Cell Phone Has Been Cloned Or Hacked – How Do I Know?
Using SIM Swapping techniques, cybercriminals are able to copy the operator chip, intercept calls and texts, and hack email accounts and social media accounts in addition to cloning mobile devices.
The cloning of mobile phones is one of the biggest threats we face today. This practice not only involves replicating IMEI numbers for counterfeit devices in order to maintain functionality, but also involves intercepting calls and text messages (SMS) sent by counterfeit devices. Therefore, it is possible for criminals to circumvent two-factor authentication and access the victim’s WhatsApp, Facebook, and email accounts, e-mails, and many other services in which they hold a registered account. The majority of these attacks are focused on cloning the operator chips, including SIM Swap, but there are also ways to access the user’s personal information through spy applications, for example, to obtain information about them.
We offer tips in the following guide about how to find out if your cell phone has been cloned and what you can do to make it safer in the future. The Penal Code makes it clear that hacking electronic devices, such as smartphones and computers, is a crime, and as such, it is a serious matter. As a consequence, if you have been the victim of an attack such as this, then it is imperative that you contact the authorities and file a report with them.
How Does Cell Phone Cloning Work?
Cloning a mobile phone is a process that acts both in the literal sense of interception of information and also in the literal sense of cloning a phone in practice. Firstly, criminals use techniques, software programs, and other means in order to carry out a criminal act by replicating your phone in some manner. For example, this can occur if you are using an existing IMEI on a stolen or counterfeit device.
The use of telephone lines can still be used by scammers to steal money from their victims, not the device itself. A fraudster would use cloning in this case to intercept phone calls and messages in order to gain access to an individual’s email account and social network account. This information can also be stolen by hackers with the help of spy apps.
What Is The Process Of Cloning A Cell Phone?
The process of cloning a cell phone can be done in several different ways. As one example, there are SIM Swaps and chip cloning techniques, which criminals use to steal the telephone lines of their victims. Moreover, it is also possible to hack smartphones with software, which means that you can use a spy app to do so. We will now explore some techniques for cloning phones in the next section.
1. SIM Swap
The criminals use this technique so that they don’t necessarily break into the device itself, but rather their telephone line is tapped. There are several ways in which fraudsters are able to make use of operator systems to transfer lines from one chip to another. One of the most common requests that they make is that they wish to be ported to another company. Using the telephone line, the scammers will then be able to access the victim’s WhatsApp and social media accounts, email accounts and so on by using the telephone line.
2. Chip cloning
There is a similarity between this approach and SIM swapping. However, in order to copy information from the SIM card, special equipment and specialized technical knowledge are required in order to gain physical access to the chip installed on the phone. It is possible for criminals to intercept calls and messages once they have cloned their phone.
3. IMEI cloning
In the case of cell phones, the IMEI code is used to identify them as unique devices. The information is extremely important for establishing a connection with mobile networks, as without the address, the tower will not be able to communicate with you. Sometimes, criminals use this code in order to hook up fake or unregulated devices to mobile networks in order to conduct illicit activities.
4. Spy App
There is no intent for spyware to be used for cloning. Nevertheless, the technique can also be used by criminals for initial interceptions in order to get the victim’s login information and password without them knowing it. There is also the possibility of the attackers installing other malicious software to gain remote access to a computer.
If I Have My Cell Phone Hacked Or Cloned, How Will I Know If That Happens?
A few signs indicate that the attack has taken place. Once the criminal has completely changed the chip of your cell phone, you will have no coverage as soon as the criminal performs the procedure to change the chip in your cell phone. You should keep an eye on the following factors in order to make the right decision.
1. There is no signal on your cell phone
As soon as a SIM card is swapped between the victim’s cell phone and another one, the chip on the phone stops working. Consequently, in addition to not having a signal, users are also unable to make calls, send messages, or access the mobile Internet because they are not able to access their network. It is highly recommended that you contact your operator in order to make sure that you have been a victim of this type of cloning.
2. Your operator notified you of an unsolicited portability
It is also common for criminals to swap SIM cards through the portability service in order to commit crimes. In this case, if you receive a notification that your carrier has changed without you asking for it, then it could be an indication that your line is being stolen by the company.
3. It seems that your cell phone is running slower or acting strangely
When the user experience slowdowns and occurrences of abnormal behavior, it is a sign that there may be a problem with malware or spyware, as both of these can occur without the user being aware of it. As a result, when these situations occur, it is especially important to check if your smartphone has any threats installed on it using an antivirus program.
4. There is another location indicated by the tracker
Do you find that the trackers from Apple , Google , Samsung , and Xiaomi show a different location than what is shown on your cell phone? Your phone may have had its IMEI cloned, especially if you find that the platforms are pointing to a second location, which could indicate that your phone has had its IMEI cloned.
