What To Do if You’ve Been SIM Swapped

SIM swapping sounds like something you’d do at a cell phone store after finally retiring your cracked-screen relic. In reality, it’s more like a digital identity heist. A scammer convinces your phone carrier to transfer your number to their SIM card — and now they have access to your texts and calls. 

What’s worse is that any accounts you’ve protected with two-factor authentication are now vulnerable because scammers can get the codes sent straight to their phones, allowing them to lock you out of your accounts.

If your phone suddenly stops working and your Uber Eats is going to the wrong address, keep reading.

What Are the Signs You’ve Been SIM Swapped?

The good news: your phone didn’t just spontaneously combust. The bad news: someone else may have hijacked your number.

Here’s how to know:

• Your phone suddenly loses service (no calls, no texts, no data).
  
• You’re locked out of apps and accounts you didn’t log out of.
  
• You stop receiving two-factor authentication codes.
  
• Your email or social accounts light up with password reset attempts.
  
• You get a text from your carrier saying your SIM was activated elsewhere — and, surprise! That wasn't you.

According to the FBI, SIM swapping cases jumped over 400% from 2018 to 2021. And in 2021 alone, the scam racked up $68 million in reported losses. So yeah, it’s a thing, and it’s a thing tons of people fall victim to every year. 

If you find yourself dealing with a SIM swap, there’s no reason to feel ashamed or embarrassed about being scammed. Fraudsters are increasingly sophisticated, and even if you’re ultra-tech savvy, it can happen to you, too.

You’ve Been Swapped. What Do You Do?

Let’s cut to the chase. Time is of the essence when you’ve been scammed. 

Just do these six things before things go full dumpster fire:

1. Lock down your email. Change your password and toss in 2FA (using an authenticator app, not SMS). Your email is the skeleton key to everything else. Guard it like it's your OnlyFans login.
   
2. Call your carrier. Tell them your number was stolen. They’ll flag your account, deactivate the scammer’s SIM, and possibly require a secret handshake before making future changes.
   
3. Freeze your credit. Because next up in the scammer’s playbook is applying for a Tesla loan in your name. Go to all three bureaus and lock it down.
   
4. Audit your accounts. Change passwords for anything that matters. Boot suspicious devices. Turn on app-based 2FA. Bonus points if you use a password manager that doesn’t suck.
   
5. File a police report. Not because you expect them to run CSI on your case — but banks, apps, and your carrier might ask for it when you try to fix the mess.
   
6. Report it to the FTC. Yawn, we know. But go toidentitytheft.gov and file a report. Paper trail = power.

How To Protect Yourself From Getting Swapped in the First Place

A little paranoia might not make you the most chill person at a dinner party, but when it comes to the safety of your data … it really does go a long way. 

Here’s how to make yourself a harder target:

• Ditch SMS-based 2FA. If your security depends on text messages, congrats — you’re one SIM swap away from being hacked. Use an authenticator app instead.
  
• Add a carrier PIN. Set up an account passcode that’s required before any changes can be made to your number. And no, “1234” doesn’t count.
  
• Lock your SIM. Some phones let you set a SIM PIN. It’s one extra layer of “Nope” for would-be hijackers.
  
• Think before you post. Stop giving away your mother’s maiden name and high school mascot on Instagram stories. Oversharing fuels phishing.
  
• Avoid sketchy links. This should be obvious by now. If that text from “Amazon Refund Center” has typos and demands your login? Just no.

Also, consider using a temporary phone number for things that don’t need your real digits. Giving out your main number is like handing out your house key and yelling, “Bring friends!” to any random person on the street.

How Does Burner Help?

SIM swapping goes after your main number. You know, the one that unlocks your email, your bank, and probably half your social life. Burner gives you disposable numbers you can torch on command — so you can keep your actual number on lockdown.

Use your Burner number for dating apps, random signups, or whenever you find yourself wondering, “How can I send a text message without showing my number?” That’s what Burner’s for.

If something sketchy starts happening? You don’t beg your carrier to fix it. You just delete the number and move on.

The Bottom Line

SIM swapping is messy, invasive, and totally real. But it doesn’t have to wreck your digital life. Know the signs. React fast. And maybe don’t put all your digital eggs in one phone number.

Burner can’t fight off every hacker on Earth — but it can keep your real number off their radar entirely. So go ahead, separate your digital worlds. Your future self (and your phone) will thank you when you try Burner today.

Sources:

Identity Theft | Federal Trade Commission

‘SIM swap’ Scams Netted $68 Million in 2021: FBI | ABC News

FBI: SIM-Swapping Complaints Have Increased More Than 400% | Biz New Orleans

Protecting Consumers From SIM Swapping and Port-Out Fraud | Federal Communications Commission