Cybersecurity Warning: Call Forwarding Fraud on the Rise

Cybercriminals are constantly using new tricks to fool smartphone users and steal important information and money. Recently, they have been committing various types of fraud by using the ‘call forwarding’ technique to transfer smartphone users’ phone calls to another number without their knowledge.

 

According to cyber security experts, in this new tactic, cyber criminals remotely change the call forwarding settings on a specific person’s smartphone. Then, using that number, they change bank account information, transfer money from mobile wallets, and transfer one-time passwords (OTPs) to their own number. When acquaintances call that number and hear an unfamiliar voice, they assume it is due to a network problem. As a result, the victim of fraud does not realize that he is being scammed.

Call forwarding is basically a type of telecom facility. This facility transfers users’ calls to a specific number. However, fraudsters activate this facility on their smartphones without the knowledge of the users through phishing links, unknown code dialing or malware installation.

If the facility is activated, the phone calls of that number along with the OTP code go to the fraudsters. In this regard, cyber expert Snehal Bakil said that the SIM card is the key to digital accounts. Cyber ​​criminals can easily hack the bank account or social media account of a specific person by forwarding the OTP or important call of that person to another number.

To check if call forwarding is enabled on your smartphone, go to the dial option and dial *#21#. If call forwarding is enabled, the number to which the call is being forwarded will be displayed on the screen. If call forwarding is set to an unknown number, dial ##002# to quickly turn it off. Then, delete the suspicious number from the phone’s call forwarding settings.