Getting hacked once is scary enough.But getting hacked again after changing carriers, replacing cards and trying to recover your accounts can make it feel like the criminals are always one step ahead.
That is exactly what happened to Lela in Ohio, who reached out after a frightening string of account takeovers."All my accounts have been hacked," Lela said."I had my phone number transferred to another carrier, AT&T, and I'm experiencing it again.
They have hacked my phone number again." She said criminals accessed her checking accounts, credit cards and even started charging new cards before she received them.Then she asked the question anyone in her situation would be asking: "Should I be just getting a new phone number instead of trying to recover the number I've had for 20 years?"The answer is maybe, but changing your number should rarely be the first move.A new number can help in some cases.
However, if hackers still control your email, bank login, recovery settings or wireless account, they may keep breaking back in.SCAMMERS TARGET WIRELESS CUSTOMERS IN NEW PHONE SCHEMEA SIM swap or port-out scam can let criminals take over your phone number and intercept security codes for sensitive accounts.(Jacob Wackerhausen/Getty Images)Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportYour phone number may feel harmless.
After all, it is how friends, family, doctors and businesses reach you.But today, that number is also connected to some of your most important accounts.
It may be tied to your bank accounts, credit cards, email accounts, Apple ID, Google account, medical portals, shopping accounts and password resets.That makes it valuable to criminals.If a scammer takes control of your number, they may receive your calls and text messages.
That includes security codes meant only for you.From there, they can reset passwords, break into email, access financial accounts and keep returning even after you think you fixed the problem.A SIM swap scam happens when a criminal tricks y...