Clamp on crooks seizing 'ported' numbers

While Australians are easily able to keep their number as they transfer between phone companies, the streamlined method also puts them at risk of being scammed.

But new rules set to be introduced by the end of April next year will mandate stronger verification measures for the transfer process, known as porting.

Telcos will be required to use new authentication measures to confirm the person bringing their old number is who they claim to be.

Fraudulent number porting affected more than 1000 Australians in 2017-18, costing consumers an average of $10,000.

Criminals use the numbers to compromise people's bank account details, email accounts and driver's licences.

According to a report from IDCare, the majority of reported victims in 2017-18 were aged 25-to-45 with more than half of all victims living in NSW.

Fraudsters still needed basic information of their victims before they could go to telcos to fraudulently port numbers, with most victims believing their details had been lifted from their stolen mail.

The new two-factor authentication method would see the customer's new telco send a text to the customer's phone while it's still connected to their old network.

The big three telcos - Telstra, Optus and Vodafone - already use this two-factor authentication methods.

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher has directed telcos to "pull their weight" once the regulator introduces the rules next year.

"The entire industry needs to put in place a solution otherwise those telcos without safeguards in place will be a magnet for fraudsters," Mr Fletcher said on Wednesday.

Companies will be required to use the new method, regulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, by the end of April next year or face significant penalties.

"The stakes are pretty high, several thousand people have fallen victim to identity theft using fraudulent porting," Mr Fletcher said.

He's also expecting a report from the authority on other technologies to stop more Australians falling victim to scams.