Lee-Anne McLean shared her alarming experience with 9News, revealing how hackers managed to port her phone number, granting them access to her personal accounts. Within just 24 hours, they altered her email, changed her passwords, infiltrated her social media, and even opened fraudulent bank loans.
Despite having security measures in place on both her phone and computer, McLean is baffled as to how her sensitive information was exploited and is eager to uncover the breach. The illegal act of unauthorised porting sees criminals using personal data to transfer someone’s phone number to another telecommunications provider. This tactic represents a serious threat, as it allows hackers to intercept SMS messages, including crucial two-factor authentication codes needed for banking transactions and social media logins.
Dave Lacey, managing director of ID Care, described the violation as an intense intrusion, likening it to witnessing a robbery in one’s own home. The difficulty for authorities lies in the fact that approximately one million Australians legitimately port their phone numbers each year, complicating efforts to identify fraudulent cases.
Experts recommend that anyone receiving unexpected text messages from their telecom provider regarding number porting should act immediately. It is advisable to contact the provider and alert their bank to temporarily freeze accounts until safety measures can be confirmed.
“This is a profound violation of privacy,” expressed McLean. Now, she spends her days working tirelessly to prove her identity and restore her life to normalcy. Her case is currently under investigation by the telecommunications ombudsman. As these phone porting scams become increasingly prevalent, there are growing calls for reform in how companies handle personal data. Lacey suggests a straightforward solution – ensuring that users must explicitly validate any request to port their phone number.