FLORIDA — Two men have been charged in a SIM card swap scam that allegedly enabled the theft of nearly $280,000 from a victim’s bank account while the victim was on a flight.
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According to Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit (CFEU), Thomas Simmons conspired with Raymond Ortiz, a Florida cellphone store employee, to execute a SIM card swap, gaining control of the victim’s cellphone. The scheme allowed Mr Simmons to bypass two-factor authentication security measures and transfer funds from the victim’s bank account.
After the theft, Simmons reportedly purchased cashier checks with the stolen money, using them for personal expenses. The victim only discovered the fraud after landing, when the phone failed to resume normal operations.
“These defendants used a SIM card swap scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from an unsuspecting victim who was on a flight—and only noticed that the fraud took place after he was back on the ground,” said Attorney General Moody.
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“Thanks to our Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit and our law enforcement partners, the only thing these SIM swap criminals will be trading is their freedom for time behind bars.”
Authorities arrested Mr Ortiz in Tampa with assistance from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Ortiz faces charges of grand theft exceeding $100,000 and criminal use of personal identification information.
Mr Simmons was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in California and will be transported to Florida. He faces charges of grand theft exceeding $100,000 and money laundering. At the time of the alleged offenses, Simmons was already under federal indictment for bank fraud.
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Attorney General Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will handle the case.
The CFEU has warned Floridians about SIM swap scams, which enable fraudsters to gain access to victims’ phones by exploiting vulnerabilities in mobile carrier systems. To protect against SIM swap scams, officials recommend regularly changing passwords, using two-factor authentication apps, setting strong PINs for mobile accounts, and avoiding sharing cellphone numbers publicly. Victims unable to make calls or send texts should contact their mobile carrier immediately.
The CFEU, part of the Florida Attorney General’s Office, works with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and other law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute cybercrimes statewide.
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