SIM swap fraud – what is done by mobile operators to protect you

Nice guy, Vodacom. I'd be concerned if I was with MTN seeing as they're one of the main targets.
 
SIM swap delay – a delay of 2 hours between a SIM swap request and when the swap is done. This gives the subscriber time to stop the process after they are alerted about the request via SMS.
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Fail. If someone convinced you to turn off your phone or you are somewhere without coverage then the swap will take place, system should have declined the swap if you do not approve it within 2 hours.
 
biena said:
Fail. If someone convinced you to turn off your phone or you are somewhere without coverage then the swap will take place, system should have declined the swap if you do not approve it within 2 hours.
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Even bigger fail. How do you approve from your lost or stolen sim/phone?
 
I give Vodacom a +1, someone recently got home of my details and called some outlet to order 2 iphones fraudulently. they called me on my 2 original numbers to confirm before they approved the contracts. if it was mtn or others surely the fraudster would've succeeded. so as irritating as they're procedures are, they work.
 
abbott10k said:
I give Vodacom a +1, someone recently got home of my details and called some outlet to order 2 iphones fraudulently. they called me on my 2 original numbers to confirm before they approved the contracts. if it was mtn or others surely the fraudster would've succeeded. so as irritating as they're procedures are, they work.
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I work in law enforcement and this action from Vodacom is encouraging. Could you please give more info about the calls. What did the operator asked from you?
 
I got a Vodacom SIM a couple of weeks ago for my tablet, today it stopped working. When phoning Vodacom they say a SIM swap has been done. There security measures did not protect me, luckily its just a SIM I use for data and not associated to any bank accounts so I don't think I need worry to much.
 
So all the providers respond besides MTN... MTN being the one in the news for SIM swap fraud. :rolleyes:
 
I discovered this crack about 4 years ago by accident when I got a SIM card. The guy had not deleted his cell no at his bank so I got the reissued no And had access to his bank account. All I did was setup a login and password voila I was into his account. Now the best part I contacted the bank concerned I got told to furk off.
I eventually traced the guy through accounts he had paid by phoning the beneficiarys. My was he rattled when I gave him a statement of all his transactions and his payment history.
Check that your banking details are up to date and make sure they delete all obsolete cell no linked to your account.
 
I was surprised today when I went to a Vodacom shop to try sort out the fraudulent SIM swap that happened, I asked them how they know I am the actual owner of the SIM. They looked around on the their system for a while and then said they can’t see who the owner is because it is a pre-paid SIM.

I asked them how then they confirm I have the right to do a SIM swap on a particular number, I got two answers, one was some long winded story about someone who checks the documents, I did not quite follow but thought that if it is an inside job then they have my documents to submit for a SIM swap. The other was that I would have to supply the PUK and PIN of the SIM then they will do it, but again when they typed my cell number into the system my PUK and PIN where clearly visible.

At the end of the day, they were willing to do a SIM swap for me, and they had no idea if I was the actual owner of the SIM.

After all this, multiple phone calls, two trips to my local Vodacom shop and it is still not sorted. I wish they had given the person who did the fraudulent SIM swap this many hassles, then it may not have happened in the first place.

I certainly don’t feel enough is done to protect me.
 
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