# Your phone stopped working and money vanished: SIM swap > If your phone suddenly loses service and money goes missing, a thief may have moved your number to their phone. From another phone or Wi-Fi, call your carrier’s fraud line to get your number back and add a number lock or PIN. Call your bank’s fraud department, change your email password first, then other accounts, and switch to an authenticator app or passkeys. Report it at IdentityTheft.gov, to the FCC and to police. - URL: https://explained.page/sim-swap - Language: en - Last checked: 2026-10-29 - Watch the 1-minute animated guide: https://explained.page/watch?start=sim-swap ## Step by step 1. **Your phone suddenly lost service, and money is missing?** It may be a SIM swap: a thief moved your phone number to their phone to get your login codes. Act fast. 2. **Call your phone company from another phone.** Use Wi-Fi or a friend’s phone. Ask them to stop the SIM change, give your number back, and add a PIN or lock so it can’t be moved again. 3. **Call your bank and money apps.** Tell their fraud departments, freeze accounts if needed, and dispute transactions you didn’t make. The faster you report, the better your chances. 4. **Change your email password first.** Then banks and other accounts. Sign out of other devices everywhere. 5. **Switch away from text-message codes.** Use an authenticator app or passkeys for important accounts, so your phone number alone can’t unlock them. 6. **Report it.** Report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov, file a complaint with the FCC about the phone company, and make a police report for stolen money. 7. **Protect yourself next time.** Ask your carrier for a number lock or port-out PIN, use app-based codes, and freeze your credit. 8. **Look it up the right way.** Search with your town or state in the words. Pick the official site: it usually ends in .gov. Skip ads and sites that charge for free forms. ## Checklist - Call your carrier from another phone - Call your bank’s fraud line - Change your email password first - Switch to app codes or passkeys - Report to IdentityTheft.gov, the FCC and police - Add a number lock or port-out PIN ## 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. ## Common questions ### Can I get money back after a SIM swap? Sometimes. Banks may reimburse unauthorized transfers, especially if you report quickly. Crypto is much harder to recover. Source page: https://explained.page/sim-swap/questions/can-i-get-money-back-after-a-sim-swap ### How do thieves do a SIM swap? They trick or bribe carrier staff, or use your personal details to pretend to be you. A number lock or PIN makes it harder. Source page: https://explained.page/sim-swap/questions/how-do-thieves-do-a-sim-swap ### How do I know if I’ve been SIM swapped? Your phone suddenly loses service or shows “SOS only,” you get an alert about a SIM change you didn’t make, or you see password reset emails and missing money. Source page: https://explained.page/sim-swap/questions/how-do-i-know-if-ive-been-sim-swapped ### What is a port-out PIN or number lock? An extra code or setting with your phone company that stops anyone from moving your number to another phone or carrier without it. Source page: https://explained.page/sim-swap/questions/what-is-a-port-out-pin-or-number-lock ### Will my bank reimburse money stolen in a SIM swap? Often for unauthorized electronic transfers if you report quickly, but rules and outcomes vary. Report to your bank right away. Source page: https://explained.page/sim-swap/questions/will-my-bank-reimburse-money-stolen-in-a-sim-swap ### Why are text message codes risky? If someone takes over your phone number, they receive your codes. App-based codes and passkeys stay on your device. Source page: https://explained.page/sim-swap/questions/why-are-text-message-codes-risky ### Where do I report a SIM swap? Your phone carrier, your bank, IdentityTheft.gov, the FCC (for carrier problems), and your local police. Source page: https://explained.page/sim-swap/questions/where-do-i-report-a-sim-swap ### Can someone SIM swap me again? Yes, if your number isn’t protected. Add a number lock or port-out PIN and move important accounts off text codes. Source page: https://explained.page/sim-swap/questions/can-someone-sim-swap-me-again ## Official sources - [FCC: SIM swapping and port-out fraud](https://www.fcc.gov/) - [IdentityTheft.gov (FTC)](https://www.identitytheft.gov/) - [FTC consumer advice](https://consumer.ftc.gov/) To find your local office, search for: - "[your carrier] number lock port out PIN" - "FCC consumer complaint" --- General information, not legal or professional advice. Rules differ by state. From explained.page (www.explained.page). 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