“SIM swapping” (also known as “SIM hijacking”) is a growing crime and form of identity theft in the telecommunications world that requires little more than a thorough Google search, a willing telecommunications carrier representative, and an electronic or in-person impersonation of the victim. To perpetuate the theft, the cellphone service provider allows an unauthorized person access to a wireless telephone account without the knowledge of the account holder. In several instances, SIM swap thieves have invaded victims’ bank accounts and stolen assets like cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency, in fact, is one of the primary targets of SIM swapping thieves. As one of the nation’s leading advocates for cryptocurrency investors, we are uniquely skilled and prepared to assist victims of such theft in pursuing their claims and their efforts to recover their stolen assets.
A subscriber identity module, widely known as a “SIM card,” stores user data in cellular phones on the Global System for Mobile (GSM) network — the radio network used by companies such as AT&T and T-Mobile to provide cellular telephone service to their subscribers. SIM cards are principally used to authenticate cellphone subscriptions; as without a SIM card, GSM phones are not able to connect to AT&T’s or T-Mobile’s telecommunications network. Not only is a SIM card vital to using a phone on these networks, but the SIM card also holds immeasurable value as a tool to identify the user of the phone — a power that can be corrupted to steal the identity of that user. Silver Miller represents several victims in currently-active cases against AT&T and T-Mobile in this rapidly emerging area of theft and is investigating and evaluating additional claims against AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile — as well as their off-brand or sub-brand resellers Cricket Wireless, Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, and Metro PCS — at the present time.
