Daniel, a 32-year-old from London, had a habit of keeping his phone number linked to everything—his bank, email, work accounts, and even his two-factor authentication (2FA) codes.

One evening, he received a call from “his network provider.” The caller sounded professional:

“Hello Daniel, we’ve detected an issue with your SIM. We need to reset your network settings to prevent unauthorised access. Could you please dial ‘21’ followed by this number to verify your identity?”

Daniel was a bit careful but still got tricked. He did what the caller said, and within seconds, his phone stopped working—there was no signal at all.

Within minutes, his nightmare began. His bank account was compromised, his email was hacked, and fraudsters were making transactions using OTPs that were now being forwarded to them. Daniel had just fallen victim to the Call Forwarding Scam.

How the Call Forwarding Scams Work

Scammers use a simple but deadly trick to hijack your phone number and gain access to your personal information. Here’s how they do it:

1. The Fake Network Provider Call

A scammer calls pretending to be from EE, Vodafone, O2, or any major network. They claim there’s an issue with your SIM or security settings.

2. The Secret Code Trap

They convince you to dial a code like 21 or 401 followed by their number.

Why is this dangerous? Now, any OTP (One-Time Password) from your bank or email goes straight to them.

3. Banking & Email Hacking

With your OTPs, they quickly:

• Reset your online banking password.
• Log into your email & lock you out.
• Make fraudulent transactions in your name.

By the time Daniel realized what had happened, the scammers had already: 

• Changed his banking details. 
• Ordered an expensive phone contract under his name. 
• Requested loans using his credentials.

How Daniel Outsmarted the Scammer & Saved Himself

Luckily, Daniel acted fast and took these steps: 

• He used a friend’s phone to call his network provider immediately. They confirmed his calls were being forwarded and disabled the call forwarding. 
• He changed all his passwords, including banking & email. 
• He enabled two-factor authentication using an authenticator app instead of SMS. 
• He reported the scam to Action Fraud UK & his bank.

Because he responded within an hour, he managed to recover his accounts before serious financial damage occurred.

How to Protect Yourself from Call Forwarding Scams

To avoid falling into this trap, follow these golden rules: 

• Never dial numbers given by unknown callers. 
• If your network provider calls, verify by calling them back from their official website number. 
• Use an authenticator app for OTPs instead of SMS. 
• Check your call forwarding settings regularly. Dial:

• ##21# (to disable all call forwarding)
• #61#, #62#, #67# (to check specific forwarding settings) 
• Enable SIM PIN protection. 

This ensures scammers can’t swap your SIM.

Report the Scam

If you ever fall victim to a call forwarding scam, report it immediately. This can help stop scammers from targeting others and may even help you recover your losses.

For UK Citizens

• Action Fraud (UK’s national fraud reporting centre) – https://www.actionfraud.police.uk
• Contact Action Fraud – Call 0300 123 2040
• Report to your mobile network provider – Call customer support and request an immediate call forwarding block.

For US Citizens

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – https://reportfraud.ftc.gov
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) – https://www.ic3.gov
• Contact your mobile carrier (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) to disable call forwarding.

For European Citizens

• Europol’s Cybercrime Reporting – https://www.europol.europa.eu/report-a-crime
• National Cyber Security Centres – Check your country’s fraud reporting website.

Pro Tip: If your phone loses signal suddenly, call your provider from another phone to check for unauthorized call forwarding!

Final Thoughts: Stay Smart, Stay Safe

The Call Forwarding Scam is simple but extremely dangerous. Scammers don’t need fancy hacking tools—they just need you to dial a number.

Scams like these thrive on fear and urgency. If someone calls asking you to dial a code—DON’T DO IT.If this article helped you, share it with your friends & family. One share can save someone from losing everything.

Read more –

• Online Tech Support Scams – How Scammers Steal Your Money & Data

Written By – Duncan Paul Glasgow