SOS Scam - How to Protect Yourself

SOS Scam Types

• SIM Porting/Swap Scam (Most Dangerous): Your phone suddenly shows "SOS Only" or "No Service" because hackers have moved your phone number to their own device. This allows them to bypass two-factor authentication for banks.
• Friend/Relative SOS Message: Scammers impersonate a loved one in a, often on social media or messaging apps, claiming they are in a hospital or accident and need immediate money.
• Government/Secretary of State Scam: Fake messages claiming you owe fees for business registration or legal issues, often threatening licence suspension.

What To Do

1. Contact your service provider: If your phone is in SOS mode, immediately inform your network provider that your SIM may have been ported.
2. Contact your bank: If you suspect your mobile number is compromised, inform your financial institutions immediately to freeze accounts.
3. Do not click or pay: Never click links in unexpected "SOS" messages or pay money to people claiming to be in an emergency without verifying through another channel.

Protect Yourself

• Set a PIN/Password: Contact your mobile provider and set up a unique PIN for making changes to your account.
• Don't ignore "SOS" mode: If your phone enters "SOS only" mode, do not just restart it. Call your provider immediately.
• Verify urgent requests: If you receive a message from a friend needing money, call them directly on their known phone number to verify, rather than replying to the message.