FCC adopts new rules to protect consumers from SIM-swapping attacks

Sergiu Gatlan reports:

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has revealed new rules to shield consumers from criminals who hijack their phone numbers in SIM swapping attacks and port-out fraud.

FCC’s Privacy and Data Protection Task Force introduced the new regulations in July. They are geared toward thwarting scammers who seek to access personal data and information by swapping SIM cards or transferring phone numbers to different carriers without obtaining physical control of their targets’ devices.

In SIM swapping attacks, criminals trick a victim’s wireless carrier into redirecting their service to a device controlled by the fraudster. Conversely, in port-out fraud or mobile number porting fraud, scammers transfer the victim’s phone number from one service provider to another without the owner’s authorization.