Your phone stopped working and money vanished: SIM swap

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Signs

Your phone suddenly shows “No Service” or “SOS only,” texts and calls stop, or you get an alert about a SIM change, and then password reset emails or missing money.

Get your number back

From another phone or Wi-Fi, call your carrier’s fraud line. Ask them to reverse the SIM change and add a number lock or port-out PIN. Federal rules require carriers to verify customers before SIM changes and to notify you.

Protect your money

Call your bank and money apps’ fraud departments. Freeze accounts if needed and dispute transactions you didn’t make. Report quickly.

Lock down accounts

Change your email password first, then banks and other accounts. Sign out of other devices. Switch important accounts from text codes to an authenticator app or passkeys.

Report it

IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan, the FCC for problems with your carrier, and the police for stolen money.

Prevent it

Add a number lock or port-out PIN, avoid posting your phone number publicly, and freeze your credit. Beware of “recovery” services that promise to get stolen money or crypto back for a fee.