An SIM card that has not been used for a long time can become a vulnerability for safeguarding money and personal data, the National Police of Ukraine said.
The piece also cites statistics from the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine: in 2026 more than 5.7 million Ukrainian refugees were abroad, some of whom may not use Ukrainian numbers for an extended period.
Where the risk arises when an old number is lost
If a number is not topped up for a long time or other operator conditions are not met, it may be deactivated and later reassigned to another subscriber. In that case, the new owner of the number may receive confirmation codes and attempt to regain access to the previous user’s accounts.
The risk is particularly pronounced when the number is still linked to online banking, email, social media or government services. Losing control of the number can make it harder to access important accounts and personal data.
Steps to take if you suddenly lose service
If a Ukrainian number unexpectedly loses service without an obvious reason, the piece advises contacting the operator via an official channel to find out whether any operations have been carried out with the number. It also notes the need to check linked accounts if you suspect the number has been taken over by a third party.
The piece lists the following response steps:
- contact the operator and clarify the status of the number;
- notify the bank and check the security of linked accounts;
- do not disclose passwords, confirmation codes or login details to third parties;
- unlink the number from important services and replace it with a current one before surrendering the SIM card.
