MTN Fraudulent SIM Swap

[Brianl81]

If its dialled from the phone then the phone should have the history as well

Nope, no numbers in the phone history.

 

[mak2000]

Nope, no numbers in the phone history.

Does the call to this number deplete the airtime ?

 

[Brianl81]

Does the call to this number deplete the airtime ?

That was a good question, went to check on the billing and just realized it is not prepaid contract, sorry my mistake, it is a Mega Talk Xs. Minutes are allocated to the sim so are calls are not charged but minutes are deducted.

 

[supersunbird]

That was a good question, went to check on the billing and just realized it is not prepaid contract, sorry my mistake, it is a Mega Talk Xs. Minutes are allocated to the sim so are calls are not charged but minutes are deducted.

Good, now that you know you were wrong about the prepaid contract (there is no such thing), you need to realise we were right about something else going on with the wife and you need to dig deeper.

 

[lkpat]

I was recently a victim of a fraudulent sim swap on my MTN number that I have had for nearly 20 years. The concerning thing is that I received no notification that a SIM swap was in progress. No SMS confirming that it was happening.

Earlier in the day I had a persistent caller who phoned 4 times before I picked up. I was told that there is a problem with my bank account. Guessing it was a scam I told him there wasn't and he put the phone down. He didn't ask for any personal information nor did I offer him any.

Later that day I got a notification from my banking app that R200 airtime had been bought for some random number. I then realised that my phone had lost network connectivity. I blocked my banking profile and contacted MTN - currently waiting for a SIM swap reversal to take place.

My question is how is someone able to do a SIM swap without a request? I'm guessing it's most likely an inside job which is very concerning as it could happen at anytime again.
Also it seems to be a regular thing with MTN. Is there perhaps a way one could add themselves to a list where you have to do a SIM swap in person at a store?
Alternatively is there a network that is less susceptible to these fraudulent SIM swaps or uses a different SIM swap process to MTN?

Thanks

It may not have been a sim swap but possibly just a rogue redirecting your SMSs
SMS, based on SS7, is totally insecure.

A Step by Step Guide to SS7 Attacks - FirstPoint

A guide to SS7 attacks

www.firstpoint-mg.com

“
all a cyber criminal would need to successfully launch an SS7 attack are a computer running Linux and the SS7 SDK – both free to download from the Internet.

Once connected to an SS7 network, the hacker can target subscribers on the network while fooling the network into thinking the hacker device is actually an MSC/VLR node.”

 

[Charlesjjm]

Good, now that you know you were wrong about the prepaid contract (there is no such thing), you need to realise we were right about something else going on with the wife and you need to dig deeper.

MTN Zero is a “prepaid” contract. No monthly airtime, SMS or data, you load what you want. You can downgrade to this once your contract have ended and you wish to keep the number and the option to upgrade at a later stage.

 

[lkpat]

MTN Zero is a “prepaid” contract. No monthly airtime, SMS or data, you load what you want. You can downgrade to this once your contract have ended and you wish to keep the number and the option to upgrade at a later stage.

It’s month to month. Not prepaid, not contract.

 

[Brianl81]

Hi all. Apologies for reopening an old thread. Just want to check something. I guessing a sim swap was done on my wifes number but there is no history of sim swap with Mtn as it is a prepaid contract and this could only be possible by using my details as I am the contract holder.

But what I find strange, there is one particular number that appears 20 to 30 times a month on the itemised billing that my wife says she has never called. I have tried calling the number but it comes up as "the number you have dialled does not exist".

I have tried calling Mtn and I just keep getting referred to different departments and nobody can give me the possible reason of what is happening.

Hi all. Just an update after a bit of investigation and that my wife isnt up to something like some say.

The specific number that comes up on the itemized billing is due to missed calls or rejected calls from her personal contacts and spam callers. Very weird but her phones date and times in the call history line up with the itemized billing. Just waiting on an answer from Mtn on why there is a deduction of minutes from my wife contract if the calls are missed or rejected and never answered.

 

[airborne]

MTN Zero is a “prepaid” contract. No monthly airtime, SMS or data, you load what you want. You can downgrade to this once your contract have ended and you wish to keep the number and the option to upgrade at a later stage.

Can you convert an MTN prepaid number to this MTN zero contract?
I want my prepaid number on a contract for the sim swap protection but I have no need for any included minutes or data.

 

[Charlesjjm]

Can you convert an MTN prepaid number to this MTN zero contract?
I want my prepaid number on a contract for the sim swap protection but I have no need for any included minutes or data.

I have no idea. They once told me prepaid numbers cannot be upgraded to a contract.

 

[airborne]

I have no idea. They once told me prepaid numbers cannot be upgraded to a contract.

You can definitely migrate a prepaid number to a contract but I’d imagine that Zero product is only for existing contracts, I may be wrong though.

 

[Charlesjjm]

You can definitely migrate a prepaid number to a contract but I’d imagine that Zero product is only for existing contracts, I may be wrong though.

This would make sense. But we all know the call centre staff are not the brightest of the bunch.