A Manitoba couple is out $20,000 after falling victim to a sophisticated SIM‑swap scam, prompting renewed warnings from RCMP about a fast‑growing form of digital fraud that can drain bank accounts in minutes. Investigators say scammers impersonated a mobile provider representative, took control of the couple’s phone numbers, and used that access to break into their financial accounts.
A SIM‑swap scam works by transferring a victim’s phone number onto a new SIM card controlled by the fraudster. To pull it off, scammers first gather personal information — sometimes through phishing emails, leaked passwords, or even details scraped from social media. With enough data, they contact a mobile carrier pretending to be the customer and request a SIM transfer.
Once the carrier completes the switch, the victim’s phone suddenly goes dead. That’s the moment the scammer takes over: they now receive all calls and text messages meant for the victim, including banking verification codes and password‑reset links. With that access, criminals can quickly log into accounts, change passwords, and move money long before the victim realizes anything is wrong.
Police say the Manitoba couple’s experience shows how quickly the scam can escalate — and how devastating the financial fallout can be.
What to do if you’ve already been scammed
If someone discovers their phone has been taken over or money is missing, RCMP say immediate action is critical:
- Contact your mobile provider to reverse the SIM transfer and lock down your account with a PIN.
- Notify your bank to freeze accounts and dispute unauthorized transactions.
- Change passwords for email, banking, and social media.
- File a police report and report the incident to the Canadian Anti‑Fraud Centre.
- Monitor your credit for signs of identity theft.
