07/02/2017
Cell Phone Technology – Lessons Learnt So Far
This lady has now changed her habit of how she lists her names on her mobile phone after her handbag was stolen. Her handbag, which contained her cell phone, credit card, wallet… Etc.….was stolen.
20 minutes later when she called her hubby, from a pay phone telling him what had happened, hubby says ‘I received your text SMS asking about our Pin number and I’ve replied a little while ago.’
When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn. The thief had actually used the stolen cell phone to text ‘hubby’ in the contact list and got hold of the pin number. Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all the money from their bank account.
Moral of the lesson:
• Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list.
• Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad, Mom, etc.….
• And very importantly, when sensitive info is being asked through SMS texts, CONFIRM FIRST by calling back.
• Also, when you’re being text messaged by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them. If you don’t reach them, be very careful about going places to meet ‘family and friends’ who text you.
Your cell phone. It’s your lifeline! It’s your phone book! It’s your portable photo album! So, okay, maybe it’s time to invest a little time theft-proofing your cellphone just in case it gets stolen. While the best protection is common-sense stuff (for example, keep your phone in a zipped purse or the front pocket of your jeans) there are a bunch of other measures you can take.
1. Know Your Phone. Note down your phone number, SIM number and/or IMEI number, the make and model, and your service provider name and their number. If your phone ever disappears, you’ll have all the essential info at your fingertips for reporting it stolen (to the police, your service provider) or advertising it as lost (via Craigslist, Kijiji and your local paper).
Remember: Call your provider immediately if you realize your phone is missing. One cell phone thief can rack up a lot of horrible long-distance charges in just a matter of hours, so deactivate your account or have the number disabled as soon as possible!
2. Lock your cell phone With a PIN number (also known as Keypad-Lock – some slide-phones will automatically unlock itself as the slider is pushed open – These are not good). Most cell phone thieves want instant but short-term access to your phone service, not so much the phone itself. After all, they know once you discover it’s missing you will cancel service on the device, rendering it basically useless.
So here’s a sure way to ruin a thief’s day: keep your key pad locked with a security PIN number. They won’t be able to make calls or access your personal information … and in the meantime you’ll have time to notify your provider of the theft and have your account deactivated.
3. Store Personal Info with Caution. Speaking of personal stuff, one way to protect against damaging — or just plain embarrassing — identity theft – simply limit what kinds of personal information you keep on your phone. Think of it as the only no-fail, low-tech security option.
4. Consider Anti-Theft Software. Companies like Gadget Trak now offer software that aims to put you in control of your phone remotely should it be lost or stolen. Other software, like iHound, use GPS technology to help you locate your missing iPhone or iPod Touch. If you keep everything on your portable device, this is an option you should look into for peace of mind.
5. Don’t Assume the Worst. Could be your phone is just lost and some fine citizen is out there wanting to return it to you. There’s the downside to locking your phone with a PIN: said fine citizen can’t access your phone book to track you down. Oops! Solution: consider programming your cell to display your email address or home phone number even when the keys are locked.
Technology is a great time-saver but you need to be careful. Be safe out there!
We share jokes on the Internet; we share just about everything, please share this post – it could really help someone that you care about.
If you have any good tips or experience that can be shared then please post these in the comments/discussion section below. Let’s spread the knowledge.
* Have you been a victim of Cellphone theft?
* Do you have additional lessons or good advice to share?
* What’s the most valuable thing you’ve ever lost or had stolen?
* Let’s hear your personal story!
Enjoy and be safe . . . AL
