Legal Action Following SIM-Swapping Scam
A pharmacy manager from Canada has launched a legal case against both a major telecommunications provider and a trading platform, following a shocking loss of over $1.36 million due to a sophisticated SIM-swapping scam that cost her 12.58 bitcoins. Raelene Vandenbosch, who hails from Squamish, British Columbia, claims that her misfortune is the result of negligence by Rogers Communications and Match Transact Inc., the latter owning a mobile boutique where a pivotal security mishap occurred.
Details of the Incident
This incident reportedly took place around June 30, 2021, at a WOW! Mobile Boutique kiosk in Montreal. According to court documents, a staff member at the outlet fell victim to a con artist impersonating a Rogers technician. The scammer lured the clerk into sharing their computer screen, which allowed unauthorized access to a database containing sensitive information about Rogers customers.
Even though Vandenbosch was far away in British Columbia, the fraudster, having acquired her account details, swiftly transferred her mobile number to a SIM card that they controlled. This switch granted the hacker complete access to Vandenbosch’s digital communications, including her emails and messaging services. The following day, she discovered she was completely locked out of her phone and data services, indicating a security breach.
Financial Loss and Legal Claims
Through this unauthorized access, the hacker was able to infiltrate Vandenbosch’s cryptocurrency wallets on Ledger and Shakepay, ultimately making off with bitcoins valued at $392,704.61 at that time. In her lawsuit, Vandenbosch is holding Rogers accountable for not sufficiently enhancing security measures despite being aware of the risks of SIM swap fraud since 2015. She also criticizes the company for giving kiosk employees excessive access to private information and failing to implement crucial security verification protocols.
Match Transact Inc. is similarly accused of negligence and privacy violations for not adequately protecting Vandenbosch’s data. Both companies have not confessed to any wrongdoing, instead pushing for the matter to be settled through confidential arbitration citing an agreement Vandenbosch signed as part of her mobile service.
Court Proceedings and Public Interest
However, a decision made by the B.C. Supreme Court adds a twist to the proceedings. On June 27, Justice Anita Chan dictated that while the majority of the dispute would go to arbitration, Vandenbosch’s specific request for a public acknowledgment of fault can be heard in open court, highlighting the broader public interest at stake. Vandenbosch’s legal representation, led by Alexia Majidi from Hammerco Lawyers, is still considering subsequent steps while Vandenbosch herself has opted not to make any public statements at this time.
