One Tech Tip: Protecting Yourself Against SIM Swapping

One Tech Tip: Protecting Yourself Against SIM Swapping
A cell phone SIM card in a file photo. Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP via Getty Images
The Associated Press
Updated:
0:00

NEW YORK—SIM-swapping is a growing form of identity theft that goes beyond hacking into an email or social media account. In this case, the thieves take over your phone number. Any calls or texts go to them, not to you.

Any protections consumers enabled to secure access to their financial accounts, such as two-factor authentication texts, now can aid attackers and lock out owners.