Increased Susceptibility to Identity Theft

[Mostafa044]

Account Takeovers: With a leaked phone number and other PII, criminals can attempt to gain control of MFS accounts. They can initiate "forgot password" or account recovery processes. If the crucial 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) relies solely on SMS-based One-Time Passwords (OTPs), these can be intercepted.
SIM Swap Fraud: This is an exceptionally dangerous attack. Criminals leverage leaked PII (including the phone number and NID) to trick a mobile operator (Grameenphone, Robi, Banglalink, Teletalk) into transferring a user's number to a new SIM card under their control. Once the SIM is swapped, the legitimate user's phone loses network service, and the criminal gains control of all incoming calls and SMS. This grants them the ability to intercept OTPs for MFS, banking, social media, and other online accounts, often leading to rapid and complete draining of funds.
Targeted Direct Scams (Smishing/Vishing): Armed with your name, address, and NID details from a leak, fraudsters can craft highly convincing fake messages (smishing) or calls (vishing). They might impersonate banks, MFS providers, government agencies, or even family members, claiming you've won a lottery, need to "update" your account, or owe money, spain phone number list all designed to trick users into divulging PINs, OTPs, or directly transferring funds.

The nexus of leaked phone numbers and NID data makes Bangladeshi users profoundly vulnerable to identity theft:

Fraudulent Account Opening: Criminals can use stolen NID and phone number combinations to open new bank accounts, acquire new SIM cards (even bypassing biometric verification in some cases), or obtain loans in the victim's name.
Impersonation for Social Engineering: The extensive personal details gathered from leaks enable criminals to build trust and manipulate individuals, or even officials, for various illicit gains.
Misuse for Illegal Activities: A stolen identity can be used for various illegal enterprises, potentially entangling the legitimate individual in legal complications.