Disclaimer: The names in asterisks were changed for privacy purposes.

In today’s digital world, mobile phones are more than just a way to keep in touch.

These devices now serve as keys to bank accounts, emails, social media, and even government services.

What happens when someone else gets hold of the said key?


Consumer advocacy group CHOICE has warned Aussies about SIM swap and phone porting scams happening in the country.

A SIM swap scam happens when a criminal tricks phone providers into transferring a person’s mobile number to a new SIM card that they can control.

Phone porting, on the other hand, moves a victim’s number to a different telco provider.


While these scams are not new, they have had a resurgence in recent years.

How do these scams work?

Scammers need a significant amount of personal information to pull off a SIM swap or porting scam.

They can get the information they need through phishing emails or texts or from data breaches.


When scammers have enough details—like full names, dates of birth, addresses, and mobile numbers—they contact telcos and request a SIM swap or port.

If a victim’s telco sends a verification code to their number, the scammer can call the victim and pretend to be a telco staff member and ask about the code.

Once they have key information, scammers can access bank accounts, change the victims’ passwords, and wreak havoc.

Why are older Australians at risk?

While anyone can fall victim, older Australians are often targeted due to less familiarity with technology and fewer security measures in place.

As more and more seniors rely on mobile phones, losing phone access could completely cut victims off from their families and loved ones.

‘The first thing you want to do when something has gone wrong is phone someone, but you can’t,’ Kathy Sundstrom from cyber support service IDCare stated.

It’s incredibly disempowering when you’re not able to have any kind of phone contact.’


Sydney local TJ* and his wife experienced the nightmare of a SIM swap scam first-hand.

It started with a $3,000 transfer out of their joint account and ended with scammers taking over his wife’s Service NSW, ATO, and Google accounts.

The scammers also managed to open credit lines under her name.

‘It’s like a physical attack, it’s brutal,’ TJ lamented.

Even after shutting down the ported number and clearing their names, the couple continued to find new attempts by scammers to impersonate them.

Why is this happening now?

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has required telcos to use multi-factor authentication for SIM swaps and porting.

However, scammers continue to find ways around the system, especially if they have enough personal information in their hands.


Recent data breaches at major companies have only made things easier for criminals.

IDCare reported a 160 per cent increase in people seeking help after unauthorised SIM swaps or ports in the past year.

In one recent case, a Melbourne man was charged after attempting to port 86 different mobile numbers.

What are telcos and regulators doing?

Telcos like Telstra and Optus emphasised that they have strict multi-factor authentication processes, including in-store ID checks and app-based verification.

However, Telstra stated that even the best systems can be bypassed with enough personal information.

ACMA continues to enforce regulations and fine telcos that do not follow the rules.

Last year, Telstra was fined over $1.5 million for failing to authenticate customer identities in high-risk situations properly.
Have you or someone you know been affected by a SIM swap or phone porting scam? If you have experienced something similar or have tips for keeping your information safe, please share your story with us in the comments section below.