It’s not just the phone, but all your personal data stored on it that criminals want. Opportunistic crime is on the rise and so is the trend of cellphone snatching. Brazen criminals are willing to risk life and limb to snatch a R20k smart phone and make off with it – phones left on tables right next to you in restaurants, in vehicles hooked up to car kits, peeping out of back pockets, and even while in use and against your ear – its all fair game to criminals who will accost anyone to get their hands on a smartphone payday. Criminals look for soft, distracted targets who are not paying attention to their surroundings, and usually strike at lighting speed, snatching the phone from your hands and then disappearing into a waiting car for a quick getaway. With a booming illicit market for these stolen goods, insurance brokers and risk advisors, Aon South Africa is warning consumers to be extra careful and vigilent, and to keep phones out of sight and safely stored away when not in use. Besides the theft of the phone, the big concern is that criminals are equally interested in the valuable personal data stored on the device. “Criminals typically snatch your phone while you are busy on it and the phone is unlocked, giving them full access to everything on your cell phone.
This includes banking apps, delivery services and any other personal information that can be used for fraud, such as a copy of your ID, bank statements, proof of residence in addition to full access to your e-mail and SIM card. Even if you have security measures in place, such as fingerprint readers or facial recognition software, criminals can bypass these measures in seconds, gain access to your information and then make your phone disappear on the illicit cell phone market.” explains Ann Cloete from Aon South Africa. “There are many ways that criminals can access and use the personal data stored on your mobile device – from viewing all your personal data, where you live, to social engineering to obtain sensitive data and duping others into thinking they are transacting with you, to phishing and SIM swops, to conning you into thinking you are dealing with a legitimate service provider and compromising your passwords and pins,” says Ann.
Keep the following in mind:
*Hide your device inside your bag or jacket, never ‘walk and talk’ while out in public as this makes you an easy and distracted target.
* Leave messages, whatsapps and news feeds until you are at home or work and in a safe place to view and respond to these.
* Never leave your phone unattended or on a table in view of criminals. Stay off your phone in the car and put your phone away and out of sight. *Inform your bank – If your phone is stolen, immediately contact your bank to secure your accounts and cards and deactivate your banking app. Confirm with your bank any next steps, should the criminals gain access to your account.
*Freeze your contract – Contact your mobile service provider and freeze your cell phone account and block your sim card to stop data usage and any phone calls from your cell phone, which has the potential to be a pricy added cost that you would be responsible for.
* Blacklist your phone with your mobile service provider.
