Former AT&T worker accused of SIM-swap scheme targeting $600,000 from victims

A cellphone number can appear to be a simple way to reach someone, but it is also often tied to bank accounts, password resets and two factor authentication. Federal prosecutors say a former AT&T retail employee exploited that connection by helping a hacker transfer customers’ phone numbers to devices controlled by criminals. The scheme allegedly gave co conspirators access to victims’ banking information and enabled fraudulent wire transfers. Three identified victims faced a combined intended loss of at least $593,963, according to court records and the US Department of Justice. As reported by AOL, former Oregon AT&T worker Kenneth Carter was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $99,528 in restitution after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges.How SIM swapping worksA SIM swap occurs when a mobile phone number is moved from the legitimate customer’s SIM card to a different SIM card controlled by someone else.