By Sandra Guile
Better Business Bureau
We live, organize, and stay in touch with family and friends with our mobile devices. However, it’s easy to forget the device is a microcomputer connected to the Internet, making it easier for thieves to commit identity theft.
How is it possible for con artists to get your information without your knowledge? For starters, the Internet is a vast network of information. There are a number of free reverse lookup websites identifying the mobile carrier associated with any US phone number. Some websites share the name of the subscriber, city, and state for free and then sell the complete address for a fee. This is a treasure trove of information for fraudsters.
Then, the thief looks online for publicly available information about the victim on social networks to answer security questions like favorite hobbies, relative names, or pet names. This is another reason to carefully consider what is posted or shared online because thieves will use this information to impersonate the victim, call the mobile phone company to report the phone damaged or stolen, and convince the mobile company to cancel the SIM card. A new SIM card is then activated with the victim’s phone number in the thieves’ phone. Now that the SIM card is swapped, the thief has access to bank accounts, photos, passwords, text messages, and more.
All of this personal information is taken without the mobile device user even knowing it, that is, until one day, the mobile device stops working mid-conversation or mid-text because a thief used the stolen information to upgrade to a new phone causing the current device to shut down.
The best way to defend against identity theft by mobile device is to set up a PIN or password that must be used before making changes on your mobile account. Keep in mind, each carrier offers this feature in a slightly different way, so refer to the carrier’s website and instructions on how to do this. Be aware of phishing scams where thieves call pretending to be your mobile phone carrier, asking for codes from your phone or other personal information. Unless you initiated the phone call, refuse to give this information.
Ideally, people should always monitor monthly mobile phone and credit card bills for signs of fraud. Immediately contact your mobile phone carrier’s fraud department for any suspicious charges. If you are planning to upgrade or change mobile devices, do so safely. Thieves have been known to dumpster dive for electronics for parts or resale, so avoid the temptation of just throwing away the old device after use. Be extra certain that all personal information like passwords, account information, photos, and data is deleted from the device to make sure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Then, consider recycling or donating the device.
Find more cyber security tips on bbb.org/cybersecurity. If you’re a victim of identity theft, visit identitytheft.gov for a recovery plan and report all scams to BBB’s Scam Tracker.
Join BBB Cincinnati Tuesday, June 21 at Interact for Health, 3805 Edwards Rd for a free BBB Streets Smarts Workshop: Your Child’s Online Reputation featuring Tim Rettig, President, and CEO of Intrust IT. He’ll provide tips, tricks, and advice on what free tools to use to monitor your child’s online activity. Breakfast is served at 7:30 a.m. and the program begins at 8 a.m. Registration is required by calling Elizabeth Elmer, 513.639-9313 or email, eelmer@cincinnati.bbb.org. You can also register by clicking here.
Sandra Guile is the Community Outreach Specialist for BBB. She promotes BBB’s message of marketplace ethics through public speaking engagements, presentations, media relations, press releases, web content, and other written materials.
Tune in Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. with Scott Sloan on 700WLW for The Scam of the Week and every third Thursday with Brian Thomas on 55KRC. Contact Sandra at (513) 639-9126 or sguile@cincinnati.bbb.org. Your BBB is located at 1 East 4th Street Suite 600 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 – to reach the office, call (513) 421-3015.
