- Fraud prevention in banking: A bank may query the API when a transaction appears suspicious. The SIM swap information feeds into the bank risk decision engine and security measures are applied accordingly by the bank. Also, strange behaviors or accumulation of SIM Swap notifications may help banks detect fraud scenarios in advance.
- Fraud prevention for password reset (various sectors: e-commerce, social networks, etc.): Password reset is often protected via a mobile verification e.g. One Time Password SMS. The online service provider may query the Sim Swap API to secure the mobile verification. A recent SIM swap may indicate a risk of account takeover fraud and the service provider can adapt the security measures accordingly.
Sim Swap
API Description
The “Sim Swap” API is a service that monitors and detects changes in the SIM card associated with a mobile number. It provides businesses with insights into whether a SIM card has been swapped recently, either by returning a timestamp of the last change or a yes/no response for a defined period (e.g., the last 24 hours). Additionally, the API offers a subscription mode, enabling businesses to receive real-time notifications whenever there is a change in the SIM card status. This service is particularly valuable for enhancing security in scenarios like fraud prevention, account protection, and transaction validation by identifying potential unauthorized SIM swaps.
Use Cases
Benefits
- Prevention of Fraudulent Activities: The Sim Swap API helps businesses detect and prevent unauthorized SIM swap attempts, a common method used in account takeover fraud. By identifying changes in a user’s SIM card status, the API provides an additional layer of security for sensitive transactions and account access.
- Enhanced Security for User Accounts: This service ensures that only legitimate users can access their accounts or authorize transactions by verifying that the mobile line has not been compromised. This reduces the risk of unauthorized access and protects both users and businesses from potential breaches.
- Seamless Integration for Risk Management: The Sim Swap API can be easily integrated into existing systems to provide real-time insights into SIM changes. This allows businesses to incorporate it into their risk assessment processes, enabling proactive responses to suspicious activity without disrupting user experience.
- Improved Trust and User Confidence: By safeguarding user accounts against SIM swap fraud, businesses can build trust with their customers. Users benefit from knowing their accounts are protected, which enhances satisfaction and loyalty while reducing the likelihood of service abandonment due to security concerns.
- Operational efficiency for the API customer (cost savings).
API Portfolio: Authentication and Fraud Prevention
SubProject Wiki: Number Verification
(incl. how to meet the team)
API Wiki: Sim Swap
API Repository: Sim Swap
API Repository Status: Incubating
API Status: Stable
API Version(s) and Release Date(s):
- v0.4.0 (14.11.2023)
- v1.0.0 (04.04.2025), Fall24 meta-release, patch release
- v2.0.0 (13.03.2025), Spring25 meta-release
API availability: Information which APIs are available in which country and network, and how to get access can be found on the GSMA public launch status page.