CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department wants to warn the public about a cell phone sim card swap scam that is occurring.

There have been cases where the complainant’s received a text message from their cellular phone carrier stating that a sim card exchange had been requested. When the complainant’s clicked on the link, it granted the unknown suspect to gain control over the complainant’s phone number and gain access to their financial accounts. In one particular incident, the suspect called police with the complainant’s phone number and stated that he was going to shoot his wife. Officer’s then responded to the complainant’s home under the guise that a shooting was about to occur. It was later discovered that the complainant was a victim of swatting, where a prank call is made to the police which results in a heavy police response to an address.

If you receive a text message from your cellular phone carrier stating that a sim card exchange was requested, do not click on the link or authorize the request. Immediately contact your phone carrier and inform them that you did not make that request.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (808) 955-8300. The public may now send anonymous web tips to www.honolulucrimestoppers.org or via the P3 Tips app.