"Lawmakers Ask FCC to Protect Consumers from Phone Hijackers"

Lawmakers are asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to use the regulatory agency's authority over wireless carriers to enforce better protection for consumers from SIM swap scams. Fraudsters perform these scams by persuading wireless carriers to transfer control over a mobile account to them, allowing the hijacking of credentials. Using these attacks, scammers can hijack login credentials, bypass two-factor authentication (2FA), and commit crimes such as emptying a victim's bank account. Consumers are often unaware of the existing options they have to protect their wireless accounts until they fall victim to these forms of attacks. Additionally, available options are limited. Therefore, consumers have to depend on phone companies to protect them. A letter written by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and signed by five House and Senate members calls on the FCC to hold mobile carriers responsible for securing their systems. This article continues to discuss the request to the FCC to protect consumers from phone hijackers and rise in SIM swap attacks. 

NextGov reports "Lawmakers Ask FCC to Protect Consumers from Phone Hijackers"