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Cellphone nightmare leads to ported numbers, identity theft and fight for recovery

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Cellphone nightmare leads to ported numbers, identity theft and fight for recovery

Imagine this scenario: You’re going about your day, and suddenly you can’t make calls or send texts. Little did you know, but you’ve become the latest victim of a ported phone number scam, a devious tactic in which hackers hijack your phone number to take over your identity.

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A woman talking on her cellphone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What is the ported phone number scam?

A CyberGuy Report subscriber contacted us to share that they’ve been a victim of a ported phone number scam. Also known as a SIM swapping or port-out scam, this is when a hacker steals a victim’s phone number to gain control over it. Once they have control, they use that number to commit identity theft by gaining access to their other accounts.

A man typing on his cellphone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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MORE: TV HOST ANDY COHEN SWINDLED IN COSTLY BANK SCAM: HOW TO AVOID BECOMING A VICTIM YOURSELF

How hackers hijack your identity via ported phone number scam

Though there are several ways they may go about porting a victim’s phone number, one of the most common ways is to use your stolen personal information in order to call your mobile provider, pass their security checks, and once they are through, they request that the number be ported to a new carrier or transferred to a new SIM card that they have sent to them.

Once the scammer successfully ports the phone number, they receive all the calls and messages intended for the victim. This access allows them to bypass security measures like two-factor authentication (2FA) that sends a code via text message to the phone number associated with an account.

With this power, the scammer can use this method to reset passwords and gain unauthorized access to your personal accounts, whether it be a social media account, online bank account or another account. Once they continue to gain access to your other various accounts, there’s no telling what else they can do.

Image of bank cards (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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MORE: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR OWN NUMBER APPEARS TO RING YOUR HOME PHONE

How to protect yourself from ported number scams in the future

If you manage to pull yourself out of identity theft once, chances are you’ll do whatever it takes to ensure you don’t end up in that position again. All this being said, it’s important not to blame yourself. Scammers are very sophisticated, and they are always looking for ways to stay one step ahead of their victims. So, do what you can to stay one step ahead of them:

1) Secure your phone number: If you can take any extra measures to keep your phone number safe, don’t think twice. For instance, add a secondary security code or PIN on your Android or iPhone.

2) Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): This adds an extra layer of security to all of your accounts.

3) Secure your email account: Just as you would for your phone, add extra verification methods when possible and notifications if someone logs into your account from another device.

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4) Secure your other accounts: Take the same measures for your other accounts, like your bank or social media accounts. For instance, ask to receive notifications every time there is activity on the account, so you can monitor it and quickly determine if that activity was made by you or someone else.

5) Limit who you give your number to: Be cautious about who you share your phone number with.

6) Consider using a secondary or burner number for online use: This can help protect your primary phone number.

7) Change your password: Use a strong password that’s more than 12 characters (if applicable) and a mix of numbers and upper and lowercase letters. Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords.

8) Be cautious with emails: Don’t open attachments or click links in emails unless you are positive that they are safe. The best way to protect yourself from clicking malicious links that install malware that may get access to your private information is to have antivirus protection installed on all your devices. This can also alert you of any phishing emails or ransomware scams. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices.

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How do you know if your identity has been stolen?

You might become aware of a ported phone number scam when your mobile service is unexpectedly interrupted because your number has been ported to a different carrier’s SIM card. Such incidents could escalate into full-blown identity theft.

A scammer might exploit one-time passwords (OTPs) – unique codes sent to your phone for security verification – to unlawfully access all the data on your device, including credit card details. This breach could result in you being barred from your own accounts.

When a scammer successfully ports your phone number to a different carrier’s SIM card, they can receive these OTPs intended for you. This allows them to bypass security measures and gain unauthorized access to your accounts, such as email, banking and social media, potentially leading to identity theft.

Regaining control of your phone number and securing any accounts that were compromised is often a difficult and lengthy process. This underscores the need for you to be proactive, protect your personal information and stay alert for any unusual activities on your accounts.

Woman holding bank card (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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MORE: WHY YOU NEED AN IDENTITY PROTECTION PIN THIS TAX SEASON

What to do if a scammer takes your identity

If you discover that your identity has been stolen – whether through this phone port scam or another type of identity theft – there are a few steps you should take.

Report the theft to your local police department: Some businesses may require a police report to remove fraudulent debts from your account.

Visit IdentityTheft.gov: This website helps you recover from identity theft. You can answer questions about what happened to you, get your Identity Theft Report and create a recovery plan just for you.

Contact your credit card companies: Inform them about the situation and follow their procedures for securing your accounts. You may need to close your current accounts and open new ones.

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Check your credit reports: Look for any accounts or charges you did not make and report them.

Place a fraud alert on your credit reports: This makes it hard for someone else to open new accounts in your name.

