching up the phone numbers of the dearly departed, aiming to nab their bank accounts and messaging services. Here's how they're pulling it off:
- Crooks get creative: Deceitful folk mingle fake documents and personal info snagged from open sources, then approach mobile operators claiming to be the legitimate owner seeking a fresh SIM card with the same number.
- Switcheroo: Once they receive the new SIM card, guess who's now in control? That's right, the sneaky crooks, who can now access all accounts linked to that phone number because it's their primary verification method.
And guess what else? Over a week, terrified residents of Biysk watched as nearly 3 million rubles vanished due to these underhanded tactics!
SIM Swapping: The new skimming?
If you're thinking this SIM card business sounds a little fishy, you're right! This scheme is often referred to as SIM swapping. Let's break it down:
- SIM Swapping Procedure:
- Crooks get ahold of a target's SIM card details—Usually by employing social engineering techniques or buying them from shady operators.
- By pretending to be the account owner and demanding a SIM swap, the crooks trick the victim's mobile provider into transferring the victim's phone number to a shiny new SIM card under their control.
- Bypassing Security:
- With the power, they can intercept text messages for two-factor authentication (2FA), making it a breeze to bypass this security layer and access the victim's online accounts.
- Banking and Messaging Exploitation:
- Once they've hijacked the accounts, these crafty crooks perform unauthorized transactions, modify account settings, and even seize control of social media profiles to sucker in the victim's mates for more scams.
- Deepfake revenge: In some cases, SIM swapping and AI-generated deepfakes join forces to dupe followers into surrendering sensitive information or clicking dangerous links.
While the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has been on the case, the intricacy and smoothness of these scams prove something of a challenge. Stay vigilant; you don't want to end up like the poor, SIM-swapped Biysk residents!
Cybersecurity experts are urging general-news consumers to be cautious of a rising trend called SIM swapping, a crime-and-justice threat that's been sweeping through cities like Biysk, Russia. This technology-driven scheme allows crooks to take over phone numbers, granting them access to linked bank accounts and messaging services, as seen in the recent case where nearly 3 million rubles were stolen from Biysk residents over a week.
