Mobile numbers are keys to our online identity today. Phone number acts as the first step in authentication, whether it’s for logging into an app or accessing your bank account. Therefore, mobile numbers are the prime target for cybercriminals. One of the fastest-growing scams today is the SIM swapping attack. Attackers manipulate telecom providers into giving them a victim’s phone number and then move it to a SIM card that they control.
Once the attacker is successful, they can read text messages, make calls, and get important verification codes. With these, they can get into financial sites, change passwords, and take control of social media accounts. For both Android and iOS users, it is very important to know the answer to these queries: what is SIM swapping, how does SIM swapping work, and most importantly, how to prevent SIM swapping?
In this regard, advanced tools like DoveRunner’s app-level security framework help safeguard digital ecosystems against identity-based threats.
What is SIM Swapping Fraud?
SIM swapping fraud is a type of identity theft. The attackers transfer a victim’s phone number to a SIM card under their control by tricking mobile carriers or by other illegal methods. Attackers, now gaining access to the phone number, can intercept calls and messages, and generate OTPs. It allows them to reset passwords and access your banking, fintech and social media accounts.
Many services depend on SMS based two-factor authentication. These services are the main target of SIM swapping fraud by bypassing the SMS based two-factor authentication. In just a few minutes, attackers can compromise multiple accounts, resulting in financial losses, data theft, and privacy breaches.
For organisations, such attacks can lead to large-scale account compromises and loss of customer trust. Building awareness and using stronger authentication methods are key steps in understanding how to prevent SIM swapping and protect Android and iOS devices from this growing cyber threat.
How does a SIM-Swapping Attack Work?
The process of a SIM swapping attack has been explained below to understand how SIM swapping works in order to stay alert and prevent this fraud
Selecting the Target:
Attackers choose targets, based on financial accounts, or high social influence. High- value targets make greater monetization with a single attack.
Gathering Information via Social Engineering:
Attackers get personal information from a number of places, including data breaches, social media, phishing pages, and listings on the dark web.
Contacting the Mobile Provider:
The attacker contacts the victim’s mobile service provider to obtain a new SIM card or number port by pretending to be the victim. The attacker uses the victim’s birth date and home address to answer security questions which makes them appear genuine.
Bypassing checks:
The request succeeds because the carrier lacks proper security measures or SIM PINs have been exposed or the attackers have obtained inside help.
Number transfer:
The attacker obtains the victim’s phone number which results in immediate service termination for the victim.
Generating One-Time-Passwords:
Attackers can now generate OTPs and intercept calls and SMS. The attackers use this access to modify passwords for their services and email and social media accounts.
Exploiting accessed accounts:
Attackers reset Email, banking, social and crypto accounts to move funds or exploit accounts.
Covering tracks:
The attackers remove warning messages by modifying recovery options and disabling alert functions to maintain control of the device for an extended period.
What is the Impact of a SIM-Swapping Attack?
The situation becomes more severe after the attacker gains control of your phone number. The attacker gains access to your account security codes through number control which enables them to reset your banking, email and payment app passwords. The attacker gains instant access to your financial resources after taking control of your number which enables them to make unauthorized transactions and block your access to all your accounts. The initial minor problem develops into a sequence of financial damage and complete exposure of your personal data.
The damage from these attacks reaches further than financial losses. The attackers use their access to emails and social media accounts to extract personal information which they use to create fake profiles of their victims for deceiving others. Restoring accounts to normal might take a lot of time, even months, causing reputation damage and mental health issues to the victims.
Multiple SIM-swapping attacks against businesses will damage customer trust and potentially trigger regulatory investigations. Organizations need to allocate major financial resources to recover from attacks while they navigate through audits and possible legal penalties. The modern interconnected world makes it simple for our digital identity to become vulnerable through a single SIM swap operation. Organizations need to identify sim swapping effects at their beginning stages to execute immediate countermeasures.
How to Tell if You’ve Been SIM Swapped?
If you find a SIM swapping attack early, you are more likely to be able to recover from it. If you see any of the following symptoms, your phone number may have been changed to a different device:
Sudden Loss of Cell Phone Signal:
Your cell phone loses signal for no clear cause, yet other persons who use the same mobile carrier can still connect.
Unwanted Authentication Messages:
One of the most common signs of SIM swap is getting verification codes, one-time passwords, or links to reset your password on your phone without asking for them.
Locking accounts or changing passwords:
Another sign of SIM swap is that victims cannot access applications, services, emails or social media accounts. It is because the attackers have changed their passwords with SMS based authentication.
Unauthorized Financial Activity:
Victims get warnings regarding financial transactions they didn’t do.
Taking over your social media:
The attackers utilize the victim’s social media account to send scam messages and make objectionable postings that ruin your online reputation and could even get you in trouble with the law. People who have been affected indicate that they get login alerts from apps and devices they don’t know about and that their application permissions have been modified without their authorization.
Call your mobile provider straight away to cancel the SIM switch. To keep your account safe, change your password and use an app to set up two-factor authentication. If you want to avoid SIM swapping from taking over your whole system, you need to act fast.
Response Checklist for a SIM-Swapping Attack Investigation
Users now know what a sim swap attack is. Here’s a checklist on how to respond to a SIM-Swapping Attack. It is advisable to act even if you suspect this cybercrime is being committed against you.
Regain Control of Your Phone Number:
Report the suspected SIM swap attack to your mobile carrier’s customer service and get that SIM deactivated. After deactivation, request a new SIM with the same mobile number from your mobile carrier after verifying your identity using alternate credentials. Then put a strong PIN or password on your SIM.
