A strident appeal has gone out to tech giants, such as Apple, Google and Samsung, and all law enforcement agencies to join forces to ‘build on existing anti-theft security measures and help design out and disincentivise phone theft, by making phones effectively worthless to criminals’.
Appeal has also gone out urgently to those using online banking to ‘protect themselves’ NOW.
The stark warning comes as street crime has soared by a staggering 43 per cent nationwide, driven by a significant rise in snatch theft, including of mobile phones.
Money-saving guru Martin Lewis has begged Brits who use online banking on their mobile phones to listen to his stark warning – or risk having their accounts drained
The money ace has given five simple tips to protect Brits.
Martin Lewis has urged all Brits who use online banking to ‘protect themselves’ now. The stark warning comes as street crime has soared by a staggering 43 per cent nationwide, driven by a significant rise in snatch theft, including of mobile phones.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper recently confirmed phone thefts has ‘shot up’ in recent years, pointing the blame on organised crimes.
It follows a slew of viral social media videos that show masked hooligans snatching tourists’ phones before zooming away on electric scooters .
The politician has therefore urged tech giants such as Apple, Google and Samsung, and law enforcement to join forces to ‘build on existing anti-theft security measures and help design out and disincentivise phone theft, by making phones effectively worthless to criminals’.
In the meantime, there are some handy tips you should follow – that could save you a fortune if you’re unlucky enough to be targeted.
“The crucial thing is they’re not just trying to nick your phone – some of them are trying to access your financial data from your phone,” Martin recently warned on his eponymously named show.
“You have to protect yourselves on this, folks.” The money-saving guru recommends: Using remote tracking apps to locate your device and suspend payments if it is ever stolen.
This can be done via apps like FindMy iPhone and Smart Things Find. Martin also advises enabling biometrics (Face/ Fingerprint ID) on both your phone and banking apps.
“If you’re not going to and you’re a pin code type person – please [have a ] different code for the phone and the banking apps,” he said. “It’s called shoulder surfing these days: people look over your shoulder to see your PIN code and then if you’re doing the same for both, they can access your money.”
The expert also urged Brits to dial *#06# to receive your IMEI image, take a screenshot of it and then email it to yourself (on an account you can access that isn’t just on your phone). This will include information about the phone which the police will need if it’s ever stolen.
Martin’s ‘most important tip’ is to turn their ‘preview notifications’ off. This will prevent anyone from being able to bypass authentication logins as the verification code won’t be visible on your screen. “Everyone please do that one,” Martin begged. “It’s a nightmare if you’ve not done it.”
Lastly, it’s always worth checking out your phone’s extra security protections. For example, iPhones have a Stolen Protection mode which requires users to use biometric data when trying to make a purchase in an ‘unfamiliar location’.
