Number Porting Fraud
Criminals can move your phone number to another network without your permission, then receive your codes. How port-out fraud works, the warning signs, and how to lock your number.
Number porting lets you keep your phone number when you change networks. It is a useful consumer right. It is also a route for fraud: a criminal who has enough of your personal details can request that your number be moved to a network and SIM they control. From then on, your calls and one-time codes go to them.
How port-out fraud works
- Collecting details: your name, address, date of birth, account number or ID details, from breaches, phishing or social media.
- Requesting a port: the criminal opens an account with another network and asks to bring "their" number over, sometimes with a transfer code obtained from your network by impersonating you.
- The switch: your phone loses service; theirs starts receiving your texts.
- The attack: they reset passwords using text codes and access your bank, mobile money or email.
Warning sign: your phone shows "No service" or "SOS only" where it normally works, or you receive a message about a porting or transfer request you did not make. Call your network from another phone straight away.
How to protect your number
- Ask your network about port-out protection. Depending on your country and network, this may be a port lock, account PIN, password, or a transfer code sent only to you.
- Secure your network account online with a unique password and two-step verification.
- Never share transfer or porting codes with anyone who contacts you.
- Reduce reliance on text codes for your most important accounts. See text message code weaknesses.
- Protect personal details used to verify you. See what not to post online.
If your number has been ported
- Call your original network from another phone and report the fraudulent port. Ask them to reverse it and add protection.
- Call your bank and mobile money provider to freeze accounts and stop transfers.
- Change your email password from a trusted device, and check recovery details.
- Check other accounts that use text codes for unusual activity.
- Report the fraud; see how to report a scam.
Got a message about a transfer code or porting request? Paste it into CyberWatch AI Scan for a free check, then call your network.
Porting fraud is closely related to SIM swap fraud. Both are covered in protecting your phone and number.
Frequently asked questions
What is number porting?
Moving your existing phone number from one mobile network to another. It is a normal, useful service, but criminals abuse it to take numbers they do not own.
How is porting fraud different from a SIM swap?
A SIM swap moves your number to a new SIM on the same network. Porting fraud moves it to a different network. Both give the criminal your calls and texts.
How do I stop my number being ported?
Ask your network about port-out protection, such as a port lock, account PIN or transfer code that only you can request, and secure your online account with the network.
Sources
- How To Protect Your Phone From Hackers, US Federal Trade Commission
- What To Know About Identity Theft, US Federal Trade Commission
- Multifactor Authentication, US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
