Your phone number has leaked: risks and what to do

What are the risks if your phone number appears in a data breach? Scam texts, fake advisers, SIM swapping: how to protect yourself.

A phone number cannot be changed as easily as a password. The main thing is therefore to learn to spot the scam attempts that will follow.

The risks

• Scam texts: fake delivery company, fake fine, fake refund.
• Fake bank adviser: the caller knows your name and your bank thanks to the breach.
• SIM swapping: a scammer impersonates you with your operator to get a new SIM card and receive your codes by text.

How to protect yourself

• Report scam texts to your operator (7726 in the UK, 33700 in France).
• Never give a code received by text to someone who calls you.
• Protect your operator account with a unique password and, if possible, two-factor authentication.
• If your phone suddenly loses signal for no reason, contact your operator: it may be a sign of SIM swapping.
• Where possible, prefer an authenticator app to SMS for your important accounts.

Marketing calls

If you mostly receive marketing calls, register with your country's do-not-call list where one exists (for example the Telephone Preference Service in the UK). It does not stop scammers, but reduces legal cold calling.