How SIM swapping led to a $1.8M cyber fraud case

A San Fernando Valley in California, has been sentenced to more than five years in the Federal Jail after man ordered Vagina It targeted dozens of victims, many of them older.

Oren David Cell, 1, stole the mail, hijacked the phone number through the SIM, and used the identity of the victims to eliminate bank accounts, stealing more than $ 1.5 million.

Here is how this scheme worked and what you can do for not being victimized in similar attacks.

Join the Free Cybergui Report: Get my expert technology tips, critical security warnings and exclusive deals – more instant access to me Free Ultimate Scam Guide to Survive Sign up when you are!

What is the SIM?

SIM A form of identity theft where a scammer is a mobile carrier to transfer your phone number to a new SIM card they control. Once they hijack your number, they can prevent text messages with verification code and gain access to your bank account, email and more.

There are two common ways scammers turn off the SIM:

• Social Engineering: They confuse you and claim your phone is lost or stolen in contact with your phone carrier’s customer assistance. Then they persuade the carrier to activate a new SIM card with your number.
• Internal threat: In some cases, scammers bribe or strategies employees in a mobile career without following proper verification steps.

Once they control your phone number they could:

• Call all your arriving and accept the text
• Reset passwords on your email, bank and social media accounts
• Bypass the safety warnings sent to your phone
• Lock you from your own account

The SIM weed turns your phone number into a master key to steal your identity and money.

কীভাবে দূষিত সিম অদলবদল কেলেঙ্কারী এড়ানো যায়

$ 1.8m inside the fraud scheme

Between November 2021 and 2023, Sela Beverly stole mail from houses in California and the surrounding houses. He collected personal information, including:

• Debit and credit card details
• Bank account number
• Social Security Number
• Driver’s license

Using this information, the CEA bipolar authentication was attacked to bypass the SIM to bypass (2fa) Protection. It has given him permission:

• Enter the affected online banking and financial accounts
• Open new fraud accounts in the name of the victims
• Transfer money to intermediary accounts he controlled
• Order New Debit and Credit Card associated with the victim accounts

Sela withdrew and transferred several hundred frauds. He tried to steal about $ 2.6 million and successfully stole at least $ 1.5 million.

Great lifestyle and his fall

Cell often spends the stolen money on luxury products with a clock of about 17,000. In 2022, he was arrested in Beverly Hills and was found in about $ 25,000 in cash, various expensive jewelry and numerous fraudulent debits and credit cards included in veteran victims. Despite this arrest, Sela continued to fraud. In 2022 and 2023, law enforcement of law enforcement in 2023 discovered more than $ 70,000 in cash, stolen mail, fraud detection documents and banking information connected to dozens of damage.

In October 2024, Sela Bank convicted for fraud and more intense identity theft. On April 22, 2021, he was sentenced to 61 months in the Federal Jail and was ordered to pay $ 1,818,369 to recover.

FBI warns about new extortion scandal targeting sensitive data

Why the sim is so dangerous

Bi-factor authentication provides an additional layer of protection but it is effective if the attacker cannot access your phone. When scammers hijack your phone number, they can interrupt the 2FA codes sent by the text and quickly take control of your accounts. Once inside your email or banking app, they could:

• Reset the password
• Remove the money
• You lock out
• Open the new line of Credit Ver in your name

If they can control your number, they don’t even need your password.

What is artificial intelligence (AI)?

What exactly is a data breach and why should I take care of?

How to protect yourself from the SIM and theft of identity

Take these important steps to secure your data:

1 Observe your accounts: Review your bank statement, credit card statements and financial accounts regularly for unauthorized activities. Report any suspicious transactions instantly.

2 Lock your SIM card: Set a PIN on your SIM card via your mobile carrier. Without it your number without your permission cannot be removed.

3 Be careful about sharing personal information: Limit personal information you shared online, especially on social media. Scammers often use small details like birthdays, pets’ names or protection questions, or to see you in disguise.

4 .. Put a fraud alert: Contact one of the three main credit Beurus (Equipx, Experts or Transunes) and request for fraud alert. It makes the identity thieves stronger to open a new account in your name.

5 Check your Credit Report: Get free copies of your credit reports and review them carefully for suspicious activities. If you find the signs of error or fraud, please report them now.

Make Fox business by clicking here

6 .. Please froze your credit: A credit freeze prevents new accounts in your name without your consent. It is set to be set up and not affects your credit score.

7 .. Use an authenticator app, not SMS for bi-quality authentication: Use apps like Microsoft Authenticer or Google Authenticer Instead of relying on text message codes, which can be interrupted if your phone number is stolen.

8. Strengthen your passwords: Create strong, unique passwords for each account. Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords securely. Get more details about me Here is the best expertly experts of 2025 password director.

9. Invest in protecting identity theft: Identity Stolen Companies can observe personal information like your social security number (SSN), phone number and email addresses and if it is sold on the Dark Web or used to open an account you may warn you. To prevent more unauthorized use by criminals they can help you to froze your bank and credit card accounts. See how to protect yourself from identity theft and see my tips and the best.

10. Be careful about phishing attempts and use strong antivirus software: Keep an eye on asking for personal information to email, text or calls. Always verify the source before providing sensitive details. Installing antivirus software on all your devices can help you to protect you by detecting malicious links, detecting phishing efforts and turning off malware before stealing your personal information. Get my pick for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devicesThe

Cart’s key -techwes

If scammers could steal your phone number, they could steal your money, your accounts and even your identity. SIM is a serious threat because it gives criminals a shortcut surrounding your most powerful defense. Take action today to protect your phone, your accounts and your personal information. A few small steps can make the difference between being safe and facing a destructive financial loss.

Click here to get Fox News app

Have you ever been targeted by the SIM weed scandal or identity theft? Let us know by writing this Cybergie. Com/contact

For my more technical tips and security warnings, my free cybergui report is subscribing to the newsletter Cybergie. Com/newsletter

Ask a question to the cart or let us know what stories you want to cover.

Follow the cart on its social channels:

The most asked Cybergui questions Answer:

New from the cart:

Copyright 2025 Cybergui.com. All rights are reserved.