Following illegal access to Orange’s IT systems, customer data that could facilitate fraud was accessed.
The BIPT is particularly concerned about potential theft of telephone numbers, whereby a fraudster submits a request to transfer stolen numbers to another operator (fraudulent SIM swapping).
The BIPT, Orange and the other operators explored together ways to help users protect themselves against this.
In this context, the BIPT approved Orange's proposal to add an additional check to the number transfer procedure. Therefore, if Orange receives a request to transfer a number to another operator, it will send a verification text message to the customer concerned.
If the latter did not initiate the number transfer request, they may cancel the request by replying “STOP”.