Russians have been warned about the risk of losing their phone number due to a fraudulent scheme involving SIM card duplicates. The main sign of the deception is the absence of internet and calls.
You lose signal, calls don't go through, the internet doesn't work — it might not be a connection failure, but an attempt by fraudsters to intercept your number.
The cyber threat is known as a SIM-swap attack, in which attackers use fake documents to obtain a duplicate SIM card. This gives them access to SMS, verification codes, and online banking. Although this scheme is not yet widespread, it can pose a serious danger.
Experts from the Ministry of Internal Affairs advise that if the phone loses signal, you should immediately call the operator to clarify whether a duplicate SIM card has been issued. In addition, it is important to check banking applications and personal accounts for security. It is recommended to change passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
Since April 1, a service has been launched on the "Gosuslugi" portal, allowing Russians to check all SIM cards registered in their name, which will help identify potentially vulnerable accounts.