Excerpt from original article on TwinCities.com
March 14, 2018
HOW THE SCAM WORKS
It all starts when a scammer acquires your name and phone number, then tries to gather other personal info about you. They then contact your mobile provider, pretending to be you, and report your phone as stolen. They request the number be ported over to another provider and device.
Once your number is ported, scammers can start accessing accounts that require a one-time code via text message to authenticate your identity.
Victims of this scam, called “cellphone porting” or “port-out scam,” may not know this has happened until they notice their cellphone has lost service or when they receive unexpected text messages, like Anderson.
TIPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF
March 14, 2018
HOW THE SCAM WORKS
It all starts when a scammer acquires your name and phone number, then tries to gather other personal info about you. They then contact your mobile provider, pretending to be you, and report your phone as stolen. They request the number be ported over to another provider and device.
Once your number is ported, scammers can start accessing accounts that require a one-time code via text message to authenticate your identity.
Victims of this scam, called “cellphone porting” or “port-out scam,” may not know this has happened until they notice their cellphone has lost service or when they receive unexpected text messages, like Anderson.
TIPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF
- Get in touch with your cellphone provider and set up a unique pin or verification question you must answer before anything can be authorized. Ask specifically about porting and/or port-out security on your account.
- If your phone unexpectedly switches to “Emergency Calls Only” mode, contact your wireless provider immediately. This means your phone number could have been transferred to another phone. Report this to the police and contact your bank, as well.
- Watch out for alert messages from your banks or financial institutions, and unexpected texts in response to authentication requests you didn’t initiate.
