Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.

SOS Scam - How to Protect Yourself
SOS Scam - How to Protect Yourself

An "SOS scam" often refers to a "SIM porting" attack where a phone unexpectedly enters "SOS only" mode, signaling that hackers have stolen your number. Other SOS scams include fake, urgent "friend-in-need" messages or fraudulent government emails/texts requesting fees.

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.
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