In May, a journalist woke up to discover $20,000 transferred from their credit card due to port-out hijacking, a form of identity theft. Even with security measures in place, the criminals were able to access bank accounts and transfer funds. The FBI reports a 400% increase in SIM swapping complaints since 2018, with personal losses exceeding $68 million. FCC complaints have also doubled with 550 reports in 2023. Two-factor authentication is seen as outdated, leaving consumers vulnerable. New FCC rules aim to protect consumers by requiring wireless providers to adopt secure authentication methods during phone number porting, but implementation has been delayed. Companies need to do more to protect consumer data. Despite efforts to reverse fraudulent transactions and regain control, the experience was a harsh reminder of personal information vulnerability.