Use an identity theft protection service: Identity Theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security Number, phone number and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals. One of the best parts of using some services is that they might include identity theft insurance of up to $1 million to cover losses and legal fees and a white-glove fraud resolution team where a U.S.-based case manager helps you recover any losses. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft.

Smartphone with sim card (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

MORE: HOW TO STOP PHONE NUMBER SPOOFING AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SCAMMERS

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Unfortunately, once a scammer steals your identity, it can be very arduous to get it back. That being said, there are steps you can take to reclaim your identity while ensuring that your number doesn’t get ported again in the future.

What measures do you think mobile carriers should implement to prevent ported phone number scams? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips & security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:

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Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.

Technology

Discord accidentally banned over 8,000 people for posting grids and other ‘benign’ images

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Discord accidentally banned over 8,000 people for posting grids and other ‘benign’ images

Stanislav Vishnevskiy, Discord co-founder and chief technology officer, writes that the bug impacted around 200 users who posted “grid-like” pictures, in addition to about 8,000 people who posted “other benign images” since May 2026. “Everyone affected has now been unbanned,” Vishnevskiy says.

In a thread on X, Discord writes that its safety system is designed to flag content by “matching it against known harmful material.” This system can produce “false positives,” Discord explains, which is when an employee would step in to review the flagged content. But instead of just temporarily preventing the account from uploading content during the review, a glitch led its system to ban users entirely.

“When our staff reviewed and cleared those accounts, the same bug prevented the ban from being lifted automatically, so it just stayed in place,” Discord says.

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Technology

Hoto’s PixelDrive screwdriver is down to $60, matching its best price

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Hoto’s PixelDrive screwdriver is down to , matching its best price

If your Prime Day purchases included a new desk, TV stand, bookshelf, or other furniture you still haven’t assembled, Hoto’s PixelDrive cordless screwdriver can help speed up the process. It’s currently on sale for $59.99 ($20 off) at Amazon, matching its best price to date.

From tightening loose screws on furniture to repairing electronics, the PixelDrive is designed to handle a wide range of household projects. Hoto includes 30 screwdriver bits that cover many of the most common screw types, all neatly organized in a small cylindrical case. It also offers six adjustable torque settings, allowing you to use less power when working with fragile electronics or increase it when putting together a desk, bookshelf, TV stand, or other furniture. You can also switch between a slower 80RPM mode for more precise work and a faster 200RPM mode with the press of a button.

Hoto also added several features that make assembling projects a little easier. A built-in display lets you quickly check your current torque setting and remaining battery life, while an integrated LED light helps illuminate dim spaces, whether you’re working under a desk or inside a cabinet. The rechargeable 2,000mAh battery also charges over USB-C, so you won’t need to keep buying disposable batteries.

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Technology

Starship delivery robots leave campuses for cities

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Starship delivery robots leave campuses for cities

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Those little white robots that once rolled across college sidewalks with lattes, fries and late-night snacks are getting a new assignment. Starship Technologies recently announced that it will wind down its U.S. university campus operations and redeploy more than 1,200 robots toward grocery chains and hot food delivery in cities across the United States and Europe.

If you have ever watched one of these robots patiently wait at a crosswalk like a polite cooler on wheels, you know why students got attached. They became part campus convenience, part mascot. Now, the company is moving from a controlled campus setting into a much tougher public test.

CHINAS ROBOT-RUN HOTEL OPENS TO PUBLIC IN 2027

That raises the bigger question: will these cute campus robots be just as welcome when they start sharing crowded city sidewalks with you?

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Starship is winding down U.S. campus robot operations as it expands grocery delivery in the U.S. and Europe. (Starship)

 

Why Starship is pulling robots from college campuses

Starship says the decision comes down to focus. The company says its grocery delivery operations are on a 10x growth trajectory over the next two years, driven by demand from major retailers in the United States and Europe.

In Finland, Starship says its robots already complete roughly one in five grocery deliveries. That gives the company a real-world model it wants to repeat elsewhere. To support that expansion, more than 1,200 robots from U.S. campus fleets will be moved into grocery delivery. For Starship, that is a major pivot. Campuses helped the company build its brand in the U.S. They also gave the robots a place to learn.

 

Why college campuses were the perfect robot testing ground

Starship made a big U.S. splash at George Mason University in 2019, when the school became the first U.S. university to offer autonomous robot deliveries from Starship. From there, the robots spread to dozens of campuses. That made sense. College students are often hungry at odd hours. Many live without a full kitchen. They also tend to be open to new tech, especially when it brings food to the dorm without small talk.

During the pandemic, contactless delivery became even more appealing. A robot that could roll up with lunch while limiting person-to-person contact suddenly felt useful in a very different way.

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The campus pullback will not happen overnight

Starship says it has worked with its university campuses and industry partners to keep service running through the 2026–2027 back-to-school season, with transition plans in place to reduce disruption. So, this does not appear to be an instant shutdown where every campus robot disappears at once. Instead, the company is moving away from the university model while preparing its fleet for a bigger push into grocery and restaurant delivery.

