Three Indiana residents have been charged in connection with an alleged nationwide SIM-swapping conspiracy, according to an indictment unsealed by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California on November 14, 2024.
The defendants – Indigo Graham, 27, Joshua Crawford, 22, and Tyler Allen, 30, all from Elkhart, Indiana – are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their alleged participation in a scheme involving the unauthorized transfer of mobile phone numbers.
SIM-swapping is a technique where perpetrators gain unauthorized access to mobile phone accounts and transfer phone numbers to different devices. This attack has become increasingly concerning as more services adopt phone-based authentication methods. While two-factor authentication (2FA) can enhance security, SIM-swapping specifically targets this protection by hijacking the phone number used for verification codes.
According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly worked with co-conspirators to execute these SIM-swaps, which typically involve exploiting vulnerabilities in mobile account security systems. Once control of a phone number is obtained, perpetrators can potentially access email accounts, financial services, and other sensitive information tied to the compromised phone number. This type of attack has led major platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to implement passkey support as a more secure alternative to traditional phone-based authentication.
The rise in SIM-swapping attacks has prompted increased attention from both law enforcement and the mobile industry. Major carriers have been developing new security measures, including the ZenKey authentication platform, which aims to provide more secure, password-free authentication methods that are resistant to SIM-swapping attacks.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, which has jurisdiction over numerous technology-related criminal matters due to its location in Silicon Valley.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
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