Our local PD sent out an alert on social media and in the local papers that they've recently seen a new scam - cell phone number theft. At least four reports since mid-December, all on Verizon phones.
The thieves get your cell number and call the carrier, then convince customer service to switch the number to a new phone or port it to another carrier. Once they've done this, they have access to whatever was on your phone. They could get access to your financial accounts by changing the passwords; at the very least, if you use your phone for business, you're in a world of hurt because if someone calls you, it's not your cell phone they will be reaching anymore...
If your phone suddenly stops working or you get a text saying that changes are being made to your account that you didn't authorize, immediately contact your carrier, your local police, and your financial institutions.
Most carriers allow you to add some kind of PIN to your account that restricts who can make changes to it, but they may not necessarily advertise it. If you don't have one, check with your carrier. Verizon users can add an Account PIN using the MyVerizon app or website. It's a 4-digit PIN that only the account owner would know; once you create it, you will have to provide it to customer service if you call or message to make changes to your account in order to prove you are who you say you are.
Not sure if this is becoming widespread or is just happening in my little corner of TX right now, but I thought it would be a good idea to raise the warning flag. |
