10 Risks You Can Face When Your Phone Number Was Stolen

Picture this: you wake up one morning and grab your phone, ready to start your day. But something seems off. Your notifications are flooding with messages from people you don’t know, and your phone keeps ringing with unknown numbers. You quickly realize that your phone number has been stolen.?It may seem just a minor inconvenience, but the truth is that having your phone stolen can have serious consequences, from identity theft to financial fraud. Understand how hackers can make use of your phone number and how harsh the consequences might be. Here are some of the most common ways a hacker can harm an individual by having stolen their phone number:

1. SIM SWAPPING

Hackers can contact a mobile service provider and claim that the victim has lost their phone, requesting that the victim's phone number be transferred to a new SIM card that the attacker controls. Once the attacker gains control of the phone number, they can access various accounts linked to the phone number, such as email, social media, and even banking apps, potentially leading to identity theft and financial loss and/or reputation damage.

2. ACCOUNT TAKEOVERS

Hackers can use a phone number to gain access to an individual's online accounts through a process called two-factor authentication (2FA). Many online services use 2FA, where the user is asked to provide a phone number that receives a verification code, along with their username and password. If a hacker has access to a user's phone number, they can receive the verification code and gain access to the account.

3. SMISHING ATTACKS

Smishing is a type of phishing attack that occurs via SMS messages, where the hacker sends a fake message to the victim asking them to provide personal information or click on a malicious link.

4. SPAM & TELEMARKETING

Hackers can sell the phone number to companies specialized in telemarketing or use the number themselves to send spam messages.

5. PHISHING ATTACKS

Hackers can use the victim’s phone number to initiate a phishing attack, sending fraudulent messages or phone calls designed to trick the victim into giving away credit card details, passwords, or other sensitive information.

6. SPOOFING

A hacker can use the victim’s phone number to spoof their identity, making it appear as if they are the victim when communicating with others. This way, the cybercriminals can conduct fraudulent activities - taking out loans, applying for a credit line in the victim’s name, etc.

7. DOXXING

A hacker can use the victim’s phone number to obtain personal information - address, email address, social media accounts etc.. This data can be then used for doxxing, i.e. publicly disclosing someone’s personal information without their consent.?

8. DENIAL OF SERVICE (DoS)

A hacker can use the victim’s phone number to launch DoS attacks, which means flooding the victim’s phone with a large number of messages or calls, rendering the device unusable.

9. VISHING

A hacker can use the victim’s phone number and pretend to be a representative from a legitimate organization and trick the victim into revealing their personal information, such as a bank account.?

10. SEXTORTION

A hacker can use the victim’s phone number to threaten him/her with releasing sensitive photos/videos unless the victim pays a ransom.

A hacker with access to an individual’s phone number can cause severe damage, ranging from identity theft to cyber blackmail. It is important to be aware of these threats and take steps to protect your phone number and personal information. To begin protecting yourself, the best thing to do is using secure communication devices.