What to do if your phone is stolen?
Losing a mobile phone is not an uncommon thing to happen to anyone.
How many times have you heard that your friend has left their phone in a club, bus or cafe? It’s definitely a huge nuisance as nowadays people rely on them, not just for calls, with so many smart phones out, important business notes, events and any personal information could be lost.
The first step with any theft is to notify the police immediately as you are far more likely to get your handset back with help rather than trying to go it alone. Also if you have insurance, you must always have a police reference number to make a claim.
In many countries like the UK there are mobile phone databases that prevent lost or stolen mobiles from being used and therefore making them worthless to anyone.
Another essential call is to your network provider; they can block your SIM card as well as the phone making it impossible for any thief to make calls that might result in a huge bill to deal with.
Another way to prevent such irritating events like private information getting in to the wrong hands from happening now or ever again is securing your mobile. A good idea is to write down the make, model and unique identification number (IMEI number) of your handset. You can find this behind the battery, or by dialling '*#06#' on your phone. Keep these details in a safe place.
Whatever model of handset you have, it has in-built security features that you can use to protect it. For example, you can set up a PIN number that must be keyed in before you make a call. This stops anyone else using your phone and protects your personal details.
Some smart mobiles may have a feature allowing you to locate your phone on a global map using GPS. This feature can allow you to send messages to the phone and remotely erase or disable it.
Lets say you are now in a situation where you’re phoneless for a while until the insurance cover comes through, or you’ve dug out an old handset for temporary use. Most network providers have SIM only deals. They’re cheap, flexible and easy to set up. Many SIM only deals include unlimited texts, and unlimited Internet. Some tariffs are as cheap as £10 per month. The reason there is flexibility is because with most contract deals there is a 12 month or 24 month minimum sign up time, with SIM only it’s a 30-day contract. All you need to do is give a month’s notice to your provider and you can stop the contract with no added costs.
Hopefully you’ll never have to been in a position like this but it’s worth giving a think about how to protect yourself and deal with this sort of situation.