Simba breach exposes IC numbers of 23,549 customers
Singapore telco Simba says names, IC numbers, birth dates, phone numbers and emails were exposed; the privacy regulator is investigating.
By Priya Nair · Published · Updated · 4 min read
Singapore telecoms company Simba says 23,549 customers were affected by a data breach on September 24, Mothership reports.
What was exposed
- Names
- Identity card (IC) numbers
- Dates of birth
- Phone numbers and email addresses
Simba says no credit card or bank account information was at risk, and it has seen no sign the data has been misused. It says the incident is resolved and it is notifying customers by email. Singapore's Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) is investigating.
Why it matters
IC numbers combined with dates of birth and phone numbers are exactly what scammers need to impersonate a person to a bank or telco. Telecoms customers are also prime targets for SIM-swap fraud, where criminals persuade a provider to move your number to their SIM so they can receive your one-time passcodes.
What customers should do
- Ask Simba about adding extra verification to your account to block unauthorised SIM changes.
- Be wary of calls or texts claiming to be from Simba, banks or government agencies that quote your details.
- Use app-based authentication instead of SMS codes where you can.
