It is rather unfortunate that over 20 million phones are either stolen or lost every year (stats provided by Asurion). This means that you should be prepared in case such a scenario befalls you while in transit.
- Start by texting and calling your number – Immediately you realize that your phone is no more, start to call and text your number. This is a rather simple way of knowing whether or not another individual has turned it on. In case you don’t have a companion traveling with you, try asking the front desk of your hotel if you can use their telephones. You can also try sending or a text or leave a voicemail detailing some information about you and a number where any concerned individual can reach you.
- Use features such as ‘Find My Phone’ – One of the main advantages of the find-my-phone feature is that it is available on both Android and iPhone platforms. It’s specially designed to assist people find their lost or stolen phones. Once it is installed and switched on, you can access your phone remotely by logging into your Google or Apple account using another device. Unfortunately, if your phone happens to be off, you will not be able to access it.
- Hit delete – If you are certain that your phone has been stolen and you have no way of tracking it, you should wipe all essential data on it. This is the only way you will be able to protect and ensure that your personal data is not misused. You can use the find-my-phone app that is available on both iOS and Android for such a task also.
- Alter your passwords – Aside from wiping your phone clean, you should also alter the passwords for your email and other important accounts that may be on your phone. Also, if you happen to have any cards attached to different apps like Spotify or Apply, make sure you keep a close eye on them for any irregular activity.
- Get in touch with your carrier – Once you realize that your phone is gone, you should get in touch with your carrier and have them disable it, together with any data services. They will also be in a good position to advice you on how you should proceed after such an event.
- Make a report with the police – It is always a good idea to report any stolen property to the local law enforcement, even if it is just your phone. They will ask for the serial number before they can proceed with any investigations.
