Fraudsters exploit e-SIM activation to steal money; Kerala Cyber Police warn

Kochi: The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre has warned of a growing scam involving e-SIM card activation that allows fraudsters to steal money from victims’ bank accounts within minutes.

In the scam, fraudsters contact customers, claiming to be representatives from their mobile service provider’s customer care. They inform users that their physical SIM card can be converted into an e-SIM (embedded SIM) and ask them to approve the e-SIM activation request.

Once the request is accepted, the original SIM loses network connectivity, while the e-SIM controlled by the fraudsters becomes active. This allows them to receive calls, messages and one-time passwords (OTPs), which can be used to approve transactions, reset passwords and withdraw funds.

Cyber police advised that e-SIM services should be accessed only through official customer care channels. If a mobile network is lost unexpectedly, customers should contact their bank immediately to secure their account.

E-SIM is a digital SIM embedded in newer smartphones, allowing users to operate two numbers on a device with a single SIM slot. Once a traditional SIM is converted to an e-SIM, the original physical SIM becomes inactive.