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A SIM swap attack happens when someone persuades a mobile carrier to move your phone number onto a SIM card or device they control. Once that move succeeds, calls and texts meant for you can reach the attacker, including the one-time codes that websites send to confirm logins and password resets. The attacker does not need to steal your handset. The most effective defenses are carrier-side account protections and sign-in methods that do not depend on a text message.
The guidance in this article comes from U.S. agencies: the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Carrier procedures, feature names, and reporting routes differ by provider and by country, so treat the carrier steps below as questions to put to your own provider.
What a SIM swap is
Your phone number is tied to a SIM card or device on your carrier’s network. When you get a new phone or SIM, the carrier activates that SIM against your number. A SIM swap attack abuses that same process. The attacker contacts the carrier, claims that a phone or SIM needs replacing, and asks it to activate another SIM against your number.
The FTC describes this as social engineering of the provider. The FBI’s 2024 advisory says the request can be made through customer service or at a carrier retail store, and it also identifies insider threats and phishing aimed at carrier staff or systems. The route varies from case to case, so a victim’s experience may differ from another person’s even when the outcome is the same.
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Why losing your number is a security problem
Losing service is the visible symptom. The larger risk is what the attacker can receive. Many online accounts send one-time codes by text message and allow password resets by SMS. An attacker holding your number can receive those codes and try to take over email, bank, social media, or payment accounts linked to it.
A number takeover does not by itself prove that any account was accessed. It is, however, the step that makes account access possible, so the response should start quickly.
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- NANO SIM ONLY: OThis holder is specifically designed for physical Nano SIM cards measuring approximately 12.3 × 8.8 mm. It is not compatible with Micro SIM, Standard SIM, microSD/TF memory cards or eSIM. Please verify your card type before ordering.
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Warning signs
- Sudden loss of calls, texts, and mobile data with no explanation. The FTC lists loss of service as a possible sign.
- An unexpected notice from your provider that your SIM was activated on a new device.
- Account-recovery messages, login alerts, or password-reset emails you did not request.
After you regain access, the FBI recommends reviewing account activity and checking for unknown devices.
How much SIM swapping is reported
The FBI’s IC3 has published two sets of figures for SIM swap complaints:
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- 320 complaints and approximately $12 million in adjusted losses for the January 2018 through December 2020 reporting period.
- 1,611 complaints and more than $68 million in adjusted losses for calendar year 2021.
These numbers count complaints filed with IC3 and the losses adjusted from those complaints. They do not measure how many attacks occurred or how many people were affected, and the 2021 figure describes that single year rather than a current trend.
Protect your carrier account
The most direct protection is on the carrier side. Ask your provider which of the following it offers and how to turn them on. Names and customer steps vary by carrier.
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| Protection | What official guidance says | What to ask your carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Account PIN or password | The FTC says an account PIN or password could help prevent unauthorized changes. | Is a PIN or password required before a SIM change or number transfer, and how do I set one? |
| SIM-change lock | The FCC’s December 2023 order required U.S. providers to offer customers an option to lock accounts against these changes. The FBI’s 2024 advisory recommends asking providers to block SIM changes. | Do you offer a SIM-change lock, and what exactly does it cover? |
| Port-out lock | The same FCC order covers an option to lock accounts against port-out requests. | Is there a port-out lock on my account, and how is it enabled? |
| Change notifications | The FCC order requires providers to notify customers about SIM-change and port-out requests. | Which alerts will I receive for SIM-change and port-out requests, and to which contact method? |
| Call forwarding and simultaneous ring | The FBI’s 2024 advisory recommends asking providers to disable or block these features. | Can you block call forwarding and simultaneous ring on my account? |
Keep the SIM PIN and the carrier PIN separate in your head
A SIM PIN set on the handset protects the physical card in the phone. It is a different control from a carrier account PIN or transfer lock. The guidance cited here does not present a handset SIM PIN as a defense against a carrier moving your number, so do not rely on it for that purpose.
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Do not give codes to unsolicited contacts
- Never disclose carrier passwords, PINs, or one-time codes to a caller, email sender, or text sender who reached out first.
- If someone claims to represent your carrier or any company, end the contact and reach out using a number or website you verified yourself.
- Limit public personal information, such as your birthdate or address details, that could help someone answer carrier security questions.
Protect accounts linked to your number
Your phone number is only as secure as the sign-in methods that rely on it. Compare the options each service offers:
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| Second-factor method | Exposed to a number takeover? | Requirements and caveats |
|---|---|---|
| SMS text code | Yes. The FTC warns that text message verification may not stop a SIM swap. | Sent to whatever number the account holds, so anyone who controls that number receives it. |
| Authenticator app | The FTC says an authenticator app’s code is not susceptible to this specific SIM-swap route. | The service must support apps. Save the recovery method the service provides in case you lose the device running the app. |
| Hardware security key (FIDO-compatible) | The FTC describes security keys as physical second-factor devices. They do not rely on a text message to your number. | Only usable with services that support security keys. A key does not stop a carrier-side number change, so pair it with the carrier protections above. |
Enable MFA and check recovery settings
Turn on multi-factor authentication for sensitive accounts, starting with email, financial services, social accounts, and payment apps. Choose the stronger option the service offers, and review account recovery settings as well as ordinary sign-in settings, since a weak recovery path can undo a strong login method.
Use a unique password for each account
The FBI recommends unique passwords and warns against reusing them across accounts, so a single exposed password does not open every linked account.
The FTC’s plain-language warning on this point is: “If you do use MFA, keep in mind that text message verification may not stop a SIM card swap.” (FTC consumer guidance, “SIM Swap Scams: How to Protect Yourself,” dated October 23, 2019.)
If you think a swap has happened
Work through these steps in order. The first one restores the number, which is what cuts off the attacker’s copy of your codes.
Quick Recap
- Call your carrier from a verified number or channel. Ask it to restore control of your number, reverse unauthorized changes, and block further transfers. If you cannot reach your carrier from your phone, use another phone or a verified website or app.
- Secure your accounts from a trusted device or connection. Change passwords, starting with email and financial accounts, and switch to a non-SMS second factor where one is available.
- Contact your financial institutions using the phone numbers printed on your cards or statements. Flag suspicious access or transactions and ask them to review recent activity.
- Check linked accounts for password changes, unfamiliar sessions, and unknown devices. Save screenshots, emails, and notices from the carrier so you have a record.
- Report the incident. The FBI recommends reporting to IC3 and to law enforcement. The FTC directs people whose sensitive identity information may be compromised to IdentityTheft.gov, a free U.S. resource with tailored recovery steps.
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