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Data theft warning over old phones
People disposing of old mobile phones are putting themselves at risk of identity theft by failing to wipe them of personal data.
Second-hand mobile phones and SIM cards purchased by life assistance company CPP were examined and found to include company information and log-in details to social networking sites like Facebook, phone numbers, and even credit and debit card PIN numbers, bank account details and passwords.
And nearly half, 46 per cent, of second-hand mobile owners in Sheffield said they had found a previous owner’s personal information, a survey showed.
But identity thieves need only a few personal details.
CPP’s tips on wiping your mobile phone are: restore all factory settings, remove your SIM card and destroy it, delete back-ups, log out of all social networking sites, emails, wireless connections, company networks and applications and then delete the password and connection, and monitor bank statements after selling your phone on.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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alunprice
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 09:36 PMThis is scary. I was walking through the town centre today and my phone "binged" as it does when I receive a text or other info, but there was no text or e-mail received. I have now been told by friends that as my bluetooth had not been turned off somebody might have stolen data from my phone, The trouble is - how do you find out if this has happened. Thankfully there were no financial details on the phone.
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