Stolen phone

gadget88

I recently had my phone stolen on holiday and I read this

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-13592691/Phone-stolen-holiday-mistake-thieves.html#

I never had my ID. But did have easy passwords. Says the person got money back via fraud team would this always be the case? I changed my bank card passwords and everything. Still get paranoid? I assume phones get stolen daily so do people get money back I assume they get into banking apps? 

Zanderman

Not sure why you're worried? The story on that link hinges on their ID info being with the phone. Yours wasn't you say.  And that their passwords were easy to guess (and they didn't change them, and simply 'forgot' about the issue until they went home) - but you've changed yours. So it's not comparable.

In answer to your question - do people get money back if phones are stolen and apps accessed - it depends on the circumstances, there is no simple answer to all such events.

gadget88

Yes I’m considering deleting banking apps to go abroad but of of happened in UK same issue could happen they could access bank 

DullGreyGuy

gadget88 said:

Yes I’m considering deleting banking apps to go abroad but of of happened in UK same issue could happen they could access bank 

Personally its all about what security you have on your device and if you know how to use it etc.

My phone can only be unlocked with biometrics, it instantly locks as soon as the screen is off, changes to security settings require a second biometric check 1hr after the request is made. All banking apps, passwords, emails require biometrics to open. I know how to activate lost mode. The only weakness I really have is text messages. 

Wife's phone got pickpocketed a while back, activated lost mode which does show my mobile number to them... they didnt get anything from the phone it appears... got a load of fake texts to try and get me to reveal details and then after not falling from them they moved on to threats if we didnt unlock the phone for them. It's a brick so either they break it for parts or sell it to someone without knowledge that it's bricked. 

Obvs the downside of lots of security is that if its a more violent person rather than just a snatcher/pick pocket you may be subjected to a longer ordeal if they a persistednt on getting in before they leave you.

Olinda99

I take a different approach - all vulnerable apps eg banking, email, amazon etc are installed in the secure folder on my Samsung phone

gadget88

My bank says anything over £750 uses biometrics like face ID. I wonder how the fraudster was able to transfer 10k unless not all banking apps offer it?

mark_cycling00

It's important to have a plan of what to do should your phone get stolen.

For android phones you can use your Google account to trigger a factory reset of your device if it is stolen. Samsung and apple have similar features that I'm not an expert on. This wipes everything immediately but the phone does need mobile reception.

Banks can also "disable" the apps on your phone or at least they stop responding to them if you tell them your phone has been stolen. 

As people have said use biometrics for signing in.

Don't leave nekkid pics on your phone as this is a blackmail opportunity and your bank won't cover it. 

Disable notifications from being displayed when phone screen is locked. 

GeoffTF

mark_cycling00 said:

Disable notifications from being displayed when phone screen is locked. 

That does not help unless you have locked your SIM too.

macy08

DullGreyGuy said:

gadget88 said:

Yes I’m considering deleting banking apps to go abroad but of of happened in UK same issue could happen they could access bank 

Personally its all about what security you have on your device and if you know how to use it etc.

My phone can only be unlocked with biometrics, it instantly locks as soon as the screen is off, changes to security settings require a second biometric check 1hr after the request is made. All banking apps, passwords, emails require biometrics to open. I know how to activate lost mode. The only weakness I really have is text messages. 

Wife's phone got pickpocketed a while back, activated lost mode which does show my mobile number to them... they didnt get anything from the phone it appears... got a load of fake texts to try and get me to reveal details and then after not falling from them they moved on to threats if we didnt unlock the phone for them. It's a brick so either they break it for parts or sell it to someone without knowledge that it's bricked. 

Obvs the downside of lots of security is that if its a more violent person rather than just a snatcher/pick pocket you may be subjected to a longer ordeal if they a persistednt on getting in before they leave you.

Can I please ask what email app you use? I use the default Samsung which doesn't have this feature so am on the lookout for one that does.  Thanks 

Shakin_Steve

As I've said in other threads, if biometrics fail on an iPhone, it reverts to passcode. Don't know about android.

GeoffTF

Shakin_Steve said:

As I've said in other threads, if biometrics fail on an iPhone, it reverts to passcode. Don't know about android.

It is the same with Android.