SIM swap scam
lastmod 2025-05-06created 2025-05-061 edits
An attack in which the attacker uses or alters SIM information to intercept the target's communications. Like phishing or smishing, the goal is usually to intercept SMS or ARS authentication for various services and steal the target's personal information, money, and so on; it differs in that, being SIM-based, the attack is possible regardless of operating system vulnerabilities on the target's device or whether security practices are followed.
Unlike GSM, WCDMA, LTE, and NR, with cdmaOne and cdma2000 a crime similar to SIM swapping is possible with only the device's ESN/MEID.