Cyber Theft- Thoughts?

[62caddy]

Lately I've been hearing lot of ads for cyber theft security protection services. The claim is that property ownership records are now being kept on computer storage devices making it possible for cyber thieves to hack and run up debt against the property using stolen ID.

Supposedly the prime targets are properties with high equity that are owned by individuals with high credit scores.

Intuitively I'm a bit skeptical that this is anything to worry about but I'm wondering if anybody has more direct knowledge about this?

[oddeophile]

Yes it is! The de jour method is stealing your phone numbers and it’s all downhill from there. Happened to us a month ago on a Friday night. By the time early Saturday we found out they were running through our accounts faster than we could close them.
I signed up for one and froze our credit records at Transunion etc fast later that day. By the time we got to file our police report at 11:30 that might we were totally exhausted.
First thing you need to do is call your cell and landline providers and freeze your account to keep it from being ported without your direct in person authorization.
It’s insane.

[Cohibaman]

I still don’t understand if/when someone maliciously ports a phone number, how it gives them access to other accounts.

[Cohibaman]

Ahhhh.....


“Cell phone number porting can have numerous consequences: Once a thief has ported your number to another service provider, they can tap into other accounts of yours that require codes or a text sent to your phone. That means your bank accounts, email service and more could be at their fingertips in no time.”

[alkizz]

SIM jacking is what we call it. It's bad news and the cell providers aren't doing s*** to stop it.

[Cohibaman]

Actually, with ATT, you can set up a passcode. They’ll ask for it before they allow you to even ask for your balance. I’m sure it’s not foolproof, but it’s an extra layer.

[alkizz]

Originally Posted by Cohibaman

Actually, with ATT, you can set up a passcode. They’ll ask for it before they allow you to even ask for your balance. I’m sure it’s not foolproof, but it’s an extra layer.

Yea that's the idea but many times all it takes is a little social engineering and voila, I have your number. What they could do is automate it so that an access code is sent to your number that the system would need to verify before allowing a number port.

[JMAC]

Originally Posted by Cohibaman

Ahhhh.....


“Cell phone number porting can have numerous consequences: Once a thief has ported your number to another service provider, they can tap into other accounts of yours that require codes or a text sent to your phone. That means your bank accounts, email service and more could be at their fingertips in no time.”

What if my prepay phone (completely powered down and in my car) has never been used for banking?




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