Port-Out Fraud is a form of identity theft where criminals trick your wireless provider into transferring ("porting") your phone number to another carrier without your consent. Once they control your number, they can:
- Intercept text messages and two-factor authentication (2FA) codes.
- Reset passwords and take over online accounts.
- Impersonate you to commit financial theft or other fraud.
It’s similar to SIM Swapping, but instead of moving your number to a new SIM card with the same carrier, the fraudster transfers it to a different carrier — sometimes even in another province.
How is Port-Out Fraud different from SIM Swapping?
- SIM Swapping Criminals move your number to a new SIM card with the same carrier.
- Port-Out Fraud Criminals transfer your number to a different carrier, often making it harder to reverse quickly.