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emabotha
Member
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2024
- Messages
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Here is how your Vodacom number can be stolen for almost a week (And there is nothing you can do about it).
Yesterday evening, April 10th, 2024, my mother's phone abruptly lost network connectivity around 8 PM. It wasn't until then that she realized she had received an SMS earlier indicating a SIM swap had been performed on her device. This came as a shock since she hadn't initiated any such action and still had her phone in her possession. How could this have happened?
She contacted me, asking me to assist. First, I called the bank to safeguard her financial accounts. Then, I reached out to Vodacom to investigate how her number was compromised. However, my initial call to Vodacom was met with frustrating news – they claimed they couldn't intervene as the number had already been deleted from their system. It appeared someone not only performed a SIM swap but also ported the number to another provider, indicating a deliberate attempt to seize control.
Later that evening, when attempting to call the number, I was redirected to MTN's voicemail, confirming that the number had indeed been ported.
Upon contacting MTN, I was informed they couldn't assist, as the issue pertained to a prepaid account and suggested Vodacom handle the matter. Unfortunately, it was already midnight, rendering both Vodacom and MTN unable to provide immediate assistance.
The following morning, April 11th, 2024, at 8:05 AM, I contacted Vodacom's porting division. After explaining the situation, I was informed there was a system issue, and reversing the porting process would take three working days, meaning the number wouldn't be restored until Monday the 15th. Additionally, we'd need to undergo a SIM swap to reclaim the number, likely extending the process to Tuesday.
Attempting to call the number, I was surprised when someone answered – a stranger now possessed the number.
What's most frustrating is the lack of clarity from Vodacom. Despite numerous calls, no satisfactory explanation was provided. One consultant mentioned the possibility of people exploiting the self-service system, TOBi, to perform SIM swaps with minimal authentication.
Is it that easy to take over a number?
This situation has been especially tough for my mother, who's now stuck dealing with both Vodacom and MTN, making an already worrying situation even more stressful for her.
Yesterday evening, April 10th, 2024, my mother's phone abruptly lost network connectivity around 8 PM. It wasn't until then that she realized she had received an SMS earlier indicating a SIM swap had been performed on her device. This came as a shock since she hadn't initiated any such action and still had her phone in her possession. How could this have happened?
She contacted me, asking me to assist. First, I called the bank to safeguard her financial accounts. Then, I reached out to Vodacom to investigate how her number was compromised. However, my initial call to Vodacom was met with frustrating news – they claimed they couldn't intervene as the number had already been deleted from their system. It appeared someone not only performed a SIM swap but also ported the number to another provider, indicating a deliberate attempt to seize control.
Later that evening, when attempting to call the number, I was redirected to MTN's voicemail, confirming that the number had indeed been ported.
Upon contacting MTN, I was informed they couldn't assist, as the issue pertained to a prepaid account and suggested Vodacom handle the matter. Unfortunately, it was already midnight, rendering both Vodacom and MTN unable to provide immediate assistance.
The following morning, April 11th, 2024, at 8:05 AM, I contacted Vodacom's porting division. After explaining the situation, I was informed there was a system issue, and reversing the porting process would take three working days, meaning the number wouldn't be restored until Monday the 15th. Additionally, we'd need to undergo a SIM swap to reclaim the number, likely extending the process to Tuesday.
Attempting to call the number, I was surprised when someone answered – a stranger now possessed the number.
What's most frustrating is the lack of clarity from Vodacom. Despite numerous calls, no satisfactory explanation was provided. One consultant mentioned the possibility of people exploiting the self-service system, TOBi, to perform SIM swaps with minimal authentication.
Is it that easy to take over a number?
This situation has been especially tough for my mother, who's now stuck dealing with both Vodacom and MTN, making an already worrying situation even more stressful for her.
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