How an SMS phishing attack works.
This victim gave up the code for their own bank account.
@fifonetworks wait, how the heck does "i used to own your number many years ago" even work?
doesn't every cellphone user get a _new_ number?
@D_ @devurandom @fifonetworks On one occasion, a parole officer.
@D_ @fifonetworks @devurandom ah, that explains the viagra ads I used to get and why they called me the wrong name
@devurandom @fifonetworks hell no :( I actually got data usage alerts for my old number via email from VZ after I had to change my number
@rubah @fifonetworks aww, that sucks 😞
@devurandom @fifonetworks Nope. Numbers have been reused for years. My work phone's number used to be that of a Toyota dealership in the Bay Area. My watch used to have... Somebody's phone number in Pennsylvania. I get calls from recruiters and Job Corps two or three times a day for him.
@devurandom When a customer gives up their phone number for any reason, the carriers put it on ice for a period of time, according to their aging algorithm. It may be up to a year, or as little as 30 days. Then the number is available for assignment again.
@devurandom @fifonetworks Some providers will recycle old unused numbers, giving them to new customers.
And yes, that can result in some unfun things, like debt collectors calling looking for the previous owner of the number.