8 Steps To Take After Your Phone Gets Lost or Stolen

1. Call Your Phone

It’s possible that you simply misplaced your phone. Call your number and send a text. If the phone is within reach, you will hear it. Or if you misplaced it, someone may answer.

2. Log On To Find My Phone on iPhone or Find My Device on Google

For an Android phone, use Google’s Find My Device. For an iPhone, go to Find My iPhone. Use those services to send a sound to the phone, display a message on the lock screen or erase the data on your phone.

3. Notify Your Service Provider

You want to inform your carrier of the loss. It can suspend your service until you locate your phone or buy a new one. Your carrier can also prevent the phone from being used on its network and mark the phone as unusable, even with a new SIM card.

4. File a Report With the Police

Why? In case the phone is used for illegal activity or if you incur fraudulent charges or identity theft.

6. Change Your Passwords

If a thief has your phone, that person can potentially gain access to all of your personal information, including your passwords and security questions for the websites you visit. Change all of your passwords and security questions.

7. Contact Your Bank, Credit Card Companies and Other Financial Institutions

Notify all major financial and other important agencies of the loss so that they are aware your accounts are in danger. You can ask the bank and credit card companies to issue new cards.

8. Think About Insurance

If you have coverage for your phone, contact the insurance company. Contact your cell provider and see if it covers any of the replacement costs. If you use a credit card to pay your monthly phone bill, contact the issuer. Some offer replacement coverage at no cost to you.

https://clark.com/credit-cards/credit-cards-free-cell-phone-protection/

35 companies. Usually there is a $50 deductible then they cover between $500 to $800 for a new phone.

4 Steps To Take Before Your Phone Gets Lost or Stolen

1. Make a List of Important Information

For a cell phone, log the place and date of purchase, the amount of the purchase, the make and model of the phone, the serial number and the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) or MEID (Mobile Equipment Identifier) number.

2. Set Strong Security Settings

Using a password plus biometric authentication is best. Biometric authentication is when you use your fingerprint, facial or voice recognition to log in to your phone. Also, use a strong password. If your phone allows it, skip the 4-digit PIN and instead choose a password that is at least eight characters long and contains a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. Both Apple and Android phones will lock you out after so many failed login attempts. An iPhone will disable for 1 minute after six failed passcode attempts in a row. The seventh incorrect passcode attempt will lock you out for 5 minutes, the eighth attempt for 15, and the tenth for an hour.

3. Enable Find My Phone

When this setting is enabled, you can use a computer or other device to locate your phone if it turns up missing. For it to work, the phone must be turned on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular. It can also report the last known location that was logged as long as you have location tracking turned on.You can also choose to share your location with friends and family and locate your device even when it is offline.

4. Backup Your Phone

When you set up a new phone, you will be prompted to enable backup. Apple uses iCloud and Android uses Google Drive. Follow the prompts to enable the backup feature.

The idea for this show came from a Great Clark Howard article. Many thanks to him . https://clark.com/cell-phones/phone-is-lost-or-stolen/?utm_source=Clark.com&utm_campaign=d558eb8ef4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_03_28_05_53&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-d558eb8ef4-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D