What do criminals do with stolen cell phones?

With the emergence of electronic payment methods and the evolution of criminal strategies, cell phone theft is increasingly frequent.

This means that thieves are not just looking at the value of the device. They are also interested in what you've done with your phone.

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The main purpose of cell phone theft is to steal personal information such as passwords, documents, and access to electronic payment methods from you.

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This type of crime occurs mainly in large urban centers, such as São Paulo in Brazil, where nearly 290,000 cell phones were reported stolen in 2021.

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A common practice is cell phone theft while the victim is using it. This makes it easier for the thieves to access what's in the phone, as the screen is unlocked.

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Within minutes, criminals start accessing cell phone data. For most people, it is almost impossible to remotely lock the device in such a short time.

The thief keeps the screen active, takes the chip out, and puts it in another device. Then, they request the transmission of a security code by SMS, so they can change the passwords of your apps.

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Even if you manage to lock your cell phone after it's stolen, criminals can receive codes and passwords with your chip inside other devices.

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But even if they steal your phone while the screen is locked, you should still be on guard for possible information theft. Thieves can scan the phone's memory with programs devised by hackers. In this case, their objective is not to change passwords but to access the data saved on your phone, such as your personal information.

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With the victim's data, criminals can open a bank account and even apply for a new credit card. After completing this scam, they sell the parts of the device.

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If your phone gets stolen, you should immediately call the phone company and ask for the line to be blocked. That way, the thief is prevented from making calls or receiving text messages.

Ask your bank to block any transactions carried out by your cell phone or computer. That way, the thief will not be able to make any kind of electronic payment.

It is also important to remotely erase all data from the cell phone, if possible. That way you prevent the thief from stealing personal information or passwords through text messages or pre-saved passwords in the phone's memory.

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It is worth repeating that you should change the passwords for all of your applications and accounts as soon as possible.

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It's worthwhile to file a report of the theft with the police. Security agencies emphasize that it's important to make a formal complaint because they need the statistics of victims to plan actions against this type of crime in the long run.

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According to the SSP Safety Manual, the most important way to avoid getting pickpocketed is to walk attentively on the street and avoid using your cell phone while walking.

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The Safety Manual explains that "thieves mainly use the factor of surprise and inattention to attack their victims."

The same recommendation goes for when you are in your car. If you stop in traffic, never get distracted with your cell phone in your hands, especially if you have the window open.

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Most cell phone thefts and robberies happen when the victim is on the street or in a car, in the late afternoon, on the way home.

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But even after taking all precautions, we can be surprised. Therefore, it is also recommended to adopt other security measures, such as activating biometrics or facial recognition to access apps.

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Always give preference to apps that generate number sequences, like Google authenticator, instead of sending codes by SMS to get into the app.

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You should also avoid saving important information in your cell phone's notes, photos, or messages.

For practical purposes, many people have a photo of one of their personal documents in their cell phone memory. However, it's safer not to carry it around like that.

Another common practice that you should avoid is using the same password for different apps. This makes life (a lot!) easier for criminals.

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Also, lower the limit for electronic payments. As the money is transferred instantly, it is more difficult to get it back afterwards. Thieves often withdraw money quickly or transfer it to another account to prevent the police from tracking them.

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Organizations like the Brazilian Institute for Consumer Protection consider it "a failure in the service of banks to have security breaches that allow scammers to commit acts harmful to consumers."

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The consumer organization also advises that, if your request to recover the financial losses is not met, you can file a complaint with the bank's ombudsman. If this fails, there is the option of registering a complaint with the Central Bank.

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