This Scam Alert is a joint warning from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and the National Anti-Scam Centre’s Scamwatch.
Recently, it's been reported by Scamwatch that criminals are committing fraud by taking control of mobile phone numbers or making unauthorised changes to phone accounts. Once they gain access to your phone, they can receive verification codes, reset passwords, restrict access to your systems, and get access to a wide range of services that rely on your mobile number for security checks, including:
- your bank accounts
- myGov
- subscription services
- rewards programs.
Some people are at risk of mobile number fraud when their email account is compromised. Mobile phone fraud can also occur when scammers gain access to your ID documents or passwords through phishing attempts and following data breaches.
Who’s at risk
Anyone with a mobile phone number can be targeted by this scam. However, people who know or suspect they have been in a data breach may be at greater risk of being targeted.
Warning signs to look out for
- Unexpected alerts about changes to your mobile account.
- Verification codes you didn’t request.
- Account login attempts or password reset emails you didn’t initiate.
- Your phone suddenly stops working, shows no signal or switches to ‘SOS only’.
If you've been affected
- If your phone stops working unexpectedly or you notice suspicious activity, contact your bank immediately then contact your phone provider.
- Change passwords on all your devices and online accounts and notify your bank or card provider straight away.
- Monitor your bank statements and account activity for anything unusual.
Need help?
If you believe someone has gained access to your bank account and/or personal information, even if the scam appears unrelated to your finances, you should contact your bank immediately. A timely response can be critical.
- If you have concerns about your account contact us immediately.
- You can report cybercrime directly to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) or National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC) – Scamwatch.
- Find out how scams work, how to protect yourself, what to do if you’ve been scammed or report a scam to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via Scamwatch.
- Change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication to protect your accounts.
As always, we remain committed to your security and privacy online. To understand how we help to keep you safe, please refer to our Security page. For more information on common scams and how to protect yourself, please visit the News section of our website.
