It is important to follow some steps to prevent third parties from accessing your data. Find out what to do in these cases!
Being robbed or assaulted is not easy. In addition to the financial loss, we can suffer psychological damage due to the fear we have suffered, and we can also face problems with the data stored on the device. Nowadays, many criminals take advantage of documents saved on cell phones to try to blackmail victims by exposing this content.
Furthermore, because it is so easy to do everything online, we usually keep credit card, banking and social media details saved on our cell phones, which is a great way for criminals, who can use this data to impersonate the victim. This allows these people to make transactions, make purchases and even send messages to friends and family, impersonating the person they have stolen from and carrying out scams.
Therefore, we must be alert and take some precautions if our cell phone is stolen or robbed. Learn now what to do if your device is stolen and learn how to protect your data from criminals.
Robberies and thefts
With the increase in crime in recent years, we have heard reports of people having their cell phones stolen or robbed in various situations. These crimes, in addition to causing financial loss, can also cause psychological harm to victims, especially in cases of robbery, where the criminals are armed and make threats.
As we always keep personal data on our devices, if our cell phone is stolen, this data can be exposed and criminals can take advantage of this situation to blackmail, carry out scams through social media and also make purchases and bank transactions.
However, if your device is stolen, you can follow some steps that will protect your data and make it harder for criminals to act, as they will no longer have access to apps, photos, videos and more.
What to do in these cases
Don't react
Fighting back against robberies can have serious and even fatal consequences. It is important not to engage in physical combat with the criminal or try to run away in these situations. If you do, criminals may react negatively and attempt to take your life, either with a knife or a gun. Therefore, when you are robbed, do not fight back. Give the criminal what he asks for and protect your life.
Lock the device
When going through these situations, it is important to block the device remotely. This way, other people will not have access to your personal data, including bank accounts, social networks, email, photos, documents and others.
It is also possible to erase all your data through the device brand's platforms. For Android, you can use Google's Find My Device, and for iPhone, you can use Apple's Find My.
Samsung and Xiaomi also have alternatives for erasing data from the device. In the case of Samsung, this can be done through Samsung Find My Mobile, and in the case of Xiaomi, it can be done through Mi Cloud.
Block IMEI
It is also ideal to block the IMEI of the device through your operator. This way, you prevent the cell phone from having access to calls, SMS and 3G, 4G or 5G data.
Blocking your SIM card also prevents people from accessing your contacts and calls, even if the card is inserted into other devices. This prevents criminals from accessing verification codes that arrive via SMS, preventing them from accessing applications.
Change passwords
Log into your email accounts, social networks and other applications from another device and change all passwords. By resetting them, you will protect your accounts and prevent criminals from carrying out scams through your networks and making banking transactions.
File a police report
To make your life easier, file a police report online, which costs the same as filing one in person. Simply access the police website in your state, provide your ID and CPF, and report the incident. By filing a police report, you can prove the crime and allow the police to do their job, which can make it easier to find the device.
Activate the insurance
If you have an insurance For your device, after the police report, you can activate it. When you contact the insurance company, you will inform what happened and present the police report, starting the insurance process, according to what you agreed with the insurance company, whether it is to exchange the device or receive a part of the value.
