e-SIM Swap is one of the most dangerous cyber fraud schemes, where the victim is deceived so sophisticatedly that they do not realize that funds are being withdrawn from their bank account.
When this e-SIM scam occurs, the SIM card in the user's smartphone is deactivated. After this, hackers or fraudsters install the eSIM on their phone.
Having gained control of the SIM card, the fraudsters gain access to one-time passwords (OTPs) and other data. Then, transfers begin from the victim's bank account without her knowledge.
Cybercriminals use cunning to trap the victim. First, they call, pretending to be customer support staff. After that, they mislead the victim and hack the SIM card.
The fraudsters claim that the service will be unavailable for 24 hours because the OTP service is disabled during the first day after SIM card conversion. However, as soon as the messaging function is restored, they start transferring money from the bank account.
Last year, a woman from Noida fell victim to an e-SIM scam.
Installing an e SIM in a smartphone is quite simple; Android users need to scan a QR code. In the e-SIM Swapping scheme, fraudsters gain access to OTP and other information to activate the eSIM.
For protection, it is extremely important never to share OTPs, passport details (Aadhaar Card), email addresses, or passwords with strangers.