Levin Law, P.A. Investigates Potential Security Breach for Verizon-Owned TracFone
TracFone Wireless Inc., a subsidiary of Verizon, has announced a potential data breach affecting thousands of customers. According to a Customer Security Message released by the company, bad actors obtained unauthorized access to customer accounts and, in some cases, were able to transfer telephone numbers to other carriers. Known as “port-out fraud,” the scam leaves customers unable to access their accounts, messages, and phone numbers.
The national cryptocurrency and investment fraud law firm, Levin Law, P.A., continues to investigate cellular carriers’ security failures and data breaches nationwide. Thousands of individuals were likely affected by the TracFone data breach.
If you were involved in the recent TracFone port-out fraud or another security failure, contact Levin Law at (855) 862-2306 or email managing partner Brian Levin directly at contact@levinlawpa.com. All consultations are free and without obligation to retain our services.
TracFone Port-Out and SIM Swap Fraud
TracFone Wireless acknowledged a security breach affecting thousands of customers. According to a message released on their website, the Verizon-owned company was made aware of bad actors obtaining unauthorized access to customer accounts. In some cases, the hackers were able to transfer or “port out” customer phone numbers to another carrier. It is believed that third parties were also able to engage in SIM swaps. SIM swapping occurs when an unauthorized third party contacts your mobile phone’s carrier and convince the carrier to transfer your service to a phone controlled by the third party. Anyone calling or texting your number will contact the third party’s device, instead of your phone.
As noted in the Security Message, the company believes that the bad actors may have gained access to customers’ personal information, including names, addresses, dates of birth, PIN codes, account numbers, email addresses, etc. Where numbers were ported to a new carrier, customers may have lost all access to their accounts.
Customers Affected by the Port-Out Fraud
Customers who may have been affected by the fraudulent activity are encouraged to change their PIN code immediately.
Potentially affected customers may include users of:
- TracFone
- Straight Talk Wireless
- Simple Mobile
- Net 10 Wireless
- Walmart FamilyMobile
- Total Wireless
In some cases, customers may have experienced a sudden loss of service and may be unable to regain access to their accounts. Any unauthorized activity on your account should be reported immediately. Once a person gains access to your phone number, they may be able to use it as a form of authentication for other accounts, including financial and social media accounts.
FCC Port-Out Fraud Warnings
In 2019, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) warned of the potential for bad actors to gain access to customer accounts through porting out scams. The FCC noted that since text messages are often used as a form of authentication for businesses and financial services, scammers have been focused on hijacking mobile phone numbers. Once they are able to gain access to the account and port out the number to a new carrier, they can use it for text message authentication on other accounts.
Scammers who are able to gain unauthorized access to a customer’s account through vulnerabilities in a cellular company’s security systems can then use the person’s information to complete the transfer to a new provider. The more information they are able to access, the more likely they are to be successful.
Despite the FCC warning nearly three years ago, many cellular providers do not have safeguards in place to prevent this kind of fraud. Port-out scams are particularly devastating to investors with large amounts of digital assets and cryptocurrency.
Contact Levin Law for a Free Case Evaluation
If you were part of the TracFone data breach or another cellular provider’s security failure, contact Levin Law for a free case evaluation. Call (855) 862-2306 or email contact@levinlawpa.com to speak directly with managing partner and Levin Law founder Brian Levin.
Most cases are accepted on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you would not be obligated to pay Levin Law’s attorney fees unless money is recovered on your behalf.
About Levin Law
Levin Law is a premier national cryptocurrency, securities, commodities, futures, and class action law firm. Brian Levin, Levin Law’s founding attorney, has helped recover in excess of $150,000,000 through arbitration and litigation for individual and institutional investors throughout the country and the rest of the world. Levin Law represents retirees, individual investors, high-net-worth investors, ultra-high-net-worth investors, institutions, family offices, trusts, publicly held companies, and others.
