Florida’s Attorney General has announced the arrests of two individuals in connection with a SIM card swap scheme that resulted in the theft of approximately $280,000 from a victim’s bank account. The arrests came following an investigation by the Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit (CFEU), marking another significant case in the growing trend of SIM swap-related crimes across the United States.
Thomas Simmons allegedly paid Raymond Ortiz, an employee at a Florida cellphone store, to perform a SIM card swap on the victim’s mobile device. This swap enabled Simmons to gain remote control of the victim’s phone and bypass two-factor authentication security measures on a banking application. SIM swapping has become increasingly prevalent as criminals exploit the vulnerability of SMS-based authentication methods, which security experts have long warned against in favor of dedicated authentication apps and more robust 2FA solutions.
According to investigators, Simmons executed the theft while the victim was on a flight and unable to intervene. The victim discovered the fraud only after landing when their phone failed to resume normal operations. The stolen funds were subsequently converted into cashier’s checks for personal expenses.
Raymond Ortiz was arrested in Tampa through a joint operation by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. He faces charges of grand theft exceeding $100,000 and criminal use of personal identification information. U.S. Marshals apprehended Thomas Simmons in California, who will be extradited to Florida to face charges of grand theft exceeding $100,000 and money laundering.
Attorney General Ashley Moody stated: “These defendants used a SIM card swap scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from an unsuspecting victim who was on a flight — and only noticed that the fraud took place after he was back on the ground. Thanks to our Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit and our law enforcement partners, the only thing these sim swap criminals will be trading is their freedom for time behind bars.”
The Florida Attorney General’s office previously issued a Consumer Alert in 2022 regarding SIM swap scams. Prevention recommendations include regular password changes, using dedicated authentication apps instead of SMS-based verification, establishing strong PINs for carrier accounts, using mobile carrier security apps, and limiting the sharing of phone numbers.
Individuals who suspect they are victims of SIM swapping may notice an inability to make or receive calls or texts. The Attorney General’s office advises immediate contact with mobile carriers using an alternate device and reporting incidents to local law enforcement and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement and mobile carriers in preventing SIM swap fraud, which has led to the development of new security technologies and protocols across the telecommunications industry.
Sources: Legal Newsline, My Florida Legal, Tampa Free Press, CBS12, CLJNews
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