SIM Cards-Don’t Forget Them

SIM cards—those tiny, often overlooked essentials—only seem to cross our minds when we travel, get a new mobile number, or upgrade our phones. Recently, I bought a new iPhone. At the Apple Store, the representative mentioned they no longer do device-to-device transfers and suggested I download from my backup at home. Being tech-savvy, I thought, “No problem!”

Once home, I eagerly began setting up my new phone. But when it tried to send me a text message to sign in, nothing happened. It dawned on me: how could I receive a text without a cellular connection? Panic set in—had they forgotten to return my old SIM card? After some frantic Google searches and calls to Apple and my carrier, I confirmed my suspicion: I should have gotten my SIM card back.

As someone in fraud detection and prevention, my mind raced:

• What if someone else uses my SIM card?

• Which apps rely solely on a user ID and text message for sign-in?

• How could I have been so careless?

Thankfully, I rushed back to the Apple Store within two hours. They returned my SIM card and even installed it for me.

While this isn’t a travel tale, a similar situation could easily occur when switching SIM cards while traveling. So, here are some tips:

• Always retrieve your old SIM card; you’ll need it when you return home.

• Keep it safe during your travels to avoid losing it.