Spiralling Scale of Mobile Phone Theft Puts Consumers & Businesses at Risk of ID Fraud!

According to the latest figures from the Metropolitan Police, 9,751 mobile phones were stolen on London streets last month*. That’s the equivalent of 314 phones stolen every day. As well as the inconvenience, leading ID fraud expert, Equifax, is warning users about the potential risk of ID theft if their mobile device is stolen. With the huge growth in smartphones that people now use for all parts of their personal and business life, Equifax is urging users to think about the amount of personal and business information they keep on their mobile device.

“Mobiles, smartphones and tablet devices have become the equivalent of our diary, address book and general aide memoire”, explained Neil Munroe, External Affairs Director for Equifax. “And whilst that’s good news for staying organised it does also mean that if a mobile device is stolen, a lot of valuable information immediately falls into the hands of fraudsters who, without too much effort, could steal personal or business identities.

“A survey** conducted amongst Equifax customers also revealed that 16% put their PINs on their mobile or other devices. Fraudsters are very clever and can quickly go through a phone list to spot numbers that clearly aren’t telephone numbers – such as PINs and payment card numbers. They can also look at a diary to get clues about names used for passwords and might even be able to guess bank and credit card accounts by the apps stored on a smartphone.

“With such a high number of mobile thefts in London alone, password protection of mobile phones is absolutely vital and, wherever possible, users should avoid storing key personal information on them.”

For anyone unfortunate enough to have their mobile device stolen, Equifax also recommends regularly monitoring their credit report to identify any new accounts opened in their name.

The Equifax Credit Report is accessible for 30 days free simply by logging onto our website. If customers do not cancel before the end of the 30 Day Free Trial, the service will continue at £8.99 per month, giving them unlimited online access to their credit information and weekly alerts on any changes to their credit file. It also includes an online dispute facility to help them correct any errors on their credit file simply and quickly.

The Equifax app is available free from the Apple iTunes Store on iPhone and iPad and from Google Play for Androids.

EQUIFAX TIPS TO PROTECT AGAINST ID FRAUD

Regularly apply for a copy of your credit file to look out for any unauthorised activity

Shred statements, bills and direct mail which contains personal information

Redirect mail if you move

Keep your PIN secure

Always check bank statements and credit card statements carefully against receipts

Be careful of what you carry around in your handbag or wallet. Credit card receipts, payslips, driving licence, bank statement, utility bill…these all reveal a lot of information about you and a combination of these can be a fraudsters dream

When using online banking, ensure people can’t view your details and log out of websites, rather than just closing the window

No matter how much you trust your friends, work colleagues, do not give out your PIN under any circumstances

Never store your PIN on mobile phones, blackberrys, tablets or laptops

If you are disposing of an old phone, computer, or other electronic device that stores data make sure you remove the information from the hard drive

Make sure your computer has the latest virus protection that ideally updates hourly and you have a Firewall

*Figures Metropolitan Police January 2013
**Equifax Customer Survey – Septemeber 2009

About Equifax

Equifax is a global leader in consumer, commercial and workforce information solutions, providing businesses of all sizes and consumers with information they can trust. We organize and assimilate data on more than 500 million consumers and 81 million businesses worldwide, and use advanced analytics and proprietary technology to create and deliver customized insights that enrich both the performance of businesses and the lives of consumers.