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
add me please
add me also
add me too
yes, add me
I am suing y’all not giving me no Freedom or no goddamn
I had jobs that would not hire or even process my applications because of the original name on a Sim card or the name.and all you need is a Sim card to get anywhere for 7 years they thought I was a man because a man had taken 7 cell phones with Sim Cards and used his name.not only Tiffany or Sandra but a few men Greg
Syms switched my first sim.i was clueless..much wiser in Utah now.
My husband and myself have been getting these unwanted soliciting calls..I am constantly blocking and telling them to take me off their call list. My husband just recently had to get a new phone the moment his was activated the unwanted calls stated…in one day a dozen calls and they haven’t stopped. I wish I could stop these on both of our phones
Yes a couple years ago I noticed on my monthly itemized bill that I requested because I was being charged for calls to a bunch of foreign country calls.
It took me myths to get it straighted out and get the money refunded.
Also the FCC NEEDS TO CRACK DOWN ON ALL CELL PHONE COMPANIES ABOUT HOW THEY REFUND THE CUSTOMERS MONEY BACK TO THEIR BANK INSTED OF APPLYING IT TO THEIR BILL FOR PURCHASES AND BILLING ERRORS.
Somebody is using my details to get service from Verizon I don’t know how and why will they allow that
YES! And I notified my carrier right away about the fraud, however, 3 days later the scammer called and had my carrier transfer access to my cell phone number back to them, AND MY CARRIER DID, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS CLEARLY REPORTED AS FRAUD.