Device and App Security Check:
Attackers often embed spyware in apps. It gives them access when the user downloads and runs these apps on the phone. Prevent this by ensuring your mobile’s OS and security patches are updated, delete apps that seem unfamiliar or malicious, and only download apps from trusted and official sources.
Secure Your Online Accounts:
Choose a trusted device to log into digital services like email, social media, and banking and change your passwords. Use app-based two-factor authentication instead of SMS-based verification for using or logging in to your accounts.
Check Your Finances:
On seeing unauthorized transactions from your bank account, credit cards and fintech wallets, you must first block/ freeze those accounts and check the transaction statement and report it to concerned authorities.
Report the Crime:
If you even suspect a SIM swapping fraud attempt, report it to your mobile carrier customer care and cyber security authorities for quick action.
Quick measures after attack:
Following the incident you should verify all your connected accounts while updating your recovery settings and enabling alert notifications for unauthorized login attempts.
How to Prevent SIM Swapping Scams?
Prevention remains the most vigorous defence against a SIM swapping attack. Knowing how to prevent SIM swapping allows users to secure their digital accounts long before attackers attempt to exploit them.
Set Up a Carrier PIN or Passcode:
Users must make a unique PIN for their SIM that makes swapping SIM difficult.
Use App-Based Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):
Replace SMS-based verification with secure apps like Google Authenticator, Authy, or Microsoft Authenticator for stronger protection.
Strengthen Passwords and Recovery Options:
The passwords created by users must be complex passwords and users must update your recovery email regularly. Users must also put multiple verification layers for added safety.
Limit Personal Information Online:
Attackers may use your date of birth or address on social media to impersonate you so it is advisable to not share sensitive details on social media accounts or insecure websites.
Carefully check your devices:
If you notice that your network has suddenly gone down, or your device has logged in from an unfamiliar location, or your account is acting abnormally, be on the lookout and act quickly.
Keep Devices Secure and Updated:
All your devices must be kept updated with latest OS updates as they come with various security patches.
Enable RASP Protection:
RASP stands for Runtime Application Self Protection. RASP proactively detects and blocks malicious behaviour on your devices. DoveRunner offers RASP for continuous device monitoring and prevention of unauthorized access.
Which Accounts Are Most at Risk from SIM Swapping Attacks?
The following accounts become most vulnerable targets when attackers perform SIM-swapping attacks:
Banking, Payment Apps and Crypto Wallets:
Financial and digital payment apps and wallets receive immediate attention from attackers. The attackers who control your phone number can use OTPs and verification links to access your accounts while they transfer funds and approve unauthorized payments.
Email Accounts:
The loss of email access creates a chain reaction of problems. The ability to reset passwords through email becomes a security risk when attackers gain control of your inbox because they can take over multiple accounts. Email security needs to be made more robust.
Social Media Platforms:
Attackers who gain control of social media profiles will scam others through your profile and post objectionable posts and comments. This could lead to reputation damages and even legal issues.
E-commerce and Subscription Services:
The stored payment information and personal data and addresses in shopping and subscription applications make them attractive targets for attackers. The attackers can use stolen information to buy things without permission and to steal identities.
Business or Admin Accounts:
The security risk level of corporate or admin-level accounts is high. The attackers who gain access to admin accounts can steal important company information while they change security permissions to perform internal network attacks.
How Can DoveRunner Help Safeguard Your Android & iOS Accounts from SIM Swapping Attacks?
While DoveRunner can’t directly detect SIM swaps, it keeps Android and iOS accounts secure by employing robust security and authentication methods.
Runtime self-protection technology (RASP) is one of the main functions of DoveRunner to protect mobile applications. RASP runs continuously to identify any signs that indicate your device has been compromised through rooting or jailbreaking or modified application files. The system triggers an alert when it detects any suspicious activity because it understands that the device no longer maintains trustworthiness.
The platform implements token encryption through white-box cryptography and multi-DRM systems to protect user sessions with advanced security measures. The system protects your active sessions from unauthorized access even when attackers succeed in swapping your SIM card. The system monitors accounts in real-time which makes DoveRunner an effective solution. The system tracks all session activities and behavioural patterns to identify potential attacks that are currently happening.
The system detects all typical post-porting access attempts but does not warn about number porting events. The security framework of DoveRunner protects users through its combination of robust device authentication with its secure session protection system. The security framework of DoveRunner provides enhanced protection against SIM swapping attacks which enables users to defend their accounts on Android and iOS devices against identity theft and associated threats.
FAQs
Q1. How common are SIM swapping attacks in 2025?
In 2025, SIM swapping is the fastest-growing cybersecurity concern. Attackers exploit weak telecom verification processes to gain control of users’ numbers.
Q2. How can users in India prevent SIM swap fraud?
Indian telecom operators allow customers to set up unique carrier PINs. Too many incorrect PINs can prompt a PUK code which has to be obtained by your telecom operator. Incorrect PUK code can lead to permanent blocking of your SIM.
Q3. How can I know if my phone is cloned?
If you notice duplicate calls, missing messages, or unexpected data activity, contact your service provider immediately to verify your SIM and deactivate any unauthorised duplicates.
Q4. How is SIM swap fraud carried out?
It starts with the attackers targeting a victim and collecting their personal information through phishing or data leaks. Then they contact SIM providers pretending to be the victim and convince telecom staff to issue a duplicate SIM by verifying stolen credentials. Once they get the number they start using the mobile number for resetting passwords or approving unauthorized financial transactions through OTPs.
Q5. How can businesses detect SIM swap attacks?
DoveRunner and other platforms help businesses by using AI and machine learning analytics to find unusual device activity, session anomalies and block them to secure the devices.
