Nurse pieces life together after losing her life savings: 'My days are basically taken up'
- Replies 8
As technology evolves at a breakneck pace, Aussies have to keep up with the latest security updates for maximum security.
However, for one nurse, her recent experience has been a sobering reminder that cybercriminals are also on the lookout for new ways to dupe people.
Lee-Anne McLean's ordeal began when she fell victim to a phone porting scam.
Hackers managed to 'port' her mobile phone number without her knowledge.
Within 24 hours, the scammers changed her email and social media passwords.
The cybercriminals also broke into her accounts and opened bank loans under her name.
'I have security on my phone and my computer, so I'm not sure how they got all my personal information, but I would really like to know,' Lee-Anne said in an interview.
'My days are basically taken up by trying to prove who I am again, and piece by piece trying to put my life back together.'
What is phone porting?
Phone porting is a process that allows users to keep their phone number when switching to a new telco provider.
However, scammers found a way to exploit this process.
By using stolen personal information, scammers could request to port a victim's number to a new SIM card under their control.
Once they have the victim's number, they could intercept SMS messages, including crucial two-factor authentication codes widely used on banking and social media applications.
This interception could let them reset passwords, access sensitive accounts, and authorise fraudulent transactions.
'The equivalent here is you've been in your house, and the criminal is burgling right in front of your eyes, and that's what makes this much more traumatising for a lot of individuals,' Dave Lacey, the managing director of IDCare, explained.
How common is this scam?
Phone porting scams, along with SIM swap scams, have become prevalent in Australia.
With around a million Australians porting their numbers annually, it's a challenge for telcos to distinguish between genuine requests and fraudulent ones.
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman launched an investigation on Lee-Anne's case.
Furthermore, there have been calls for urgent reforms to protect consumers better.
Lacey stated that the solution could be a simple solution to this growing concern.
'There's a pretty easy way to fix this problem potentially, and that is to wait for the person to actually validate that they have requested the port itself,' Lacey emphasised.
Here's how you can spot a phone porting scam
Have you or someone you know experienced a phone porting scam or identity theft? How do you stay safe during the rise of online and tech-related scams? Share your stories and tips in the comments below.
However, for one nurse, her recent experience has been a sobering reminder that cybercriminals are also on the lookout for new ways to dupe people.
Lee-Anne McLean's ordeal began when she fell victim to a phone porting scam.
Hackers managed to 'port' her mobile phone number without her knowledge.
Within 24 hours, the scammers changed her email and social media passwords.
Nurse McLean had to start from scratch to prove her identity to banks and social media networks. Image Credit: Pexels/Teona Swift
The cybercriminals also broke into her accounts and opened bank loans under her name.
'I have security on my phone and my computer, so I'm not sure how they got all my personal information, but I would really like to know,' Lee-Anne said in an interview.
'My days are basically taken up by trying to prove who I am again, and piece by piece trying to put my life back together.'
What is phone porting?
Phone porting is a process that allows users to keep their phone number when switching to a new telco provider.
However, scammers found a way to exploit this process.
By using stolen personal information, scammers could request to port a victim's number to a new SIM card under their control.
Once they have the victim's number, they could intercept SMS messages, including crucial two-factor authentication codes widely used on banking and social media applications.
This interception could let them reset passwords, access sensitive accounts, and authorise fraudulent transactions.
'The equivalent here is you've been in your house, and the criminal is burgling right in front of your eyes, and that's what makes this much more traumatising for a lot of individuals,' Dave Lacey, the managing director of IDCare, explained.
How common is this scam?
Phone porting scams, along with SIM swap scams, have become prevalent in Australia.
With around a million Australians porting their numbers annually, it's a challenge for telcos to distinguish between genuine requests and fraudulent ones.
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman launched an investigation on Lee-Anne's case.
Furthermore, there have been calls for urgent reforms to protect consumers better.
Lacey stated that the solution could be a simple solution to this growing concern.
'There's a pretty easy way to fix this problem potentially, and that is to wait for the person to actually validate that they have requested the port itself,' Lacey emphasised.
Here's how you can spot a phone porting scam
- Unexpected loss of service: If your phone suddenly loses service (no calls, texts, or data), and you haven't requested a change, it could be a sign your number has been ported.
- Unusual account activity: Watch for emails or texts about password changes, login attempts, or new devices accessing your accounts.
- Porting notification: If you receive a text or email from your telco about a porting request you didn't make, act immediately.
- Contact your telco immediately: Let them know your number may have been ported without your consent. Ask them to freeze any changes and restore your number.
- Notify your bank: Request a temporary freeze on your accounts and monitor for unauthorised transactions.
- Change your passwords: Update passwords for your email, banking, and social media accounts from a secure device.
- Report the incident: Contact the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) and your local police.
- Monitor your credit: Consider placing a credit ban or alert with major credit reporting agencies to prevent new loans or credit cards from being opened in your name.
.png){kind=icon}
