Losing a smartphone to theft can be more damaging than simply because modern smartphones contain banking apps, email accounts, social media profiles, personal photographs, contacts, passwords and sensitive documents.
CONTENTS
Lock or erase your phone remotely
Change passwords to important accounts
Contact your mobile network provider
Report the theft to the police
Monitor your financial and online accounts
If the wrong person gains access, the consequences can include financial loss, identity theft and unauthorised access to your online accounts.
The first few minutes after discovering your phone has been stolen are often the most important. Taking the right steps immediately can help protect your personal information and improve your chances of recovering the device.
In this article, Tribune Online highlights five important things to do immediately if your phone is stolen.
Lock or erase your phone remotely
Your first priority should be protecting the information stored on your phone. Most Android and iPhone devices include features that allow owners to remotely lock, locate or erase their phones using another device.
For Android phones, Google’s Find My Device service lets users locate a missing device, secure it with a new password or erase its data if recovery is unlikely. For iPhones, Apple’s Find My feature allows users to activate Lost Mode, display a message on the screen, track the phone’s location and remotely erase personal data if necessary.
Change passwords to important accounts
Even if your phone is protected with a PIN or fingerprint, it is advisable to change the passwords of important online accounts as quickly as possible.
Start with your email account because it is often used to reset passwords for other services. Afterwards, change the passwords for your banking apps, social media accounts, cloud storage services and messaging applications.
Contact your mobile network provider
Inform your mobile service provider that your phone has been stolen. The provider can suspend your SIM card to prevent criminals from making calls, sending messages or receiving verification codes linked to your accounts.
You should also request a replacement SIM card using your existing number if available.
Many mobile operators can also help block a stolen device using its International Mobile
Report the theft to the police
Reporting the theft to the police creates an official record of the incident and may be required if you intend to file an insurance claim or request assistance from your mobile network provider.
Provide as much information as possible, including the phone’s make and model, the IMEI number, the location and time of the theft, and any tracking information available through your phone’s location service.
Monitor your financial and online accounts
Even after securing your phone, continue monitoring your bank accounts, email, social media profiles and other online services for unusual activity.
Watch for unfamiliar login alerts, unauthorised transactions or password reset notifications. If you notice suspicious activity, report it immediately to your bank or the relevant service provider.
@ Nigerian Tribune
