Google Fi customers can enable this added layer of security at no extra cost
Google Fi introduces Number Lock feature to protect users against SIM swapping
Number Lock prevents transfer or porting of user's number to another phone or carrier
SIM swapping is a type of scam where cybercriminals take over mobile phone accounts by convincing carriers to port the victim's number to a SIM card they own
To enable Number Lock, users need to sign in to their Google Fi account and go to Phone settings > Privacy & security > Number lock
Google Fi, a wireless communications provider owned by Google, has introduced a new feature called Number Lock to protect its users against illegal SIM swaps. With this feature enabled, no one can transfer or port the user's number to another phone or carrier. This added layer of security comes at no extra cost for Google Fi customers.
SIM swapping is a type of scam where cybercriminals take over mobile phone accounts by convincing carriers to port the victim's number to a SIM card they own. Once in control, the criminals can access two-factor authentication codes and other sensitive information, leading to potential financial losses.
To enable Number Lock on Google Fi, users need to sign in to their account on the Google Fi website and go to Phone settings > Privacy & security > Number lock. They will be prompted to enter their username and password again before turning on the switch for Number lock. To disable it, follow the same steps and turn off the
In May 2023, the author’s cell phone was taken over by a criminal through port-out hijacking or SIM-swapping.
Despite reporting the issue and taking protective measures, the criminal transferred an additional $19,000 from the author’s credit card to the same account.
Accuracy
In May 2023, the author's cell phone was taken over by a criminal through port-out hijacking or SIM-swapping.
Port-out hijacking is on the rise and becoming more sophisticated, with SIM-swapping complaints increasing over 400% from 2018 to 2021 and reports to the FCC doubling from 275 complaints in 2020 to 550 reports in 2023.
Switching numbers from one phone to another is easy and can be done online or over the phone, taking less than a few hours with the right personal information.
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author focuses on her personal experience and the financial losses she suffered without providing any context or statistics about the prevalence or impact of port-out hijacking. She also uses emotive language to describe her experience, such as 'nightmare' and 'hard lesson', which is intended to elicit an emotional response from readers.
Using my home Wi-Fi connection, I checked my email and discovered a notification that $20,000 was being transferred from my credit card to an unfamiliar Discover Bank account.
It didn’t help to have a bank send a text to verify a transaction when the phone receiving the text was in the hands of the very person trying to break into my account.
I am not the most tech savvy person, but I am a law-school educated journalist who specializes in finance reporting. Despite being safe, I was vulnerable to criminals.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains a few informal fallacies in the form of anecdotal evidence and appeals to authority. The author shares their personal experience with port-out hijacking, which can make the issue feel more real and urgent but does not necessarily provide objective evidence or represent the broader scope of this problem.
I woke up and grabbed my cell phone to read the news and scroll through memes. But it was out of cell service...That, though, turned out to be the least of my problems.
Experts say these scams will only increase and become more sophisticated...Despite being safe, I was vulnerable to criminals.
The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center reports SIM-swapping complaints have increased more than 400% from 2018 to 2021...Complaints to the FCC about the crime have doubled, from 275 complaints in 2020 to 550 reports in 2023.
SIM-swapping is a growing form of identity theft where thieves take over phone numbers, allowing them to receive calls and texts meant for the original owner.
Criminals use personal information obtained through data breaches, leaks, or phishing scams to impersonate victims and contact mobile carriers for a new SIM card.
Prevention measures include using strong passwords, multifactor authentication without texts, setting up unique passcodes with carriers, and being cautious of phishing schemes.
Accuracy
]SIM-swapping is a growing form of identity theft where thieves take over phone numbers[
Complaints of SIM-swapping have increased by more than 400% from 2018 to 2021 with estimated personal losses exceeding $68 million.
SIM-swapping complaints increasing over 400% from 2018 to 2021
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
No formal fallacies found. Some informal fallacies and dichotomous depictions present. The author provides a balanced view on SIM swapping protection methods without using inflammatory rhetoric or appeals to authority.
] Experts say these scams will only increase and become more sophisticated, while the data show they are on the rise. The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center reports that SIM-swapping complaints have increased more than 400% from 2018 to 2021, with associated personal losses estimated to be more than $68 million.
If you’ve been using the same or similar login information for multiple websites or online accounts, make sure to change it. If criminals pilfer your password from one service, they can try it on your other accounts and easily get into all of them.
Fraudsters have been taking over mobile phone accounts and emptying bank accounts.
RBS refunded Sarah Downs’ money after her £6,000 savings were taken from her account following a takeover of her O2 mobile phone account.
It is difficult to get a number back once it has been ported to another provider, making it hard for victims to regain control of their accounts.
Accuracy
O2 is the most complained-about provider in cases of mobile phone account takeovers.
Once fraudsters have control of someone’s mobile phone, they can pretend to be them to their bank and empty the account using two-step verification codes sent to the phone.
Deception
(50%)
The article contains selective reporting as it only reports cases where the mobile phone account was taken over and the bank account was emptied. It does not mention any instances where this did not happen or where the banks were able to prevent the fraudsters from accessing the accounts. The article also uses emotional manipulation by describing how victims' lives were turned upside down and how they felt paranoid about their identity being stolen.
Once in control of the email account, and armed with other personal data, the fraudsters then posed as the customer to the mobile company, resetting all the passwords and ordering a replacement sim card.
In recent months, Guardian Money has become increasingly alarmed at how often people are reporting that their mobile phone account has been taken over
They are a reminder as to why users must have 2-step verification turned on to email and other accounts.
Fallacies
(85%)
The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating 'alarm' and 'reminder as to why users must have 2-step verification turned on to email and other accounts.' This is an appeal to fear. The author also makes a dichotomous depiction by implying that mobile banking is risky and not safe, without providing any evidence or statistics.
]The risks of doing banking on your mobile handset have been underlined by the stories of Guardian Money readers who had their mobiles taken over by fraudsters, who then emptied their bank accounts.[
They are a reminder as to why users must have 2-step verification turned on to email and other accounts.
Bias
(95%)
The author expresses alarm and concern towards the incidents of mobile phone accounts being taken over by fraudsters and the resulting financial losses for victims. While this in itself is not biased, the author's tone and language can be perceived as sensationalizing these incidents. The article also mentions specific instances where victims were unable to get their phone numbers back from rival providers, which could potentially be seen as an example of monetary bias against O2. However, the author does not make any explicit statements that favor or disfavor any particular company or political stance.
In some of the cases we have heard about, victims initially had their email account hacked, while in another, the phone may have been taken over using malware. Once in control of the email account, and armed with other personal data, the fraudsters then posed as the customer to the mobile company, resetting all the passwords and ordering a replacement sim card.
]The risks of doing banking on your mobile handset have been underlined by the stories of Guardian Money readers who had their mobiles taken over by fraudsters, who then emptied their bank accounts.[
They are a reminder as to why users must have 2-step verification turned on to email and other accounts.
Google Fi Wireless introduced a new feature called Number Lock to protect against illegal SIM swaps.
Number Lock prevents users from transferring their number to a new device or carrier while it is active.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The article by Abner Li provides information about Google Fi's new Number Lock feature that aims to protect against SIM swaps. The author explains what SIM swapping is and how it can be prevented with the new feature. No formal or informal fallacies were found in the article, but there are a few instances of appeals to authority from the FCC regulations mentioned in the text.
According to a new FCC rule, carriers have to give customers the 'option to lock or freeze their account to stop SIM changes.'
Carriers also have to let users 'clock or freeze their accounts to stop port-outs.'