5. Consumption of telephone lines that is abnormal
You can use the cell phone bill as a tool in order to determine whether or not there has been an espionage case. Observe whether or not there are any calls that you did not make, for example, in order to do this. Checking for any unidentified service hires is also important if there have been any in the past.
How Do I Know If My Cell Phone’S Imei Has Been Cloned?
Furthermore, there are other resources that you can use to find out if a cell phone’s IMEI has been cloned or not besides the tracker, which indicates a second location of the device. You can check your cell phone’s status on Anatel’s website, for example, by entering your mobile phone number. However, there are four different ways in which you are able to find the device code before making the query:
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The code for the cell phone box is located on the box of the cell phone;
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If you are looking for an inscription or sticker on the back of your cell phone, look there;
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A simple way to do it is by dialing “#06#” on the phone app, and then calling the number;
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A cell phone’s settings can be accessed by going into the settings menu.
You only need to enter the IMEI code into Anatel’s virtual platform once you have the code in hand. A status of the identifier will then be displayed by the system as soon as it has been activated. The mechanism, however, does not confirm to what model the code belongs, nor does it alert to whether an attempt has been made to change or validate a code on another phone, for example, if the code was registered for the first time on another phone.
This check can be performed by other services as well. There are two services that work in a similar way to Anatel, IMEI24 (imei24.com) and IMEI.info, which both work in the same way: you just need to enter the code and start searching. While these services are useful, it needs to be noted that they are not always exact when it comes to their accuracy.
What Should I Do If My Cell Phone Has Been Cloned?
The best thing to do if you suspect that your cell phone has been cloned is not to waste your time in checking it. You will also need to file a police report in addition to carrying out a few procedures to prevent the threat from spreading further and to make your smartphone safe again. Below you will find a list of the main ones.
1. Open a police report
A crime was established under article 154-A of the Penal Code as a result of the invasion of technological devices, including smartphones and computers, As a result, you should file a police report as soon as possible if your cell phone has been cloned or if any threat is made against it in this regard.
2. Make sure your passwords are updated
You will also need to change all your passwords, especially for high-risk services such as email and bank accounts. This practice will cut off criminals’ access to digital platforms, including in future attempts. When making the switch, remember to use strong passwords, with more than eight characters and combining letters, numbers and special characters.
3. Contact the operator
If you have suffered a SIM Swap scam, contact your operator as soon as possible. Do this preferably in a physical store, so that you can redeem access to the line immediately when purchasing a new chip. If the fraud was carried out through portability, look for the telephone company that received your line.
4. Report the invasion to those you know
There are many cases of scammers pretending to be friends and relatives to steal money via WhatsApp, for example. Therefore, it is important to contact people you know to alert them about the incident, avoiding further complications if criminals make new fraud attempts.
5. Erase Cellular Data
If you have suffered a software invasion, you may need to reset your cell phone. When deleting all information, the application that was used for the attack is also removed. And remember to install an antivirus after restoring data.
What Are The Best Ways To Protect Yourself?
In order to avoid contracting malware, it is recommended that Android smartphone users install an antivirus program on their devices. As I mentioned, this is not the only way: both in the Google system and on iPhone ( iOS ), there are measures that need to be adopted so that unwanted access to the cell phone’s chip can be prevented. One of these measures is the setting of a PIN for the chip. There is no doubt that the procedure used by each manufacturer is different. It is worth noting that there are some differences. It is also recommended that you be sure to enable two-step verification on WhatsApp in addition to avoiding sharing the IMEI of your device.
You should not send the temporary code via SMS when you are using two-factor authentication (2FA). Instead, you should install an authenticator app, such as Google Authenticator , Microsoft Authenticator , or Authy – which can be found in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for your iPhone and Android device. Therefore, scammers will be able to break into accounts more difficultly, especially when there is a SIM swap in place.
Phishing scams and other threats must also be taken into account, and it is important to be aware of them. In many instances, fraud attempts are made through text messages and email messages with links that lead to fraudulent websites. In these texts, criminals are promising unmissable offers or even warning you about a fake attempt to break into your account – all so that you will “take the bait” and provide personal information to them. As well as stealing data from your smartphone, hackers can also install spyware and malware on it in order to take advantage of your vulnerabilities.
I am Anand Kumar, a dedicated content writer specializing in troubleshooting in technology. With a passion for problem-solving and a deep understanding of various technical domains, I am here to provide you with comprehensive solutions to your technological challenges.
I am excited to share my expertise and assist you in troubleshooting your technology-related issues. Whether you’re facing software glitches, hardware malfunctions, network connectivity problems, or any other technological challenge, rest assured that I am here to provide you with effective solutions and guide you towards a resolution.
