Man Loses Over MVR 200,000 After SIM Card Is Switched to e-SIM Without Consent

A businessman from K. Himmafushi suffered a major financial loss after his mobile SIM was switched to an e-SIM without his knowledge, resulting in the theft of more than MVR 200,000 from his bank accounts.

Ahmed Hameed, who runs the Hulhan’gu Lodge guesthouse, first noticed something was wrong last May when his phone repeatedly showed no signal. At first, he assumed the phone itself was faulty and took it to a repair shop in Male’. However, technicians found no issues with the device, leading Hameed to suspect a problem with his SIM card.

Shock at SIM Transfer Without Consent

When Hameed visited Dhiraagu to investigate, he was shocked to learn that his SIM card had already been transferred to an e-SIM at someone else’s request. He said he never applied for this change. Even more alarming, a second SIM registered in his wife’s name had also been switched to an e-SIM.

Dhiraagu requires customers to log into their My Account portal or request a QR code by email to activate an e-SIM. Hameed later discovered that the perpetrator must have gained access to his Dhiraagu My Account to complete the transfer. Strangely, neither his Dhiraagu account password nor his Gmail password had been altered during the process.

Discovery of Missing Funds

Returning home to Himmafushi, Hameed checked his bank accounts and was devastated to find that all his funds had disappeared. His personal account held MVR 65,000, his business account had USD 8,600, and his wife’s account contained MVR 9,800—all of which were stolen.

According to Hameed, the funds from his business dollar account were transferred into his personal account at an exchange rate of MVR 15.42, and then withdrawn. The money was subsequently moved into multiple other accounts, often in increments of MVR 25,000.

In total, Hameed estimates that more than MVR 200,000 vanished from his accounts.

Attempts to Trace the Money

Through the bank, Hameed contacted the owners of some accounts that had received the stolen funds. He learned that the recipients claimed a friend had deposited the money and asked them to withdraw and hand it over. Surprisingly, they said they knew the person well and even received MVR 150 as a “thank you” snack.

Hameed also mentioned that MVR 50,000 was transferred to a business account in Male’.

Frustration Over Police Investigation

While the incident has been reported to the police, Hameed expressed frustration over the lack of visible progress in the investigation despite nearly two months passing since the theft.

This incident serves as a warning about the risks tied to mobile SIM security and the importance of safeguarding online account credentials. It also raises concerns about how easily fraudsters might exploit existing systems to commit theft without changing passwords or triggering alerts.

For now, Hameed’s experience is a painful reminder of the vulnerabilities individuals face in the digital age, especially when it comes to protecting personal information and financial assets.