Imagine waking up one day to find that your mobile phone number is no longer yours. A scammer has taken control, and with it, they hold the keys to your digital life. They can impersonate you, sending messages or making phone calls that damage your reputation. Worse, they can use your number to gain access to accounts such as emails, bank accounts, social media, and more. The ripple effects can be catastrophic, disrupting not only your professional life but also compromising your identity. 

In this blog, we dive into how scammers steal your phone number, the dangerous things they can do with it, and most importantly, how to safeguard your business and personal information. 

How do scammers hijack your phone number?

Fraudsters are constantly seeking ways to steal your personal information, and sometimes just your phone number is their main target. Here are the different ways they can steal it:

    • Social media profiles: Scammers can easily view your personal information on social media platforms when privacy settings aren’t properly set up. That means it doesn’t take a lot of effort to find your phone number, especially if you have it listed on your profile.
    • Phishing emails: Fake emails or messages that appear to be from trusted companies may trick you into providing your phone number, which scammers can use to hack into your accounts. 
    • Data broker lists: Companies often collect personally identifiable information, such as public records, phone numbers, and online purchases, to create a comprehensive profile on you and sell them to data brokers. These brokers then resell your details to marketers, who may inadvertently pass them on to scammers. 
    • Dark web marketplaces: Hackers often trawl underground marketplaces in the dark web to buy and sell stolen data such as credit card information, personal identities, and phone numbers. 
    • Stolen registration lists: Retailers may collect phone numbers during transactions or loyalty programs. If these companies experience a breach, your number could be exposed to scammers. 
    • Autodialers: Some scammers use automated systems to dial phone numbers and gather data. If you answer the call, they might record your voice or trick you into revealing more personal details. 
  • Over-the-shoulder data breach: Scammers can simply watch over your shoulder as you type in your number or snag it when you leave it lying around in a public place. 

What can scammers do with your phone number?

Once a scammer has hijacked your phone number, they can wreak havoc in several ways. 

Sim swaps

A SIM swap involves transferring your phone number to a new SIM card under the scammer’s control. With access to your number, they can take control of your calls, messages, and online accounts. This is particularly dangerous because it gives them full access to multifactor authentication (MFA) codes, which can bypass security measures on your accounts.

Identity theft

With your phone number, scammers can impersonate you, making it easier to steal your identity. They can bypass security questions or 2FA, gain access to your accounts, and use these accounts for fraudulent purposes. This can lead to significant financial and personal damage if left unchecked.

Send malware or spyware via text

Scammers may send you malicious links through text messages. When you click on them, you could unknowingly download spyware or malware that can track your activities and steal more information. These malicious apps can even allow hackers to control your phone remotely.

Extortion or blackmail

If scammers hijack your mobile number, they can listen in on private conversations, learn about intimate details of your life, and use it to blackmail you unless you pay a large sum of money.

Doxxing

With a hijacked cell phone number, scammers could also find and share your personal details, such as your home address or family members, to harm your reputation or put your safety at risk. 

Voice scams/vishing

Using your phone number, scammers may attempt to impersonate you in voice scams, tricking people into transferring money or revealing confidential information. They may even use AI technology (i.e., deepfakes) to sound like you, making it more difficult for victims to distinguish the scammer from the real person. 

What to do if your phone number is hijacked

If you think hackers hijacked your phone number, it’s crucial to act quickly and take these steps: 

  • Report the hijacking to your mobile carrier and follow their instructions for securing your account.
  • Sign up for dark web monitoring services to confirm your personal information has been compromised.
  • Change any passwords and MFA settings for accounts that may be linked to your phone number (e.g., banking apps, social media accounts, personal and business emails).
  • Get credit reports and monitor your financial accounts for any suspicious transactions you don’t remember making and have them put a credit freeze on your accounts.
  • Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission. 
  • Use anti-malware software on your phone to scan for security threats.
  • Update any account security questions that might be based on information tied to your phone number.
  • Spread the word to your friends, family, and colleagues that your number’s been hijacked to warn them of any sneaky vishing scams.

How can I protect my phone from being hijacked?

The best way to stop phone hijacking is to prevent it before it happens. Take these proactive steps to keep your phone safe and protected:

Get in touch with your mobile service provider

Phone service providers usually have measures in place for recovering stolen or lost phones. Contact your phone company and inquire about their security protocols in case your phone is hijacked. 

Ask them to enable security PINs when making changes to your account, such as transferring or activating a new SIM card. They can also completely lock your SIM card so that nobody else can use it if your phone is stolen.

Be cautious of one-ring phone scams

Unfamiliar international numbers or a single-ring call are often robo-dialed from overseas. It’s a common tactic used by scammers to lure people into returning the call and check whether a phone number is active. From there, they can charge you high international call fees or gather your personal information. If you get a one-ring call from an unfamiliar number, do not answer or return the call. Instead, block the number as soon as possible.

Avoid clicking on links from unknown text messages

Scammers often send text messages with harmful links that could lead to phishing websites or download malware onto your mobile device. That’s why you should only click links if you’re confident the message is legitimate.

Implement strong account security measures

When scammers have access to your phone number, it won’t take long for them to target your online accounts. To significantly minimize the damage of a compromised phone number, protect your accounts using strong passwords and MFA.

Your passwords should be unique to each account and over 12 characters long so they are difficult to guess or hack. What’s more, when enabling MFA, don’t use your phone number as the second factor. Instead, opt for a secure authentication app that generates a one-time verification code or uses biometric data such as fingerprint scanning.

Remove your phone number from data broker lists

If you want to reduce the exposure of your phone number, consider opting out of data broker lists whenever possible. Data brokers often gather and sell personal data, making it easier for scammers to obtain your details. By removing your number from these lists, you can significantly decrease the likelihood of unwanted calls or messages. 

Additionally, registering your number with services such as the National Do Not Call Registry can further protect your privacy by blocking many telemarketing calls. Taking these steps can give you added control over who has access to your contact information.

Partner with a managed IT services provider (MSP)

MSPs that specialize in cybersecurity and identity theft protection are excellent resources you shouldn’t overlook. They can help you identify potential vulnerabilities and implement security measures to prevent sensitive data from being compromised. 

MSPs can also provide ongoing monitoring and management services to keep your devices secure, and they can alert you to suspicious activity related to your phone number. 

A hijacked phone number can be distressing for any individual, but you don’t have to face these threats alone. With Dynamic Solutions Group as your dedicated cybersecurity team, you can rest assured that your contact information is safe from hackers and identity thieves. We use advanced security tools and techniques to protect your devices and sensitive data from unauthorized access. Contact us now.