Civil Guard Warns of SIM Swap Bank Fraud

The Civil Guard is warning people about a new scam. Cybercriminals are using it to pretend to be you, get into your bank accounts, and even cut off your phone service. This trick is worrying people in Tenerife and elsewhere, as the scammers use clever methods to get personal details from their victims.

It shows how cybercriminals are always finding new ways to use technology, making their scams harder to spot.

The scam starts with fake phone calls or text messages. The criminals pretend to be from official organisations to trick you into giving them your bank details and other personal information. Once they have this data, they ask for a new SIM card for your phone number.

As soon as they get this new SIM, your original phone suddenly stops working. The scammers then have full control over your phone number. This means they can receive bank verification codes and make payments from your account without your permission.

To avoid this scam, the Civil Guard advises everyone, including those in Tenerife, to turn on extra security for their bank accounts. This means that if someone tries to access your account, you'll need to verify it using something other than a text message, like a fingerprint or an electronic signature.

If you think you've already been scammed, act fast. Check your bank transactions right away and contact your bank immediately to report what happened and block your account.

If you've been a victim and want to help prevent others from falling for these tricks, please contact the authorities. They can investigate and warn other people about these cybercriminal methods, helping everyone stay safe.