If your monthly cell phone bill rarely reaches 1000 bucks and one day you are faced with an absurd charge of 2000 bucks in calls with bills showing calls to someone located in a different country which you never spoke before, then there is a high possibility that your cellphone has been cloned.
Evil twin brother
A cloned cell phone is a faithful copy of a device, which has exactly the same “DNA” as a legalized device. In this case both the devices share the same serial number and serial number used by the manufacturer. The difference is in the fact that the person using the cloned device does not have to worry about bills, as the bills are only sent to the legal owner of the line.
Devices with this feature are used by fraudsters as a way to make expensive phone calls, leaving the problem of bearing the costs to the main owner of the device.
CDMA: the great danger
Number cloning can be very successful on devices that rely on CDMA technology. Although it can also affect devices using GSM technology but chances are low.
This is because, CDMA devices have an electronic serial number (ESN) and a mobile identification number (MIN) whereas GSM technology is identified only by IMEI (International Identification of Mobile Equipment), a global and unique identification number for each cell phone, which is a major obstacle to fraudsters.
To capture information, criminals often use a device known as a scanner, capable of detecting and recording information from nearby devices. In the case of GSM phones, cloning is done through the copy of the SIM card used by the user – a process that is more difficult to perform and which discourages criminal activity.
Signs that can tell your cell phone has been cloned
Like diseases, cell phone cloning can be suspected when the first symptoms begin to appear. Among the most common problems faced are – difficulty of making calls and receiving calls from distant towns by unknown people.
Another problem is the interception of calls made by friends, who despite dialing the correct number, end up talking to an unknown person. In addition, difficulties in completing calls are common, which are often marked by the frequent drop in communications.
The clearest sign that there is a problem is the unexpected rise in the cell phone bill amount than the normal usage. Although a rise in charge does not necessarily mean there is a copy of the device circulating around, such occurrence is the strongest indication that the consumer may have something wrong.
What to do if you suspect cell phone cloning?
The first step to follow if you are suspicious of cloning is to contact the service provider and request locking of the line. This should be done immediately when there is a loss of the device.
If the complaint is made over phone, note the full name of the attendant, date, hour, and the complaint number generated. If the complaint has been made directly by the client, a hard copy of the recorded event must be obtained.
How to protect yourself from being hit?
Although anyone’s cell phone can be cloned, some simple measures can make it difficult for fraudsters to access information from the device:
- If you have an old cell phone, try to exchange it with another compatible with more modern technologies.
- In the event of damage to the appliance, seek authorized representatives from the manufacturers or workshops known for their integrity.
- Review monthly bills sent by the service provider.
- To prevent loss of money, stop automatic debit payment option
- When receiving calls from people identified as operators’ employees, turn off automatically if you are asked for pressing of some keys.
- Avoid turning on your mobile phone at bus stations and airports, the main places of action for scanners equipped with scanners. If the device is in roaming, communication can be made to the exchange via unencrypted FM waves, facilitating the capture of sensitive information.
