Scam type 11/15

SIM-swap fraud: how criminals hijack your phone number and drain your bank

In SIM-swapping, scammers take over your Dutch 06 number. Here's how to recognize it, how to prevent it, and what to do when you suddenly have no signal.

Stats and sources

Updated: May 2026

What the numbers show

No guesses. Only published data from Fraudehelpdesk (the Dutch fraud helpline), CBS (Statistics Netherlands), AFM, SIDN and Dutch investigative journalism.

SIM-swapping is less mass-scale in the Netherlands than helpdesk fraud, but losses per case are large (tens of thousands of euros).

In 2025 the Fraudehelpdesk warned about fake messages from KPN and Odido used to initiate a SIM transfer.

KPN, T-Mobile and Vodafone jointly introduced Mobile Connect as an extra layer of account verification.

Modus operandi

How does this scam actually work in practice?

Step by step: this is how scammers build the scenario. The faster you spot the pattern, the sooner you can hang up or click away.

01
The attacker gathers personal data (name, address, date of birth, BSN, email) from earlier phishing, breaches or public sources.
02
They call or email the carrier pretending to be the victim: "I've lost my SIM card, can I get a replacement?"
03
A new SIM is activated, the old one goes dead — the victim has no signal anymore.
04
Controlling the 06 number, the scammer intercepts SMS TANs, 2FA codes and bank push notifications.
05
Banking apps, WhatsApp and email then get taken over; the account is emptied, social media is hijacked.
06
In the Dutch variant a phishing step usually precedes it, where the victim approves a "KPN/Odido confirmation".

Red flags

How do you spot this scam before it's too late?

One red flag is usually enough. Two and you know for sure something is off. Stop, hang up, click away, call the real organization via a number you look up yourself.

Your phone suddenly has no signal and calling no longer works.

You unexpectedly receive a "SIM swap confirmation" by email or letter.

Bank push notifications stop arriving on your device.

Friends report receiving strange messages from your number.

You get a warning that someone logged into your email from an unknown device.

Shortly before, you got a phishing SMS or email "from KPN/Odido/Vodafone".

What to do

What to do if you've been targeted

In this order. Time is money — literally. The faster you call, the bigger the chance the bank can still reverse a transaction.

1
Call your carrier immediately from another device (KPN 0800-0402, Odido/T-Mobile 0800-7626, Vodafone 1200/0800-0094, Ziggo 1200) and have the SIM deactivated.
2
Call your bank and have your account blocked.
3
Change passwords for email, banks, social media (from a different device).
4
Switch 2FA to an authenticator app (Google/Microsoft/Authy) instead of SMS.
5
Set an "extra password" or "customer-number password" with your carrier (KPN, T-Mobile, Vodafone all offer this).
6
File a police report at politie.nl and report to the Fraudehelpdesk.

Common search queries

What people Google when they run into this scam

Recognize your own situation in one of these phrases? Paste your input into the checker above and you'll get an instant dossier — no account needed.

“phone suddenly no signal fraud”
“SIM card taken over what to do”
“how to prevent SIM swap fraud”
“KPN set extra password”
“Vodafone SIM swap security”
“someone requested my SIM card”
“SIM swapping bank account drained”
“phone number hijacked file report”

Common questions

Common questions about this scam

What is sim-swap fraud?

The attacker gathers personal data (name, address, date of birth, BSN, email) from earlier phishing, breaches or public sources. They call or email the carrier pretending to be the victim: "I've lost my SIM card, can I get a replacement?"

Phone suddenly no signal fraud?

Your phone suddenly has no signal and calling no longer works. Call your carrier immediately from another device (KPN 0800-0402, Odido/T-Mobile 0800-7626, Vodafone 1200/0800-0094, Ziggo 1200) and have the SIM deactivated.

SIM card taken over what to do?

You unexpectedly receive a "SIM swap confirmation" by email or letter. Call your bank and have your account blocked.

How to prevent SIM swap fraud?

Bank push notifications stop arriving on your device. Change passwords for email, banks, social media (from a different device).

What should I do if I've been a victim?

Call your carrier immediately from another device (KPN 0800-0402, Odido/T-Mobile 0800-7626, Vodafone 1200/0800-0094, Ziggo 1200) and have the SIM deactivated. Call your bank and have your account blocked. Change passwords for email, banks, social media (from a different device).

Will I get my money back?

Whether you get your money back depends on the type of scam, how quickly you called your bank and whether you handed over credentials yourself. Dutch banks operate a goodwill scheme but in practice rarely pay out 100%. Always file a police report immediately and report to the Fraudehelpdesk — this strengthens your case.

SIM-swap fraud: how criminals hijack your phone number and drain your bank

What the numbers show

How does this scam actually work in practice?

How do you spot this scam before it's too late?

What to do if you've been targeted

Concrete examples of this scam type

What people Google when they run into this scam

Common questions about this scam

Call these numbers now — in this order

SIM-swap fraud: how criminals hijack your phone number and drain your bank

What the numbers show

How does this scam actually work in practice?

How do you spot this scam before it's too late?

What to do if you've been targeted

Concrete examples of this scam type

What people Google when they run into this scam

Often combined with these other scam types

Common questions about this scam

Call these numbers now — in this order