A Florida woman's night took a terrifying turn when her phone suddenly went silent. Patricia Escriva was babysitting when texts, calls, and notifications stopped. She connected to Wi-Fi only to find alerts pouring in: a new device added to her account, a password changed, and withdrawals of $1,500 and $800 from her bank.
This is a SIM swap scam, where a criminal gathers personal data, contacts the mobile carrier, and convinces them to transfer the victim's phone number to a device they control. Once they have the number, they intercept text message verification codes to reset passwords and drain linked accounts.
Escriva says the attackers moved fast, using her money and credit lines before she could react. It took three days to regain control of her number. Her bank eventually restored the stolen funds, but the experience was devastating.
Experts urge immediate action: call your carrier to lock your number, freeze your accounts, and change passwords. To prevent such attacks, use a SIM lock or port-out PIN, switch from text codes to authenticator apps, and limit personal data online.
Patricia Escriva recalls the moment her phone went silent and her accounts were taken over in a SIM swap scam.
A SIM swap scam can give criminals access to text message codes used to reset passwords and take over financial accounts.