A modus called “SIM swap scam” is the last step carried out by scammers in order to take over an individual’s financial accounts — bank account details, trading information, e-wallet and/or credit cards.
This modus often involves a victim who’s been long targeted for the scam. The fraudster has invested time to gather bank account details, email addresses, online credentials, personal facts and identification, together with the mobile number registered with the bank for sending a one-time password (OTP). The final leg is to take over the SIM of the mobile number registered for the OTP sending.
Amid challenging times, the incidence of getting easy money even through illegal means becomes attractive. Globe cautions customers to stay vigilant and protect their data to prevent being victims of fraud.
Globe urges its customers to use strong and unique passwords for their digital accounts, change these regularly, and use other authentication methods such as security keys, applications, or device prompts.
Globe advises customers not to share personal information such as birth dates, anniversary dates, TIN, school or company ID, passport details, and other information on social media, as these may compromise a customer’s safety. Scammers and fraudsters may get the answer to your security questions from these details.
Scammers may also call pretending to be telco or bank representatives requiring some personal information and bank details in exchange for some offers or perks. Bank statements, utility bills, delivery packages, and other documents that contain your personal information disposed of in an unsecured manner can also be a source of identity theft.
Here are the indications one may have been victimized by a SIM swap scam. You suddenly lose your mobile signal. You receive email notifications of so-called log-in attempts or activities that you did not perform.
Here’s what you can do if a SIM swap occurs:
- Immediately change password/PIN of bank and digital accounts
- Monitor digital and financial accounts
- Call Globe (211) or visit the nearest Globe Store to temporarily deactivate the line
- Inform the concerned bank about the incident and report to concerned authorities
Globe Postpaid users may go to the new GlobeOne app under “Account Requests” or call 211 to request temporary line disconnection. Both postpaid and prepaid customers may go to the nearest Globe Store to recover their mobile number and get a SIM replacement.
Globe is also implementing stricter measures to prevent unauthorized SIM change. A notarized affidavit of loss is now mandatory, patterned after banks that require this when replacing lost cards and other financial records. To replace the SIM, a 24-hour reactivation period is applied to allow stronger customer verification.
To know more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.