- Canadian woman sues over stolen BTC in SIM swap.
- 12 BTC were valued at $531,000 at the time.
- Lawsuit points to telecommunication negligence.
Raelene Vandenbosch, a pharmacy manager in British Columbia, has filed a lawsuit against Rogers Communications and Match Transact Inc. after losing 12 Bitcoin in a SIM swap scam in 2021.
The case highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in telecom security and concerns over customer protection from SIM swap attacks.
Details of the SIM Swap Attack
Raelene Vandenbosch’s loss originated from a SIM swap attack, where a hacker tricked a Match Transact employee into accessing her account. Vandenbosch subsequently filed lawsuits in three Canadian provinces over the theft of 12 Bitcoin.
Vandenbosch’s legal action against Rogers Communications and Match Transact Inc. alleges negligence and privacy breach. The British Columbia Supreme Court has sent the bulk of this dispute to arbitration, excluding parts that involve public interest. Rogers has stated, “As fraudsters use constantly evolving techniques… we continually strengthen our security measures to protect our customers.”
The theft has resulted in a financial loss of approximately $1.8 million at today’s Bitcoin value. Rogers has responded, stating ongoing efforts to increase security measures against evolving fraud techniques in telecommunications.
Implications and Further Developments
Similar incidents in the past have seen affected parties push for stricter security protocols. While this lawsuit unfolds, a British Columbia law change, not retroactive, targets arbitration clauses to boost consumer rights by 2025.
Blockchain tracking has yielded no immediate tracing of these funds. The absence of statements from major crypto figures leaves the community wondering about potential broader cryptocurrency implications and future regulatory changes.
