ماذا تفعل إذا تم اختراق حساب هاتفك المحمول أو سرقة رقمه

In a world that relies on smartphones, the phone line is the main artery for the flow of data, calls, and text messages, and it is also used to verify identity across multiple accounts, from banks to communication apps.

But what happens if this line is compromised through what is known as "SIM swapping"? This type of breach can lead to severe consequences that go beyond just a disruption of service or data, as hackers work in the shadows using your personal information like your date of birth and address to deceive the service provider and transfer your phone number to a new SIM card under their control.

How do you detect a breach?

Monitor notifications from your service provider, which are often sent via text messages and may contain alerts about changes such as activating your number on another device.

Be cautious of suspicious messages requesting personal information, and make sure to contact your service provider through official numbers listed on their website or your bills.

A sudden loss of service without a clear reason, such as dropped calls or data without any payment issues or announced outages, may be an indicator of a SIM swap.

Additionally, if you notice difficulty accessing your bank or social media accounts linked to your phone number, this could be evidence of an attempted breach or account theft.

Also, keep an eye on your account statements for unexpected charges.

What to do if you fall victim to SIM swapping?

Contact your service provider immediately: Use another phone to call customer service via the official number listed on the provider's website.

Prepare your phone number and any account passwords, and inform them of the incident so they can begin the recovery and investigation process.

Request to suspend paid services: Ask the provider to block any "bill pay" activity to prevent losses.

Notify banks and financial services: Reach out to banks and cryptocurrency platforms to secure your accounts, as these are often the primary targets for hackers.

Warn close contacts: Inform family and friends to prevent them from falling victim to a scammer using your number.

Review your accounts: Check all accounts that use your phone number for two-factor authentication, and change passwords and verification methods if possible.

Steps to protect your account after recovery

Activate all available security measures with your service provider, such as strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and setting up a PIN for the SIM card.

Inquire with the provider about how the breach occurred and what data was used. Use fake answers for security questions (and save them in a password manager).

Set a spending limit on your phone account.

Re-enable two-factor authentication on your accounts, and prefer using authentication apps instead of text messages.

Enable PIN numbers on messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal to secure them.

Continue to monitor your financial and social accounts for any suspicious activity, and reduce the personal information displayed on social media.