T-Mobile is adopting a new method to tackle fraudulent SIM swap requests. The SIM swap fraud is on the rise and sadly, T-Mobile has found itself in the midst of it. More recently, scammers targeted T-Mobile employees with a mysterious text for SIM swapping in exchange for cash up to $300.
As the smartphone carrier continues to probe this matter, it introduced a new way to handle SIM swap requests starting today. The company is amending its usual approval process for SIM swap requests to protect its customers from fraud.
T-Mobile now has a new way to approve your SIM swap requests
According to a new report by The Mobile Report, T-Mobile will use a new system called “Account Change Engine (ACE).” This will ensure T-Mobile understands whether a SIM change request is legitimate or not.
If ACE doubts that the SIM swap requests are not legitimate, it will prompt users with an SMS to get the request approved. The time limit to approve or deny such requests still stands at 10 minutes. Fortunately, the company now automatically denies the SIM swapping requests if a user fails to approve it within the given time frame.
Additionally, T-Mobile will also send the verification text to a different number linked with the account. This can be pretty useful from customers’ point of view when T-Mobile couldn’t contact them on their original number.
However, those with only one number linked to the account need to visit a T-Mobile store with an original ID to get approval for the SIM swap request. Not to forget, the new way of handling SIM swap requests won’t bring back the self-service options for the customers.
The earlier SIM swapping method was quite a hassle
Previously, customers who needed to legitimately swap their SIM or eSIM would need to get in touch with a T-Mobile representative. Unfortunately, this wasn’t convenient for customers who often change their handsets since it requires a new eSIM. Although T-Mobile had the online self-service option for this purpose, the company later disabled it in 2022 citing security concerns.
Back then, the smartphone carrier opened a new method that it thought would increase security. In the process, customers were sent an SMS to notify them about the SIM swap requests. Customers were able to deny the request, but there was a time limit to do so within 10 minutes. In case one fails to deny such a request, the SIM swap requests would earlier get auto-approval. Now, that has changed.
With the new mechanism, T-Mobile is not only shielding its customers from online fraud but offering them a better way to get their SIM swapping done and enjoy the newly launched internet plans.
