Introduction
Theft of mobile devices is a common occurrence in Spain, with over 6 million phones being stolen each year. In recent years, thieves have become increasingly sophisticated in their tactics, using a range of high-tech methods to steal phones. However, a new, low-tech trick is now being used to take over iPhones in Spain. This involves thieves using a simple but effective approach to gain access to the phone’s contents without the owner’s knowledge.
What is the Low-Tech Trick?
The low-tech trick being used by thieves in Spain is known as “SIM swapping”. This involves a thief obtaining a person’s SIM card and then using it to gain access to the phone’s contents. This is done by the thief calling the phone’s customer service provider and pretending to be the owner of the phone. The thief then requests that the SIM card be transferred to a new phone, which is owned by the thief. Once this is done, the thief has access to the phone’s contents, including emails, contacts, banking information, and other personal data.
How is SIM Swapping Done?
SIM swapping is relatively simple for a thief to do. All they need is the phone’s SIM card and the customer service provider’s contact details. They then call the provider and give them the SIM card number, as well as their own personal details. The thief then requests that the SIM card be transferred to a new phone, which is owned by the thief. Once this is done, the thief has access to the phone’s contents.
What is Being Done to Combat SIM Swapping?
In response to the rise in SIM swapping in Spain, a number of measures have been put in place to help prevent it. For example, some customer service providers are now offering a “SIM lock” service. This service requires customers to enter a PIN code before they can transfer their SIM card to a new phone. This makes it much more difficult for thieves to access the phone’s contents.
In addition, the Spanish government is taking steps to increase awareness of the issue. The government is running campaigns to educate people about the dangers of SIM swapping and how to protect themselves from it.
Conclusion
SIM swapping is a low-tech trick that is being used by thieves to take over iPhones in Spain. This involves a thief obtaining a person’s SIM card and then using it to gain access to the phone’s contents. To combat this, customer service providers are offering a “SIM lock” service and the Spanish government is running campaigns to increase awareness of the issue. By taking these measures, it is hoped that the number of thefts involving SIM swapping will be reduced.
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