SIM Card Block Scam: The Department of Telecommunications (DOT) of the Government of India has issued a serious warning to mobile users across the country. The department has said that cyber criminals are trying to cheat people by presenting themselves as telecom companies or government officials. In particular, their personal information is being sought from people in the name of SIM Block and KYC updates. This information has been shared by Dot on its official X (first Twitter) account.
The government has made it clear that neither the Department of Telecommunications, neither TRAI nor any telecom company calls or messages to close or update KYC. Therefore, when you get such calls or messages, get alert immediately and ignore them.
What is Sim Swap Fraud?
Nowadays everything from banking to social media accounts is protected from OTP (One Time Password). But cyber criminals take advantage of this OTP system and carry out SIM swap fraud. In SIM Swap fraud, the fraudsters gather personal information of any person and get a new SIM from the mobile company on the same number. When it is activated, then the SIM of the real user is closed and all OTPs start coming to the same new sim. After this, criminals can easily infiltrate your bank account, social media or other online services.
Government took new steps for security
In view of this increasing threat, DOT has made many changes in the process related to SIM card. Now no new sim can be released without biometric verification. Also, after the new SIM is activated, no SMS will be received on it for the first 24 hours. The aim of this is that even if a criminal swaps SIM, he cannot achieve OTP.
How to secure yourself?
- Do not answer any unknown calls or messages, especially if he is talking about closing SIM, winning KYC update or reward.
- Do not share your personal documents and information with anyone, even if he is telling himself an officer.
- Keep your information on social media limited only to reliable people.
- Avoid clicking on any suspected link or email, as they can become a source of malware that can steal your information.
- If you have any kind of doubt, immediately inform the cybercrime portal or your mobile operator.
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