Sen Wyden and Bicameral Coalition Ask FCC To Protect Consumers From Wireless Scams

Sen Ron Wyden (D-OR) and five other lawmakers pressed the Federal Communications Commission to do more to protect consumers from scammers who hijack phone numbers to hack bank accounts and other personal information. Sens Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Ed Markey (D-MA) and Reps Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), and Ted Lieu (D-CA) joined Sen Wyden to urge FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to use the agency’s authority over wireless carriers to protect consumers against these so-called SIM swap scams. 

The Federal Trade Commission has received hundreds of complaints about SIM swap fraud, which are used to steal telephone numbers and undermine cybersecurity measures that rely on text messages (known as two-factor authentication). Media reports indicate SIM fraud has caused tens of millions in damages to victims. In their letter, the members urged FCC to write new rules to protect consumers against these scams.