Can someone steal money if they know my phone number?

Knowing your number is usually not enough by itself to access your bank account. Controlling your number is much more serious.

A phone number can be used as a starting point for a scam attempt.

Send you fake messages

A scammer may pretend to be:

• your bank
• a delivery company
• a government organisation
• a family member
• a technology company

Not sure whether a text is genuine? How can I tell if a text message is a scam?

Call you and pretend to be someone else

Caller ID and a familiar-looking number should not automatically be trusted.

If someone unexpectedly asks for sensitive information or money, end the call and contact the organisation independently.

Try to get more information

They may try to persuade you to reveal:

• passwords
• account details
• card information
• date of birth or other identity information
• one-time security codes

Your phone number becomes more dangerous when it is combined with other information.

A SIM swap is different from someone simply knowing your phone number.

In a SIM-swap attack, a criminal tries to persuade or deceive your mobile provider into moving your phone number to a SIM or eSIM that they control.

If that succeeds, calls and text messages intended for you may start going to the scammer’s device.

This matters because some accounts use text messages for:

• password resets
• login verification
• one-time security codes

The criminal may then try to use those messages to take over other accounts.

• your phone suddenly shows No Service / SOS or loses mobile service without an obvious reason
• calls or text messages unexpectedly stop working
• your mobile provider sends a SIM, eSIM or number-transfer notice that you did not request
• you receive unexpected password-reset or login alerts
• accounts start showing logins or changes you did not make

One symptom alone does not prove a SIM swap.

A normal network outage or phone problem can also cause loss of service. But sudden unexplained service loss combined with account alerts should be treated seriously.

You do not need to panic or change your phone number simply because someone knows it.

Do this instead:

1. Be cautious with unexpected calls and texts.
2. Never share passwords, PINs or one-time security codes.
3. Do not approve login requests you did not start.
4. Contact companies independently rather than using links or phone numbers from unexpected messages.
5. Keep important accounts protected with strong, unique passwords and multi-factor authentication.

I gave them a password

Change that password immediately through the real app or website.

If the same password is used elsewhere, change it there too.

I gave them card or bank details

Contact your bank or card provider using an official trusted channel.

I gave them a one-time security code

Treat this seriously.

Secure the account the code was for and check for activity you did not authorise.

I clicked a suspicious link

I clicked a scam link on my phone. What should I do?

Protect your mobile-provider account

If the provider offers an account PIN, passcode, SIM protection or number-transfer lock, use it.

Use stronger sign-in protection where available

Text-message verification is better than having no second step at all, but some services offer stronger options such as:

• authenticator apps
• passkeys
• security keys

Never share one-time codes

If someone calls or messages and asks you to read them a security code you received, stop. A one-time code is effectively a key to the account it protects.

Share less personal information publicly

Avoid publishing unnecessary combinations of information such as:

• phone number
• full birth date
• home address
• other identity details

Usually, no.

Phone numbers are widely shared with family, friends, businesses and services. The fact that someone knows yours does not automatically mean it has been compromised.

Changing a phone number can also create unnecessary difficulty with contacts and accounts.

Consider changing it only if there is a genuine ongoing problem and your mobile provider advises that it is appropriate.