FCC SIM card fraud rules overview:
- Who: The Federal Communications Commissions passed new rules aimed at curbing SIM card fraud.
- Why: Mobile providers will now be required to seek verification from a customer when a SIM card transfer request is made, among other new rules.
- Where: The FCC regulates interstate and international communications for the US.
The Federal Communications Commission will now require mobile providers to seek verification from a customer when a SIM card transfer request is made.
The new rule was unanimously passed by the FCC on Wednesday, with its goal being to curb a growing issue of bad actors attempting to transfer a SIM onto their own devices as a way to gain access to personal information and accounts.
The SIM card rule is also attempting to clamp down on a scam known as port-fraud where a bad actor will pose as a victim and open an account with a wireless provider other than their victim and arrange for their phone number to be transferred to them.
“We take these steps to improve consumer privacy and put an end to SIM scams,” FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said, in a statement.
FCC revises its Customer Proprietary Network Information and Local Number Portability rules
The FCC also on Wednesday changed its Customer Proprietary Network Information and Local Number Portability rules requiring wireless providers to “adopt secure methods of authenticating a customer before redirecting a customer’s phone number to a new device or provider.”
The rules revision will also require providers to keep a record of any SIM change requests and the authentication methods they use.
Mobile providers will also be required to adopt rules that address fraudulent SIM changes and number ports, adopt processes for responding to failed authentication attempts and establish requirements to minimize the harms of fraud, among other things.
Rosenworcel noted that SIM card fraud is on the rise and that the new rules are coming in the wake of the creation of the commission’s Privacy and Data Protection Task Force.
“We know our phones know a lot about us. They are an entry to our records, our accounts, and so much that we value. That is why across the board we need policies that make sure our information is secure,” the commissioner said.
The FCC announced in August plans to launch a new “Cyber Trust Market” for smart devices, with the goal of helping consumers make better informed decisions about what devices to trust with their data.
Have you been a victim of SIM card fraud? Let us know in the comments!
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15 thoughts onNew FCC rules seek to prevent cell phone SIM card fraud
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Fraud
There are people who are incarcerated, but will be released, who are reporting seeing their credit reports with cell phones and plans being taken out in their name and SSN. Obviously, they’re not doing it from prison. (Yes, I’m well aware that some people wind up with phones inside, but they’re not getting them based of their credit). When they’re released, and it’s required for them to get housing and employment, it’s going to be hard enough, without adding bad credit and the inability to get a cell phone.. at least not without a deposit that they can’t afford and didn’t do anything to earn. The guilty people should be charged with the crimes that involve essentially stealing ones identity and credit, and ruining it. And, the negatives should be immediately removed, as each day makes a difference when they’re obligated to get housing and employment within a time frame, or risk revocation and the return to prison. They can’t afford the awful time frame our so called justice system takes to “handle” cases.
Yes I have been a victim a couple times and this is a big problem for a single mother to end up with no phone so please add me