What are phone porting scams? Learn how to avoid them.

Internet & Mobile Security Blog | MATE | 24 April 2024

What Are Phone Porting Scams?

Our mobile phones are lifelines to our social, professional, and personal lives. This digital evolution, however, brings its own threats, such as phone porting scams. Phone porting scams don’t just compromise mobile phone service but also endanger other important personal information like our identity, finances, and privacy.

As our reliance on mobile devices increases, the integration of everything from access to social media accounts to online banking raises some serious concerns for compromised mobile phone accounts. But how do these scams operate, and how can we protect both ourselves and our personal details?

Understanding phone porting

What is phone porting?

Phone porting, a service facilitated by telecommunications providers, is a process through which individuals can retain their existing mobile phone number when transitioning to a new mobile service provider.

Legitimately, mobile phone porting is a straightforward procedure that involves the user requesting the transfer and the new provider coordinating with the existing network provider to migrate the number, all while keeping the user’s personal details secure. Most telecommunications providers usually offer this service.

What are phone porting scams?

Phone porting scams happen when unauthorised individuals, acting as account holders, exploit the mobile phone porting process to transfer a victim’s mobile number to a new device under the scammer’s control. By manipulating this service, scammers can intercept communications intended for the victim, including one-time passwords or verification codes sent via SMS, granting them access to a range of personal and financial accounts linked to that mobile number.

Fraudsters leverage social engineering tactics to gather the necessary personal details to successfully port a victim’s number. They often employ phishing attacks or mine data from compromised social media accounts. Once they have enough information, fraudsters will contact the victim’s mobile provider or a new telecommunications provider, posing as the legitimate account holder to initiate the porting process. The ultimate goals of these scammers include identity theft, financial theft, and privacy invasion.

Understanding the dual nature of mobile phone porting is crucial. While it offers convenience and control over our mobile services, it also presents a vulnerability that scammers can exploit.

How do phone porting scams work

Initial phase: they gain your information

The initial phase of a phone porting scam involves the collection of the victim’s personal details. Through social engineering and phishing, scammers deceive individuals into giving out their sensitive information. These tactics include fake emails, fake websites, and direct calls that mimic reputable entities, convincing people to provide their full name, mobile number, address, and often the very details that safeguard their accounts.

The porting process: they execute the scam

With the necessary personal information in hand, scammers proceed to the execution phase:

Contacting the Provider: After getting the victim’s personal details, the scammer reaches out to the current mobile provider or a new telecommunications provider.
Requesting the Port: They then request to port the victim’s mobile phone number to a new device or network under their control by pretending to be the victim.
Completion of Porting: If successful, the porting process is completed, often within hours, transferring control of the phone number from the victim to the scammer.

The immediate consequence of this unauthorised port is the sudden loss of phone service for the victim, cutting off access to their mobile network provider and any services reliant on SMS verification.

Aftermath: what happens when you get scammed

The consequences of falling victim to a phone porting scam are both immediate and long-lasting:

Financial Theft: With control over the victim’s mobile number, scammers can intercept bank verification messages and gain unauthorised access to online banking and payment platforms, leading to significant financial losses.
Identity Theft: The scammer’s access to personal messages and accounts can facilitate identity theft, using the victim’s identity for further fraudulent activities.
Privacy Invasion: The unauthorised access extends to personal communications, allowing the scammer to misuse your personal information.

To avoid cyber threats, it’s vital to be vigilant and take protective measures to safeguard your mobile phone service and personal information.

How to prevent phone porting scams

1. Recognising the warning signs

Recognising the signs of a porting scam and taking preemptive measures to protect your mobile account is the first step in protecting your digital identity against this modern form of cybercrime.

Firstly, it’s important to be aware of the early indicators of a phone porting scam. An unexpected loss of mobile service or your phone suddenly switching to “emergency calls only” mode can be a red flag that your number is being ported by someone else. Also, receiving unsolicited requests for personal information or verification codes via email, text, or phone calls, especially those pressuring for immediate action, should raise suspicion.

If you encounter these warning signs, act swiftly by contacting your mobile service provider through a trusted number found on their official website and inquire about any unauthorised porting requests.

2. Essential precautions and safety measures

To protect yourself from phone porting scams, vigilance in sharing personal details, especially on social media, is key. Engage with your mobile provider about adding additional security measures to your account, such as a unique PIN or password required for any account changes, including porting requests. Ensuring that the online accounts linked to your mobile number have updated security settings and strong passwords can also significantly enhance your protection.

What to do if you’re a victim of a phone porting scam

Discovering you’re the victim of a phone porting scam can be alarming. Immediate action can help mitigate the damage:

Contact Your Mobile Provider: The first step is to inform your mobile service provider about the scam. They can assist in recovering your number and securing your account against further unauthorised access.
Report the Scam: Reporting the incident to local authorities, National Anti-Scam Centre and cybercrime reporting centres is extremely important. It not only aids in your case but also helps prevent future scams.
Alert Your Financial Institutions: Inform your bank and any other financial services you use. They can monitor for suspicious activity and help secure your financial assets.
Change Passwords: Update the passwords for all your important online accounts, particularly those directly linked to your mobile number, to prevent further unauthorised access.

In the fight against phone porting scams, awareness and proactive prevention are your most effective tools. These scams exploit the convenience of mobile number portability to threaten our personal and financial security, making it essential to stay vigilant and informed. By staying informed and taking decisive action, you can maintain control over your digital identity and keep scammers at bay. Remember, in this rapidly evolving digital landscape, staying one step ahead is key.