A UK couple revealed how they fell victim to a SIM card-related fraud while on a P&O cruise last year.
Without Stephen and Karen Ratchford’s quick action, they would have been liable for fraudulent overdrafts, account withdrawals, and a £25,000 (over $32,000) loan.
Fraudsters Take Control
The Grimsby, Lincolnshire residents were looking forward to a relaxing vacation when they joined an October 3, 2024, sailing from Malta.
However, a few days after their cruise had begun, the elderly couple discovered that they had lost control of their mobile phone numbers and fraudulent transactions were being made on their behalf.
Scammers often use stolen personal data to impersonate you when contacting your mobile provider (e.g., AT&T, Verizon). Posing as you, they claim their phone was lost or replaced and request a SIM swap, transferring your number to a new SIM card under their control.
Cruise Passenger Shocked at Discovery
Sixty-four-year-old Stephen recalled the shocking realization as they were docked in Split, Croatia. “Some scammer got hold of new SIM cards with our numbers—which obviously meant we lost ours—and they had total control of our phone numbers,” the UK’s National Fraud Helpline quoted him.
Once the fraudsters gained control of their SIM cards, they easily passed two-step verification security protocols, giving them access to the Ratchfords’ emails and accounts.
After their joint bank accounts were drained, the scammer filed overdrafts and loans, including a £25,000 loan from HSBC. They also racked up a £150 bill on the couple’s mobile phone network.
Swift Action Prevented Further Loss
According to Stephen, they were able to alert the necessary financial institutions on time, effectively thwarting the scammers’ plans.
Banks promptly canceled the fraudulent transactions while their network provider, iD Mobile, cleared the charges, credited their mobile account with £75 (around $97) as a gesture of goodwill, and apologized for the incident. iD Mobile also claims that it has since tightened security measures.
Stephen mentioned that the fraud occurred even if he had never clicked on a suspicious link or answered a dubious phone call.
What Is SIM-Jacking?
Martin Richardson, Director and Senior Partner of the National Fraud Helpline, says the couple experienced SIM-jacking, “a scheme where a malicious party transfers an unsuspecting victim’s phone number to a new SIM card, which allows them to access incoming security codes used to compromise personal accounts and change passwords.”
Richardson added that it usually takes time before victims understand how a perpetrator has suddenly gained unauthorized access to their accounts. He recommended that victims reach out to their banks and network providers as quickly as possible to block any illicit transactions.
Scams happen all too frequently, especially in the travel industry. In a May 2024 report, computer security company McAfee shared that 28% of Americans have experienced travel-related scams.
Last December, a group of Florida women paid hundreds of dollars for fake Royal Caribbean cruises. More recently, another fraudster faced jail time for swindling cruisers out of over $500,000.
