With the mobile phones now having such high
value these days they have become a common target for thieves of today.
“Apple Picking” as it’s called by thieves,
who steal iPhones, is a problem we should all be aware of, but perhaps the
question we should be asking is where’s the money for the thief, in the phone
itself or in the data stored on the phone?
What's worth more your phone or your personal data:
Consider that a good smart phone today can
cost £400 plus, they’ve become an easy target, but if we consider what data we
may have stored on our phones, then the value of the phone could be small by
comparison. Identity theft can be very lucrative and a mobile that has the
right personal data on it could be the start of a journey into a world of pain
and loss which far outweighs the value of the phone, as they clean out bank
accounts, run up large bills and spend your hard earned money.
As we all know prevention is always better
than cure, so we’ve put this blog together with some hints and tips on how to
protect your smart phone and the data stored on it.
Most
at risk group:
This data is more critical for younger
people because the most at risk group for having their phones stolen are the 14
– 24 year olds, so if you have children or you are a in that age group this is
far more relevant to you.
First
let’s look at simple precautions to keep your phone safe:
1.
Consider where you keep the
phone. Don’t leave it within easy access of a thief – deep pockets, internal
pockets are a good start and make sure it’s not on show.
2.
Think carefully before using
your handbag, but if you have to use your handbag make sure it’s not visible –
i.e. the bag is kept closed.
3.
Consider the area where you are
using them. Remember we tend to get lost in our conversations at times and wouldn’t
notice someone as they ran up and grabbed your phone until it was too late.
4.
If you have the latest ‘state
of the art’ smart phone, avoid flashing it around in public, as far as
possible.
5.
Make sure when using the phone
you hold it firmly in your hand or use some form of hands free kit which
enables you to keep the phone in an internal pocket out of sight, as well as
leave your hands free.
6.
Never leave your mobile
unattended – it only takes seconds for it to disappear.
So
what should you do if your phone is stolen?
Hopefully this won’t happen to you, but if
it does, knowing what to do can make all the difference when it comes to
claiming on insurance and avoiding being charged for use of the phone.
1.
Contact your provider
immediately. They will likely disconnect your service so that no money can be
spent using the phone. Check your contract for any aspect that you may still
have to pay.
IMPORTANT – make a note of the time, date, name of the person you speak to, what they said and their extension number and ask for something in writing stating what was agreed. This could be critical information if the thief makes costly calls while they have the phone.
IMPORTANT – make a note of the time, date, name of the person you speak to, what they said and their extension number and ask for something in writing stating what was agreed. This could be critical information if the thief makes costly calls while they have the phone.
2.
Contact / report the theft to
the police and get a crime reference number. This will make all the difference
when dealing with insurance.
3.
If you don’t get a crime
reference number you could get a loss reference number from the Police or the
relevant authority such as Transport for London
4.
The address of the Police
station along with the Police Officers badge number that you spoke to.
5.
Note the time and date as well
as the last call you made or text you sent
Other
information about protecting your phone:
1.
If you’ve mislaid your phone
and you’re not sure whether you’ve left it somewhere or its been stolen, you
can call the number. Now remember to be polite at all times because the person
may be going to return the phone even if you suspect otherwise.
2.
Keep a record of the following
information about your phone and keep somewhere safe:
a.
Your Phone Number
b.
Make and model
c.
Colour and any identifying
marks
d.
Pin or security lock code
e.
Record the IMEI (International
Mobile Equipment Identifier) or MEID (Mobile Equipment Identifier) – see below
how to find this number
f.
Add a security mark using an
ultra violet pen (post code / house number) to the inside of the phone and on
the battery. It will need to be re-applied every couple of months because it
wears off.
g.
You could also include another
number or email address in case someone finds the phone and wants to return it.
3.
Use the security lock or pin
feature to lock the phone – this makes the phone less valuable to the thief and
helps protect your data.
IMEI
/ MEID numbers – these are individual numbers that
relate to your phone only. There are several ways to find this number, the
simplest of which are listed below:
1.
Look in your original packaging
– not in the booklet, but in the box or used as part of the seal.
2.
Under the battery side your
phone
3.
Type *#06# where you would
normally dial a number to call and it should bring the number up on the screen
without you having to type or press any other button.
Use
technology – anti theft software
Today there are various anti theft software
programs that can be used on today’s mobile devices. Most will track your
device, so that you can find the phone and some once activated will keep the
phone on so that it can be tracked, whilst blocking your phone.
Because this technology is fast paced we
would recommend doing your own research and reading reviews.
Many of these are also free to use, so there are very few reasons not to sign up to one of them.
Many of these are also free to use, so there are very few reasons not to sign up to one of them.
Another additional idea is to register your
mobile device with www.immobilise.com
They have a database linked to every Police force in the UK, which the Police
use to check mobile phones. It’s also a FREE service and has resulted in 100’s
of mobile phones being returned to their owners.
Hopefully you’ll never have to deal with
any of the above, but being prepared is always the better option – shutting the
gate after the horse has bolted, is too late.