Many times our phone’s network suddenly goes down, and we ignore it considering it to be a minor technical problem. But, the reason is not always tower or signal failure. Exactly the same thing happened with a woman in Mumbai. His phone network suddenly went down, and within minutes lakhs of rupees were withdrawn from his bank account. Later it was found out that it was a case of e-SIM fraud.
Referring to this incident, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, the cyber security branch of the Home Ministry, has advised people to be cautious. According to reports, the fraudsters took control of the woman’s mobile number and then misused her banking services and withdrew a huge amount of money.
This method is similar to SIM swap fraud. Cyber criminals make calls posing as employees of a telecom company. They obtain personal information on the pretext of network issues, SIM upgrade or switching to e-SIM. Using this information, they get a new e-SIM or take control of the existing number.
Once they have your mobile number, they can get the OTP and easily hack into your bank account or other digital services. Victims often do not realize what is happening until the damage is done.
It is very important to never trust any unknown call, even if the caller claims to be a customer care agent. Telecom companies usually do not call directly for SIM upgrade. If you have any network issues, contact the official customer care number or your nearest store.
As per government guidelines, promotional or service calls from authorized organizations come from a specific number series. Be careful if someone calls from a regular mobile number or landline and asks for personal information.
If you receive any such suspicious call, immediately report it on Sanchar Sathi portal or cybercrime helpline 1930. Reporting on time can not only save you from loss but can also save others from falling into this trap. Don’t take it lightly if your phone’s network suddenly disappears. First check and then take action because even small carelessness can cause big loss.