Not so long ago, losing your mobile phone meant the additional expense of replacing it and possibly, someone charging up additional minutes on your bill. Today the stakes are higher. With the ownership of smartphones on the rise, the ability to store more information on your phone can now lead to identity theft opportunities if your mobile phone falls into the wrong hands.
Here are a few things to keep in mind in efforts to keep your phone and information secure:
REVIEW AND REVISE YOUR CONTACT LIST: Who you have listed and how you have them listed can increase the potential for identity theft. Many people don’t know that clearly identifying their spouses with their last names or nicknames like “sweetheart” or “hubby” can lead to identity theft. A fraudster could text your easily identifiable significant other asking for personal information such as credit card information, bank account PINs, etc. If you or your loved one is unaware the phone is missing, that personal information could unknowingly be sent into the wrong hands. To minimize this threat, take the time to scroll through your list of contacts and change last names, nicknames, etc.
LOCK IT: If you have a smartphone, a simple safety step – often overlooked or ignored – is to lock your phone. Lock it tight by creating a password that is needed to open it.
LOG OUT: If you use your phone to access online accounts, make sure to log out so that no else could access them.
TRACK IT: There are services that can help you track your cell phone if it goes missing. Invest in one of these products, such as iHound, which will help you easily lock down and locate your phone, hopefully before someone misuses it. (Full disclosure, MyID.com and iHound are owned by the same company).
If lost or stolen, replacing a phone is an easy fix; sensitive information on your phone being exposed to the wrong person is not. Following these simple steps can minimize the chances of your smartphone becoming a conduit for identity theft.
