Mine enough personal data to steal your identity.Access your bank accounts or investing apps and wire out your savings.Hack your email account and lock you out.So, if scammers gain access to your phone, they can potentially get into your other accounts.) (As many as 99% of people reuse passwords across business and personal accounts. Access your passwords and login information for various accounts.Make unauthorized purchases using your linked credit cards and Apple or Google Pay.

Even if you have a phone passcode and enabled biometric security (like fingerprint ID), hackers can still gain access to your device. Professional thieves know the exact moment to strike - such as when you’re walking down the street checking Google Maps for directions, and your phone is unlocked. They’ll change your passwords and lock you out of your email accounts so that you can’t get back in, while they run their schemes. They’ll try to access banking and investment apps, social media and email accounts, photos, and passwords. Phone thieves often go straight for your personal information after stealing your phone. The moment you can’t find your phone, you should assume the worst. What Can Happen If Your Phone Is Lost or Stolen? Here’s exactly what you need to do now to protect yourself (and possibly even get your phone back). If you think (or know) that your phone has been stolen, don’t wait any longer. Scammers know that your phone contains everything they need to steal your identity, empty your bank accounts, or worse. In some cases, it can cost you your identity.Įvery day you add more personal information to your phone - from banking app logins and passwords to sensitive data, information, and photographs. The cost of your phone getting lost or stolen can amount to more than a replacement device. Īccording to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) : 1 in 10 American smartphone owners are victims of phone theft - with 68% unable to recover their lost or stolen device. Instead, he lost over $10,000 when scammers broke into his online accounts and stole his identity. When Gaetano DiNardi lost his phone during a trip to Mexico, he thought the worst-case scenario was that he'd have to buy a new device.

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