How to do a Sim Swap on Vodacom

February 13, 2024 How To

SIM card swapping is a process that allows you to replace your old SIM card with a new one while keeping your original phone number intact. This can be useful if you lost or damaged your old SIM card, or are upgrading to a new phone that requires a different sized SIM card.

How to do a Sim Swap on Vodacom

To do a SIM card swap on Vodacom, you can do it yourself or go to a Vodacom store.

How to Perform the SIM Swap yourself

  1. Buy a new SIM card from the Vodacom store. 
  2. Register a new SIM for Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act (RICA). This is a legal requirement to ensure that only authorized owners of the SIM card can use it.
  3. Dial *136* from your new SIM card. 
  4. Select the option to use your old mobile number.
  5. You will be directed to a call center consultant who will do the SIM card swap for you.
  6. Once the SIM card swap is complete, insert the new SIM card into your phone.

How to make a SIM Swap at a Vodacom Store

  1. Go to the Vodacom store.
  2. Take your ID or passport and your old SIM card. 
  3. Ask the seller to change the SIM card for you.

Swapping SIM cards usually takes a few minutes. Once the SIM card swap is complete, you’ll be able to use your phone with the old phone number on the new SIM card.

Note

  1. You will need to take your ID card or Passport when making a SIM change, either by yourself or at a Vodacom store. 
  2. New SIM card must be registered with Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act (RICA).
  3. The SIM card exchange process may take several minutes.
  4. Your phone number may not be available immediately after switching SIM. It can take up to 24 hours for changes to be reflected online.

FAQs

What is SIM swap?

SIM card swapping is a process that allows you to replace your old SIM card with a new one while keeping your original phone number.

Why do I need to change SIM? 

There are a number of reasons why you might need to do a SIM swap. For example, if you lose or damage your old SIM card, or if you are upgrading to a new phone that requires a different size SIM card.

How to do SIM swap?

You can either change the SIM card yourself or go to a Vodacom store. 

To perform the SIM swap yourself, follow these steps:

  1. Buy a new SIM card from the Vodacom store.
  2. Register a new SIM for RICA. This is a legal requirement to ensure that only authorized owners of the SIM card can use it. 
  3. Dial *136* from your new SIM card.
  4. Select the option to use your old mobile number.
  5. You will be directed to a call center consultant who will do the SIM card swap for you.
  6. When the SIM card swap is complete, insert the new SIM card into your phone.

To do a SIM swap at a Vodacom store, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Vodacom store. 
  2. Bring your ID card or passport and old SIM.
  3. Ask the seller to change the SIM card for you.

How long does it take to change SIM?

The SIM card swapping process usually takes a few minutes.

What happens to my phone number after SIM swapping?

Your phone number will stay the same after swapping SIM cards. 

What if I don’t have an identity card or passport?

If you don’t have your ID card or passport, you won’t be able to change your sim on your own. You will need to go to a Vodacom store and do a SIM card exchange there.

What if I still have problems with my SIM swap?

If you are still having problems with the SIM card swap, you can contact Vodacom customer service, (+27)82 009 8624

How to avoid SIM swap fraud?

There are several things you can do to avoid SIM card swap fraud:

  1. Never give out your personal information, such as ID number or PIN, to anyone over the phone or online, unless you are sure it is from Vodacom.
  2. Beware of unwanted calls or emails from people claiming to be from Vodacom.
  3. If you are unsure about your SIM swap request, contact Vodacom directly.

What are the benefits of SIM swapping?

There are several benefits to doing a SIM card swap. For example, you can:

  1. Keep your phone number intact if you lose or damage your old SIM card.
  2. Switching to a new phone requires a different sized SIM card.
  3. Secure your phone number from fraud by SIM swapping.

Is there any risk in changing SIM cards? 

There are some risks involved in swapping SIM cards. For example, you can:

  1. Lose access to your phone number if you do not follow the correct procedure.
  2. Be a victim of SIM card swap scams if you give out your personal information to someone you don’t trust.  

Conclusion

Swapping SIM cards can be a useful way to keep your phone number if you lose or damage your old SIM card or if you’re upgrading to a new phone. However, it’s important to be aware of the risks of SIM card swap fraud and take steps to protect yourself.

If you think you’ve been the victim of a SIM card swap scam, you should contact your mobile service provider immediately and report the scam. You should also contact banks and other financial institutions to ensure that your account is secure. 

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