The Florida woman said her phone suddenly lost service while she was babysitting, and alerts showed new devices, password changes and charges including $1,500 and $800.
She said scammers used her checking account to pay credit cards and keep spending, while it took three days for her mobile number to be restored.
Her bank eventually refunded the money. The case highlights how SIM swaps let criminals intercept text-based verification codes and rapidly access email, banking and payment accounts.
With SIM swap scams rising, are authenticator apps and Number Transfer PINs enough to truly secure your digital identity in 2026?
How might future SIM swap attacks evolve as telecoms and regulators introduce tougher security—could hackers find new ways in?