Discover the swift action to take when your phone is lost or stolen, and learn how to protect yourself from data theft, scams, and fraud.
When your phone goes missing, it can be a stressful and potentially costly experience. However, by taking swift action, you can minimize the damage and protect yourself against data theft, scams, and fraud.
If your phone is lost or stolen, immediately contact your service provider to suspend its use and prevent unauthorized access.
Report the incident to local authorities if you believe it was stolen.
Back up your data regularly to minimize losses.
Consider using a phone-finding app to track your device's location.
Update your passwords and security settings to protect your personal information.
Immediate Action to Take
If you find that your phone has been lost or stolen, follow these steps quickly:
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Locate Your Phone: If your phone is still connected to a network, try to locate it using Find My on Apple or Google. You can use a browser on a computer, tablet, or even a friend’s phone.
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Remote Lock and Erase: Use Find My to remotely lock your phone and mark it as lost. This will help protect your data, block the use of Apple Pay or Google Pay, and leave a message on the screen for anyone who finds it. You can also remotely erase your phone from here too.
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Contact Your Network Provider: Block your SIM card to prevent thieves from running up bills. Ask your network provider to check for any new ‘charge to bill’ activity and disable the feature.
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Disable Payment Methods: Contact your credit card company to disable Apple Pay or Google Pay, and report the theft to the police. Provide them with your phone’s IMEI number, which may be on the box, in your Apple or Google account, or through Find My services.
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Change Your Passwords: Start by changing your email password so that thieves can’t gain access to your other accounts through password resets.
Protecting Yourself When You Get a New Phone
When you get a new phone, take these steps to protect yourself:
Password security is a crucial aspect of online protection. Weak passwords can be easily guessed by hackers, leading to identity theft and data breaches. According to a study, 63% of users use the same password across multiple accounts. To improve password security, it's recommended to use unique, complex passwords for each account, change them regularly, and enable two-factor authentication.
A new phone requires proper care to maintain its performance and longevity.
Screen protectors can prevent scratches, while phone cases offer additional protection against drops and bumps.
Regular software updates ensure security patches are applied, and a power bank keeps your device charged on the go.
Additionally, enabling location services and two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security.
By following these simple steps, you can safeguard your new phone from potential damage.
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Set a Strong Pin and Screen Lock: Set a strong pin and turn on biometric fingerprint or face scanners to help keep thieves out of your phone.
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Turn On Find My: Enable Find My on your phone in settings, which allows you to locate it, lock it, or erase it remotely via a web browser or another device.
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Enable Stolen Device Protection (iPhone) or Theft Protection (Android): Turn on these features to block access to passwords, pins, and credit cards without your face or fingerprint.
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Set a SIM Pin: Set a sim pin in your phone’s settings to stop thieves from using your phone account by transferring the sim or esim to another phone.
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Use Biometrics for Sensitive Apps: Use biometrics for any and all banking and other sensitive apps that support them to block access for anyone other than you.
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Disable Access to Quick Settings and Notifications: Disable access to quick settings, Siri, Google Assistant/Gemini, and notifications when your phone is locked to prevent thieves from reading two-step codes, turning off internet access, making calls, or accessing data.
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Back Up Your Phone’s Data: Back up your phone’s data and settings using iCloud on an iPhone or Google Drive on an Android phone.
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Back Up Your Photos: Back up your photos to the cloud using iCloud Photos, Google Photos, Amazon Photos, or other services.
By following these steps, you can minimize the damage caused by a lost or stolen phone and protect yourself against data theft, scams, and fraud.
