With the rollout of 5G in areas of the country, fraudsters have discovered a new approach to mislead consumers. According to recent research, fraudsters act as customer care representatives from Vodafone, Airtel, or Jio and offer unattentive clients assistance in the 4G to 5G upgrade. Customers are sent spam URLs that demand them to submit personal or sensitive information such as bank passwords or OTPs and withdraw money from their accounts.
A few days ago, the Mumbai police also alerted its followers about a scam in which scammers demanded money to assist customers in switching to a 5G SIM card. Remember that most businesses are advancing with 4G to 5G upgrade. To gain a 5G connection, you DO NOT need to change your SIM card.
New Phishing Methods to Scam
The latest phishing strategy involves sending clients phishing URLs that ask them to submit personal or sensitive information, such as bank passwords or OTPs, and then stealing money from their accounts. A few days ago, Mumbai Police warned its followers of a 4G to 5G SIM upgrade scam in which scammers demanded money under the premise of assisting them in upgrading to a 5G SIM. Remember that most businesses are updating their current SIM cards to 5G.
To gain a 5G connection, you DO NOT NEED TO SWAP YOUR SIM. Authorities around the country have cautioned individuals not to give personal or financial information, or any OTPs, to telemarketers since doing so might result in emptying their bank accounts. With such frauds growing more common, it is advised that users create strong passwords, activate two-factor authentication for further protection, search for indicators of phishing, and keep their software up to date with the latest security updates.
While many more smartphone users are expected to join if the transition to 5G tackles concerns such as call drop/connect, network availability, and low speed, another 43% are prepared to pay up to 10% more in tariff. In comparison to 4G speeds of 40-50 Mbps, depending on location and connection in India, 5G services are likely to enable speeds of 300 Mbps or more, according to the research.
While 20% of those polled currently have a 5G smartphone, another 4% expect to obtain one this year. Another 20% stated they are likely to buy a 5G smartphone in 2023. Over 100 million of India’s more than 500 million smartphone customers are projected to have a 5G-ready handset by the end of this year.
Avoid being a victim of a 4G to 5G SIM upgrade scam:
We offer the following recommendations to protect you from the 4G to 5G SIM upgrade scam:
Set up two-factor authentication
Sign in to your accounts using a password and one additional way. A question, biometric data, or a one-time code might be transmitted to your smartphone.
Make use of strong passwords
Using the exact phrase or simple combinations like “123456” or “password” makes it far too easy for thieves. There are currently several systems available that can generate secure, difficult-to-guess passwords using upper- and lower-case characters, digits, and symbols.
Learn how to spot phishing
When an attacker sends a phishing email, there are some distinguishing characteristics, such as misspellings or requests for credentials. A business will never request a customer’s credentials by email. Always go to the official page or platform of the firm you wish to access if in doubt.
Maintain software updates at all times
It is always a good idea to upgrade your gadgets to the latest software.
Does your SIM need to be upgraded?
The 4G to 5G SIM upgrade scam includes obtaining access to your data by pretending to assist you in the 4G to 5G upgrade. With technological advancement comes a new breed of fraudsters ready to strike. The recent scammers claim to help you transition to 5G. Share no personal or banking information, and avoid clicking on suspicious links. Many smartphone users are likely to migrate to a 5G network if it tackles concerns such as connectivity, slow speed, etc.
Another 43% said they would pay up to 10% more for the 5G network. While 20% of those polled currently have a 5G smartphone, another 4% expect to obtain one this year. Another 20% stated they are likely to buy a 5G smartphone in 2023. Over 100 million of India’s more than 500 million smartphone customers are projected to have a 5G-ready handset by the end of this year.
It would be best to take certain precautions to protect yourself from this deadly fraud and keep your bank account money safe. To your knowledge, the 5G network can function even with an outdated 4G SIM, and you do not need to change your SIM. So, be cautious and remember that such emails are a trap.