Mobile phone thieves are aggressively targeting victims’ banking apps in order to empty their accounts and steal sensitive data.
That’s the warning from the force’s cyber protect team amid an emerging trend of fraudsters stealing devices in order to access the money and the data contained within.
Once people have a stolen phone and can unlock it, they then have access to online banking apps, passwords and more.
In fact, over the last six months, more than 17 per cent of phone thefts across Nottinghamshire have been linked to fraud.
Criminals can do this in a few ways:
- by ‘shoulder surfing’ a victim to learn their phone passcode
- using the passcode to unlock the stolen phone. With this passcode, they can change face and touch ID settings
- once face and touch ID passcodes have been changed, criminals can access ID-secured apps such as banking apps
Nottinghamshire Police’s cyber protect team are now offering crucial advice to phone users on how they can protect their online accounts and access if they’re phone is stolen:
- Set up a passcode on your phone that is unique to you – don’t let anyone see this when typing it in, or use anything obvious
- Enable two-step verification including face or touch ID to make it easier to access your device when out in public
- Set up a hidden folder to hide your sensitive bank apps
- Apply face ID or touch ID to each app to add an extra layer of security – these settings depend on what phone you have
- Remove unnecessary features from your locked screen on Apple products, including access to ‘aeroplane mode’
- Write down any master passwords to allow tracking if your device is lost or stolen, and make sure tracking is enabled of your device
- Ensure your back-up is active to help you remotely wipe your data from the stolen phone and recover any lost data
Superintendent Chris Pearson said:
“We have established that thieves are travelling into Nottingham city centre to target people both in pubs and clubs late at night.
“It is unrealistic for us to suggest not taking your phone on a night out, so please stay alert when using your mobile phone and be aware of your surroundings.
“If you lose or have your phone stolen, call your network provider and get the phone blocked as soon as possible.
“You can also set up a tracking app on your phone so you can see where it is from another device in the event of it being lost or stolen.
“And finally, make sure to report any phone thefts to the police.”
Kirsty Jackson, Cyber Protect and Prevention Officer at Nottinghamshire Police, has now recorded a practical five-minute video to show members of the public how best to protect their device.
She said:
“Phones are like your online house – just like we wouldn’t want you to lose anything from a physical burglary, we don’t want you to lose all of your data in a phone theft.
“If fraudsters gain control of your mobile banking apps and other accounts, they potentially have access to thousands of pounds which can devastate victims.
“They often do this by simply viewing your phone’s passcode prior to a theft.
“It may seem inconvenient to take the time to put security perimeters laid out in the advice video in place, but it’s a lot easier than undoing the damage caused by criminals who can access our accounts.
“Advice in this area is constantly developing, so keep an eye on our website and social media pages for more support in the future.”
If you are a victim of fraud, please report to Action Fraud to have local assistance from our Cyber Protect Officers here at Nottinghamshire Police.
