Oregonians, be careful with your cell phone number. The Oregon Department of Justice warns about a rise in scams where phone numbers are stolen and moved to different carriers without permission. This can cause service problems and lead to identity theft or financial loss. It can happen no matter which mobile provider you use, according to the Oregon Department of Justice.
In these scams, victims get fake texts or emails saying their phone number is being moved to a new carrier. The message includes a PIN and urges them to call their provider quickly. But when people call and give the PIN, they accidentally help scammers steal their number. In one case, a victim later found out their bank accounts were hacked and money was stolen, as reported by the Oregon Department of Justice.
If you're concerned that you might be, or have been, a target of this scam, the Oregon Department of Justice advises filing a complaint at their official website. In the meantime, let's go over some key steps to safeguard your phone number: never share a PIN or verification code that's sent to you out of the blue, always reach out to your carrier using verified contact information, seriously consider adding extra security features like two-factor authentication, and keep a watchful eye on your phone and financial accounts for any signs that something's amiss.
