Notification from Settings app to "Finish Cellular Setup" for T-Mobile eSim but I am a Verizon customer.

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Notification from Settings app to "Finish Cellular Setup" for T-Mobile eSim but I am a Verizon customer.

On my way to work this morning I received a notification from my iPhone Settings app to "Finish Cellular Setup - An eSim from Metro by T-Mobile is ready to be set up on this iPhone". Immediately I recognize this to be fishy because I am a Verizon customer and have zero affiliation or business with T-Mobile. I ignored the notification but later in the day I received a second reminder from my Settings app.

I clicked into the Settings app and viewed the notification in an attempt to gather more information but immediately after pressing continue it began to activate. I assumed there would be an additional prompt or two prior to this process happening. Immediately I began to receive a dozen text messages from Metro by T-Mobile about joining the family and the terms and conditions and the charges that were due. I freaked and turned off my cellular and put my phone into airplane mode. I can see from Metro's website that 611 is indeed their phone number.

I went into my iPhone's cellular settings and deleted the eSim but it still shows in the history as a second entry ('Used as "Business" it' reads) but with "No SIM".

It very much feels like an invasion of privacy and I am very worried about what this means. How did this happen? How do I prevent this from happening again? Was any of my information compromised? Was any unwanted access to my iPhone granted?

How should I handle this?

iPhone 13 Pro

Posted on Feb 21, 2023 12:24 PM

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Answer 1

Drew_7

Community Specialist

Feb 22, 2023 3:07 PM in response to j0hnNyb0y209

Hello j0hnNyb0y209,

We see from your screenshot that you have an unknown secondary SIM and messages from an unknown number. The first step we recommend taking is ensuring these messages are legitimate: Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support

If you continue to experience issues your carrier, and T-Mobile, will be the best point of contact. You can find a direct link to each carrier website here: Wireless carrier support and features for iPhone in the United States and Canada - Apple Support

Regards.

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Answer 2

Feb 22, 2023 6:01 PM in response to j0hnNyb0y209

I had this same thing with the same circumstances as you happen to me today and can't find much information on it. What one website said was there's a newer style of hacking where people are calling the Verizon customer service and asking to get SIM card switched to T-Mobile, since T-Mobile has virtual sim cards, or are able to do it themselves.

I'm planning on calling Verizon and asking if anyone has requested a change or what my SIM card looks to them.

I haven't clicked on anything but it's definitely seeming like a scam or hack of some sort. Definitely the most intimidating phishing I've ever gotten because it seems like they already have access to my phone.

Does anyone have any idea if this is a security threat and what I need to do to keep the info on my phone safe?

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Notification from Settings app to "Finish Cellular Setup" for T-Mobile eSim but I am a Verizon customer.

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