Patent · US Active

Fraudulent subscriber identity module (SIM) swap detection

US10178223B1 · kind B1 · utility

9Cited by
1References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 30, 2017
Grant dateJan 8, 2019
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 30, 2037

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04W24/06
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Detecting a fraudulent subscriber identity module (SIM) swap may be performed by a mobile app executing on a mobile computing device. A network connectivity state is determined for the mobile computing device to a mobile telephony network provided by a mobile network operator. The mobile computing device is associated with a SIM which is associated with the mobile network operator. A signal strength is determined at the mobile computing device of the mobile telephony network provided by the mobile network operator. A likelihood is determined that a SIM swap has taken place involving the SIM based on the signal strength and the network connectivity state. In some embodiments, a probe request is transmitted to a remote server, requesting that the remote server programmatically call the telephone number associated with the SIM to confirm whether the SIM swap has taken place.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.