Nowadays, mobile phone numbers are widely used as a key to access various applications, including banking. That’s why it’s important to protect numbers linked to your banking access from being recycled. If not, fraudsters could misuse them, which may result in information leaks or even unauthorized access to your banking accounts.
What does it mean when a mobile phone number is recycled, and what risks can it bring? Let’s break it down.
What Does It Mean When a Mobile Phone Number Is Recycled?
When a mobile phone number has been inactive for a certain period of time, the telecommunications operator may release it and sell it to a new customer. This process is called recycling.
In other words, your old mobile phone number can be reactivated, but it will no longer belong to you. It will be assigned to someone else. The exact time frame before a number is recycled depends on each provider’s policy.
Potential Losses from Recycled Numbers
Recycling a mobile phone number could harm the previous owner if the number was or still is linked to important banking access, such as mobile banking or credit cards.
If the mobile phone number falls into the wrong hands, it could be misused. This is especially true if the fraudster already has the victim's data obtained through criminal methods such as phishing or social engineering.
With a recycled phone number, fraudsters can take over the victim's mobile banking or credit card because one of the authentication mechanisms involves verifying an OTP code sent to the recycled phone number that is already controlled by the fraudster.
As a result, fraudsters can access the account to steal the account balance or engage in illegal activities on the credit card.
Tips to Avoid Your Number Being Recycled
Here are some practical ways to prevent your mobile phone number from being recycled.
- Make Sure Your Mobile Number Is Always Active
If you have multiple mobile numbers, make sure to use them regularly to avoid the grace period.
Always check the validity period of your card and extend it when it expires, top up credit or pay postpaid bills to ensure the number remains active, and connect it to a phone that you actively use so you can quickly detect if there is any illegal activity on that number. - Maintain the Confidentiality of Banking Data
Always keep your personal data confidential, especially information related to banking. Make sure you only use active numbers that are still in use when accessing banking services. Avoid carelessly registering your mobile phone number on websites or applications, and do not install apps or programs that are not from the official App Store or Play Store. - Update Your Data and Report Immediately
If you have a mobile phone number that is no longer active or no longer in use but is still linked to banking services, immediately update it with your new mobile phone number. Do not wait until the old number is recycled by the operator.
Report it to BCA through the haloBCA app or by visiting the nearest branch office. Inform them that your mobile phone number has been recycled and request for it to be deleted, or update your data with your new mobile phone number in the relevant banking service system.
Always stay alert to various types of fraud, including those that misuse recycled mobile phone numbers.