SIM-Swap Arbitration Win Against T-Mobile (Jones v. T-Mobile)
When clients ask whether a SIM-swap victim can actually prevail against a carrier, this matter provides a clear, document-backed example: Joseph “Josh” Jones brought claims against T-Mobile in private arbitration—and won.
What happened—and why SIM swap mattered
On February 21, 2020, attackers convinced T-Mobile to move Jones’s phone number to a SIM card they controlled. From there, they intercepted two-factor authentication (2FA) messages, reset credentials, accessed private files, and transferred cryptocurrency out of Jones’s wallets.
As Jones’s filing puts it, “The SIM swap was an absolutely necessary, indispensable component of the hack, without which Mr. Jones’s cryptocurrency could never have been accessed, much less stolen.”
Jones alleges T-Mobile had previously given him an eight-digit “heightened security” PIN in 2018—but the hackers were not required to provide it when they commandeered the line.
The theft was massive: over 1,500 Bitcoin and almost 60,000 Bitcoin Cash, valued at approximately $38 million at the time, with damages alleged to exceed $165 million measured by post-theft highs.
According to the First Amended Demand for Arbitration, “Once the perpetrators gained unauthorized access to Mr. Jones’s wallets, they transferred over 1,500 Bitcoin and almost 60,000 Bitcoin cash of cryptocurrency belonging to Mr. Jones to wallets and/or accounts under their control.”
Forum, case & decision-maker
The dispute was arbitrated before ADR Services, Inc. as ADRS Case No. 20-5769-RJM, with Hon. Rita “Sunny” Miller (Ret.) presiding. The caption lists Joseph “Josh” Jones as Claimant and T-Mobile USA, Inc. as Respondent.
Jones’s First Amended Demand for Arbitration is dated April 16, 2020, confirming the matter was underway by spring 2020.
The arbitration result
Arbitrator Miller issued an Interim Award dated December 20, 2023, which was incorporated by reference into the Final Award.
In separate fee proceedings, the Arbitrator granted $5,957,902.56 in attorneys’ fees, $312,259.91 in costs, and prejudgment interest commencing September 29, 2023 at the federal rate under 28 U.S.C. § 1961.
Confidentiality note
T-Mobile requested that the Interim Award (incorporated into the Final Award) be filed under seal in court. Because of that sealing request, the public court file does not display the merits-award details; the petition references and conditionally lodges the Interim Award in a separate appendix.
Current court status: Petition to confirm the award
Following the arbitration victory, Mr. Jones took steps to ensure the award would be recognized and enforceable by the courts.
A Petition to Confirm the Arbitration Award was filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles (Santa Monica Courthouse) on March 20, 2025. The court case is Jones v. T-Mobile USA, Inc., Case No. 25SMCP00148, classified as an unlimited civil petition to confirm the private arbitration result.
Filing this petition is a procedural step that asks the court to convert the arbitration award into an official judgment, which can then be used to collect the damages if necessary.
Since the filing, there has been ancillary litigation over confidentiality. T-Mobile and other interested parties moved to seal certain records (such as the detailed arbitration award and supporting documents) from the public file, citing privacy and security concerns.
The Superior Court scheduled hearings to address these motions to seal. One such motion was heard in August 2025 (with the judge taking the matter under submission on August 7, 2025).
Another related hearing on a motion to seal (specifically concerning portions of the arbitration records) is scheduled for September 4, 2025 in the Santa Monica Courthouse. These hearings will determine which parts of the arbitration award documentation, if any, will remain confidential despite the confirmation proceeding.
In the meantime, the case continues toward a likely confirmation of the award, with a case management conference also set for August 25, 2025.
The petition to confirm remains pending, and the Superior Court is currently addressing what portions of the arbitration record, if any, will remain sealed as the confirmation proceeding moves forward.
What this means for SIM-swap victims
This matter shows, in practice, how a carrier can be held liable when a SIM-swap compromises a customer’s accounts and leads to large-scale crypto losses: an arbitration win, followed by a petition to confirm the award in court. (Because portions of the award are under seal, the public file does not state the merits-award amount; only the fee/cost/interest ruling is visible.)
Contact Us
At Dilendorf Law Firm, we represent clients who have been targeted by SIM-swap attacks and other forms of cyber fraud.
With over six years of experience and a record of handling more than 100 consumer arbitration cases, we have successfully pursued claims against both major cryptocurrency exchanges—including Coinbase, Gemini—and leading phone carriers such as Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T.
Our attorneys are skilled in navigating proceedings before all major arbitration forums, including AAA, JAMS, and NAM.
We also represent victims whose digital assets were stolen not only from regulated exchanges but also from self-custody wallets like MetaMask and other decentralized platforms.
In high-stakes cases, we advise and coordinate with U.S. law enforcement and investigative agencies—including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Secret Service—as part of broader recovery strategies and criminal investigations into cybercrime.
If you have suffered losses due to a SIM swapping incident or other cyber fraud, contact us to discuss your case and options for recovery.
Email: info@dilendorf.com | Phone: 212.457.9797
Disclaimer: The case discussed above is provided for informational purposes only. The Claimant in this matter was not represented by Dilendorf Law Firm, and this case is not affiliated with our firm in any way.
