Your SIM Was Swapped: Act Now

What a SIM swap looks like

Your phone suddenly loses signal, shows “no service”, or stops receiving calls and texts for no clear reason. This often means your number has been moved to another SIM card without your permission, a pattern known as a SIM swap scam.

Once a scammer controls your number, they can receive the one-time passwords (OTPs) your bank and other accounts send by SMS. This lets them reset passwords and approve transfers as if they were you.

The warning sign usually appears before any money moves, so the first minutes matter more here than in most other scams.

SIM swaps often follow a period of unusual calls or messages asking for a verification code, sometimes disguised as a delivery notice or a prize alert. Recognising this pattern earlier can help you act before your number is actually moved.

Why speed matters

Every minute your number sits on the scammer’s device is a minute they can use it against your accounts. Banking apps, email, and social media commonly rely on a call or text to confirm it is really you.

A full account takeover can happen fast once someone holds your number, so cutting off that access comes before anything else.

What to do right now

Call your telco’s fraud or customer line from another phone or a family member’s phone, report the swap, and ask them to block it and restore your original SIM. Then call your bank directly to flag your accounts for unusual activity.

If any money has already moved, report to the National Scam Response Centre on 997 without delay. File a police report with the Commercial Crime Investigation Department once you are able to reach a station or the online channel.

If you share a bank account or a linked e-wallet with a family member, let them know immediately so they can also watch for unusual activity. A short warning to anyone connected to your accounts can prevent a second loss.

Securing your accounts afterward

Once your number is restored, change the passwords on your banking, email, and social accounts, starting with anything connected to money. Where the option exists, switch to an authentication app instead of SMS codes.

Check your bank statements and e-wallet history for transfers you did not make, and save screenshots of anything unusual as evidence.

What to do next

Keep a simple record of when the signal loss started, when you contacted your telco, and every reference number you are given. This timeline helps your bank, the police, and a lawyer understand what happened and when.

If money has already left your accounts, how a bank recall works sets out the realistic next step. You can also read the wider first response guide for what to do in the hours right after a scam.