For students who loved the bots, it may still feel like the end of an era. For Starship, though, it is a move toward the market where the company believes the economics are stronger. Starship CEO and co-founder Ahti Heinla says the company’s robots can deliver groceries at a cost $3-$4 lower per delivery than traditional courier fulfillment. That is the kind of claim that gets the attention of retailers trying to make last-mile delivery less expensive.

ZOOX ROBOTAXI REDESIGN BRINGS BIG RIDER UPGRADES

 

Why city sidewalks could be a tougher test

The next phase could get messy. Delivery robots have to share sidewalks with people who are walking, pushing strollers, using wheelchairs, carrying groceries or trying to catch a bus. That means every design choice matters. A robot that blocks a curb ramp can create a real problem. A robot that pauses in the wrong spot can turn from cute to irritating fast. If one reverses unexpectedly or gets stuck near a crosswalk, the novelty wears off even faster.

There have already been warning signs. Reports have described delivery robots bumping into people, getting stuck in odd places and raising accessibility concerns. Chicago has also seen local pushback and safety concerns around sidewalk delivery robots, which shows Starship still has work to do if it wants city residents to embrace them. That is the challenge Starship now faces. The same robot that felt charming on a campus may feel like clutter on a narrow sidewalk.

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Starship Technologies is shifting more than 1,200 campus delivery robots to grocery and restaurant deliveries in cities. (Starship)

 

What grocery delivery changes

Grocery delivery is a different business from campus food delivery. A college order might be a sandwich, a soda or a late-night snack. A grocery run can involve heavier items, more frequent routes and customers who expect reliability every time. If Starship can make that work, the payoff could be huge. Grocery stores want cheaper local delivery. Customers want speed without sky-high fees. Cities want fewer cars clogging short delivery routes.

Starship says the global food delivery market is now worth $650 billion and needs delivery systems with higher autonomy levels. The company also says it has completed more than 10 million deliveries, which gives it a sizable head start in the sidewalk robot category.

However, the public will need convincing. People may welcome a robot bringing milk and eggs on a rainy night. They may also get annoyed if that same robot blocks a sidewalk during the morning rush. That will all decide whether sidewalk robots become normal or face more local limits.

 

Why Estonia still matters to Starship

Starship was founded in Tallinn, Estonia, in 2014 by Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis. Estonia remains home to the company’s core engineering and AI development team. That is important because this shift is not only about where the robots operate.

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The big question for robot delivery

Starship’s move shows where the delivery robot business is headed. College campuses helped make the robots likable. Grocery delivery may determine whether they become profitable. Still, the sidewalks belong to the public. That means companies need more than clever machines. They need trust, clear rules and designs that respect people who move through cities in different ways.

A delivery robot should never make a sidewalk harder to use for someone with a cane, stroller or wheelchair. It should not turn public space into an obstacle course. If companies want these robots to feel normal, they need to prove they can operate without making daily life more frustrating.

ARE HUMANOID ROBOTS NOW COMING FOR RETAIL JOBS?

Starship says grocery delivery demand is pushing its robot fleet from college campuses into urban neighborhoods. (Starship)

 

What this means to you

You may start seeing more delivery robots near grocery stores, restaurants and apartment-heavy neighborhoods. If that happens, pay attention to how they behave in your area. Look for whether they yield to pedestrians, avoid curb ramps and handle crowded sidewalks well. Also, check whether your city has rules for personal delivery devices. Some places allow pilot programs, while others limit where these robots can operate.

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If a robot causes a problem, document it safely. Take a photo or video, note the location and report it to your city or the delivery company. That is important because local officials need real examples, not vague frustration, when they decide what rules should apply. There is also a privacy angle. These robots use sensors and cameras to navigate. Companies may say the data supports safe operation, but you still deserve clear answers about what gets collected, how long it is kept and whether law enforcement can request it.

 

Watch the CyberGuy Live replay: Lock Down Your Phone in 30 Minutes

Your phone holds your email, passwords, photos, banking apps and personal data. In this free CyberGuy Live replay, Kurt the CyberGuy walks you step by step through simple phone security fixes you can do at your own pace. You’ll learn how to improve your privacy settings, spot the latest phone scams, use trusted security tools and walk away with a simple checklist to stay protected. Watch the replay and get our checklist here: CyberGuyLive.com

 

Kurt’s key takeaways

Starship’s campus exit feels like the end of a quirky era, especially for students who got used to seeing the little robots rolling around campus. But this shift also tells us something bigger about where autonomous delivery is going. The next battle will happen on city sidewalks, not college campuses. If these robots save money and reduce short car trips, they could become very useful. But if they crowd walkways or create safety headaches, people will push back hard. To me, the real test is pretty clear. Robot delivery needs to work for everyone on the sidewalk, including people who never ordered anything.

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Would you be ok with a delivery robot on your block, or would you rather keep your sidewalks robot-free? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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