What The Tech: Steps to take if your I-phone is stolen
BY JAMEY TUCKER, Consumer Tech Reporter
Losing your phone is stressful enough. But if your iPhone has been stolen, Apple says what you do in the first few minutes can make all the difference.
The company recently updated its guidance because today’s thieves aren’t just stealing phones. They’re trying to trick owners into unlocking them.
Here’s what Apple recommends.
Put Your iPhone in Lost Mode Immediately
As soon as you realize your phone has been stolen, place it in Lost Mode.
Lost Mode locks your iPhone with your passcode and prevents anyone from making changes toyour Apple Account. If you’re thinking, “How can I do that if my phone is gone?” you don’t need the phone. Simply sign in to your Apple Account at iCloud.com/find from any web browser or use the Find My app on another Apple device.
Don’t Leave Your Phone Number If It Was Stolen
This is one of Apple’s biggest changes. When you enable Lost Mode, you’ll be asked if you want to display a phone number and message on the lock screen.
That makes perfect sense if you simply misplaced your phone. An honest person who finds it can call you. But if your phone was stolen, Apple says to skip that step. A thief can use your phone number as part of a social engineering scam, calling or texting you while pretending to be Apple Support or claiming your phone has been recovered.
Never Remove the Phone From Find My Apple repeatedly emphasizes one point: don’t remove your stolen iPhone from Find My. Doing so removes Activation Lock, the security feature that prevents thieves from erasing and
setting up the phone as their own. Without Activation Lock, a stolen iPhone becomes much more valuable because it can be resold as a working device instead of being stripped for parts.
Beware of Fake “Apple” Messages
This isn’t a hypothetical warning. When my daughter’s iPhone was stolen, we tracked it all the way to China. Not long afterward, she started receiving threatening text messages claiming the sender had her personal information. They demanded she remove the phone from Find My and sent screenshots showing her exactly how to do it. Apple says it will never contact you to tell you your stolen iPhone has been found. Messages asking you to unlock your phone, share your passcode, or remove the device from your account are almost certainly scams.
If You Can’t Recover Your Phone
If your iPhone isn’t coming back:
● Report the theft to your local police.
● Contact your wireless carrier and suspend service if necessary.
● Remotely erase the phone.
● Even after it’s erased, leave it in Find My to keep Activation Lock enabled.
The phone may be gone, but your personal information doesn’t have to be.
The Bottom Line
If you remember only one thing, remember this:
Don’t turn off Lost Mode. Don’t remove your iPhone from Find My. And never unlock your phone because someone sends a text or claims to be from Appsle.
A stolen phone can be replaced. Your personal information is much harder to recove
