5G SIM Upgrade Link Scam by SMS

How it looks by SMS, the red flags and what to do.

On SMS the scammer has only a few lines to work with, so they use a deadline, a threat or a prize and a link that must be tapped "now". 5G SIM Upgrade Link Scam is one of the ways this shows up: A message offers a free 5G SIM or network upgrade through a link or app. It installs spyware or steals your OTP and bank details.

What 5g sim upgrade link scam looks like by SMS

• Several near-identical messages arriving together from different senders.
• A sender name that resembles a bank, courier, tax or utility, or an ordinary mobile number.
• A very short message with a deadline such as "today" or "within 24 hours".

The text or call names a well-known operator and mentions a special offer. It says the service is free for existing customers but needs a quick update, as customers on older SIMs will lose service. The tone is friendly and not threatening, which is unusual for scams and lowers your guard. It says it will take only a minute.

Red flags to check on the text message

• A free upgrade arrives with no request from you.
• It says your old SIM will stop working soon.
• It asks you to install an app outside the official store.
• It needs permission to read SMS and notifications.
• The link domain is not the one you type yourself for that organisation.
• The message asks for an OTP, PIN, card number or password.

What to do

1. Do not install any file or tap the link.
2. Check offers in your operator's official app, installed from the store.
3. If you want a new SIM, visit the operator's store with your documents.
4. Open the official app or type the official website yourself to see if there is any real notice.
5. Paste the text into a scam checker (Safeavio Sentinel can check it) before you do anything else.
6. Report the sender on the Sanchar Saathi portal (Chakshu facility) and block the number.

You can report suspicious SMS and calls on the Sanchar Saathi portal (Chakshu facility) of the Department of Telecommunications.

If money or a code is already gone

1. If you installed an app, uninstall it, restart the phone and review permissions.
2. Call 1930 at once if any money has been taken.
3. Change passwords for email and banking from a clean device.
4. File a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in and tell your bank through the number on your card.

National Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930; report at cybercrime.gov.in.

Safeavio Sentinel's phone scan reviews installed apps, permissions and apps from outside a store, so an upgrade app that reads your SMS can show up as unusual. The link check helps you see lookalike addresses before you open them, and the scam check reads a pasted message. It does not remove malware by magic: it tells you what looks wrong and how to fix it. It cannot confirm whether a real upgrade exists.

Full guide: 5G SIM Upgrade Link Scam: how it works, signs and what to do. Other channels: WhatsApp, phone call.

Questions