Pretoria – The time of the year where lots of crimes related to the illegal porting of mobile numbers, sim-swap fraud and related crimes has arrived; and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA/the Authority) would like to implore and encourage members of the public to take all the necessary precautions during this period.
SIM-swap fraud usually starts with a fraudster making a false representation through the use of technology (SMS, e-mail or phone call) to gain access to the consumer’s personal information (identity theft). While number portability fraud usually takes place when resellers and agents of mobile operators mislead the unsuspecting consumer into signing offers for free airtime and data on a new SIM.
ICASA would like to encourage consumers to take note of the following in order to avoid becoming victims of sim-swap fraud and illegal mobile number porting:
Do not share access to their mobile phones with an unknown person
Check for signal loss on your cell phone, as this could indicate that you have been the victim of a SIM swap or number porting
Should you lose signal permanently, contact your service provider immediately
Do not give consent to unsolicited links
Do not respond to competition SMSs or MMSs
Do not respond to requests of personal or confidential information
Report to your service provider claims that you have requested number porting, and lastly
Do not buy a SIM card from the street vendors during this period.
All mobile network providers are required by law to ensure the protection of their subscribers’ rights in relation to porting of numbers, as provided for in the Number Portability Regulations.
The Authority wishes further to inform all network operators and their extended service providers to abide by the principles contained in the regulations and ensure that the following are adhered to:
No illegal number porting occurs
All requests for number porting receive due diligence to ensure that the person requesting is the legitimate subscriber
Observe the conditions stipulated in the licence terms and conditions, as well as the general standards
No sim-swap takes place without following the correct legal process
No number porting is processed without verification, and lastly
Cautionary measures are applied to ensure there is no security breach as a result of the number porting process.
Finally, consumers are advised to lodge formal complaints against any licensed network operator who fails to follow all the necessary steps and requirements to ensure the safety and protection of consumers. The process for complaints handling includes lodging a complaint directly with the service provider for resolution, failing which the matter must be escalated to ICASA for intervention on consumer@icasa.org.za.
Ends…
For all media enquiries, please contact:
Paseka Maleka
Tel : (012) 568 3455
Cell :079 509 0702
E-mail : pmaleka@icasa.org.za