Sim Swap fraud is a type of identity theft where a malicious actor gains control of a victim's mobile phone number by persuading or tricking a mobile network operator to transfer the SIM card associated with that number to a new device.
Once the scammer has control of the phone number, they can intercept calls and text messages, including those used for two-factor authentication (2FA). This allows the fraudster to gain access to the victim's online accounts, such as banking, mobile money, email, and social media, potentially leading to financial loss and other types of identity theft.
To address such cases, RURA has outlined several measures aimed at preventing future incidents.
In a notice to the general public on Wednesday, August 21st, 2024, the authority said SIM card registration or swaps are to be conducted only at permanent premises designated by mobile telecom companies and any SIM card involved in fraudulent activities will be immediately blocked, along with any other SIM cards registered to the ID of the suspected fraudulent individual.
Further, any telecom personnel/agents involved in fraudulent activities will have their business credentials revoked and their SIM cards deactivated.
Issuing or lending a SIM card registered under your ID to another person has been prohibited as it may be used in fraudulent activities.
RURA also announced that bulk Short Message Services (SMS) have been reviewed to enhance service delivery, stating that only telecom companies and licensed aggregators are permitted to send bulk SMS.
The authority further urged mobile users to be vigilant against unsolicited messages, calls requesting money or pretending to be from telecom or government personnel, especially those instructing you to dial certain phone numbers to avoid blocking your phone.
RURA reminded the general public to regularly check the SIM cards registered under their IDs by dialing *125# and following the instructions to self-deregister any unrecognized or undesired SIM cards.
The general public has also been urged to report any fraudulent activities to relevant telcos for assistance.
"In the event of any fraudulent activity, please contact your service provider by dialing the toll-free number 100, which is available for both MTN and Airtel. Alternatively, you may visit their respective service centers for further assistance," RURA advised.
"For additional support, please contact RURA at the toll-free numbers 3988 or 2222."
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rura-announces-stringent-measures-to-curb-sim-swap-fraud
