In an era where mobile banking is commonplace, the risk of having your financial data compromised by phone thieves is an ever-present concern. On a recent episode of The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, financial expert Martin Lewis highlighted the rising incidents of phone theft and shared essential tips for safeguarding your bank account from potential theft. With the convenience of accessing your finances through your mobile device, ensuring that your phone is protected against cybercriminals is more crucial than ever. Let’s delve into the steps you can take to protect your bank account from thieves who might target your phone.
1. Tracking and Disabling Features
Martin Lewis emphasized the importance of utilizing remote tracking features to help locate your stolen device and restrict access to your funds. For iPhone users, Apple’s ‘FindMy’ app can be a lifesaver, while Samsung users can rely on ‘SmartThingsFind’ and Android users on Google’s ‘FindMyDevice’. These tools allow you to track and potentially recover your phone, and, more critically, they enable you to suspend payments and lock your device remotely. This proactive approach ensures that even if your phone falls into the wrong hands, you can take immediate action to block unauthorized access to your banking apps and personal information.
2. Strengthening Security Measures
Another key piece of advice from Martin Lewis was to leverage biometric authentication features like face ID and fingerprint ID, which add an extra layer of protection to your device and banking applications. By enabling these biometric security measures, you reduce the risk of someone easily accessing your phone and financial data. For those who prefer using PIN codes, it’s crucial to use different codes for your phone and banking apps. People who engage in ‘shoulder surfing’ tactics can easily steal your PIN by observing your actions. Having distinct PIN codes for each application adds an additional hurdle for thieves and enhances your overall security.
3. Protecting with IMEI and Notification Settings
Martin Lewis also recommended a little-known yet effective method: dial *#06# to retrieve your phone’s IMEI number, which is a unique identifier for your device. Taking a screenshot of this number and emailing it to yourself ensures you have a record that can be handed over to the police if your phone is stolen. Additionally, to prevent unauthorized access from notifications on your lock screen, it is advisable to switch off ‘preview notifications’. This simple step ensures that sensitive information doesn’t display publicly, reducing the chances of thieves gaining access to your accounts through visible alerts.
4. Final Precautions and Best Practices
In today’s age where mobile banking is a regular part of life, the threat of having your financial information stolen by phone thieves is a constant worry. Recently, on The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, financial guru Martin Lewis discussed the increasing occurrences of phone theft and offered key strategies to protect your bank account from potential thieves. First, always use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication for all your accounts. This adds an extra layer of security. Second, be cautious about where and how you use public Wi-Fi, as these networks can be less secure. Third, regularly update your phone’s software to protect against vulnerabilities. Lastly, install and maintain antivirus software on your mobile device. By taking these precautions, you can significantly reduce the risk of your financial data being compromised by phone thieves.
