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eSIM is still a premium feature but scammers are already eyeing victims who give access to their phone and bank accounts.
eSIMs are not very popular in India but the money stealing has started
The Indian government is warning mobile users about the threat and risks linked to using eSIM connections on your smartphones. The cybercrime unit called I4C has raised the alarm, citing a recent episode where scammers were able to steal money from a person’s account who either used an ATM card or activated UPI for the account.
All they needed was the victim’s phone number to execute their attack and steal money from the account. So, how is this instance linked to eSIM risks, you ask?
eSIM Attacks Are Real And You Should Be Worried
The I4C warning gives the details of how the attack was used to steal money. The scammers start the process by making a phone call to the victim. They send an eSIM activation, which is where the hijacking takes place. Once the victim accepts the request to convert their SIM to an eSIM, the scammers can now access all the calls, messages but that also means the regular SIM on the phone loses network access while the OTPs are now redirected to the eSIM profile.
And you know what happens next. They use the confidential access to get bank OTPs to withdraw money and not even raise any concerns for the authorities.
eSIM Bank Loot: What You Should Do
The cybercrime agency has issued a word of caution for anyone using a phone with an eSIM or planning to switch to one soon. There are three safety tips:
- Never answer or reply to calls or messages from unknown contacts
- Never click on any links that you get in messages from suspicious sources
- eSIM activation requests should be done at a store for credible work
- If you do stop getting networks on your phone, contact banks to act on possible payment or withdrawals.
eSIM penetration in India is thankfully still in the low figures and you only get them working on iPhones, and Google Pixel phones. So it is important that people using these devices should be aware of how eSIM works and its risks to avoid falling for hijacks like these.
S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr…Read More
S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr… Read More
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Delhi, India, India
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