Friday, March 07, 2008

Cell Phone Contacts Warning

You might have already received this warning in your e-mail, but I think it's worth re-posting here. I don't know if the story is true, but the message is good:

Be careful how you list names on your cell phone. A lady has changed her habit of how she lists her names on her mobile phone after her handbag was stolen. It contained her mobile, credit card, purse, etc.... Minutes later she called her husband from a pay phone to tell him what had happened. He said, "I just received your text asking about our PIN number and I replied a little while ago."

When they rushed to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn. The pickpocket had used the stolen phone to text "Hubby" in the contact list asking for the PIN number. Within twenty minutes, he had withdrawn all the money from the bank account.

Moral of the lesson: Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list. Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Dad, Mom, etc.... Importantly, when sensitive info is being asked through texts, CONFIRM by calling back.

Also, when you're being texted by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them. If you don't reach them, be very careful about going places to meet "family and friends" who text you.

12 comments:

Lorna said...

that only matters if you actually have money in an account.

TBM said...

True or not, it's something to consider.

Rebecca Hickman said...

Maybe it's a good thing that I haven't figured out how to use my cell phone yet. I keep it just for emergencies, and it freaks me out when it rings.

Inca From Peru said...

I don't know how to send text messages on my phone, which I have trouble opening to see what time it is, and I don't know any of my pin numbers.

In other words, I think I'm good.

huey mei said...

is scary...happeen everywhere

Laurie said...

Lorna - Good point.

Just... - That's what I was thinking, too.

Rebecca - I used to be that way, too. Since I got a new phone though, I like to play with it.

Inca - I think you're good, too. Hahahah!

Huey - Very true.

Leon said...

on the other hand...
here's a story of mine:
my brother found a cell phone at a "7 Eleven" around here and he called the number which said "girlfriend", we got in contact with the owner, and we returned the cell phone..

if he had had just names listed in the contacts, he could have lost his phone for good.

Laurie said...

Leon - Something similar happened to me once. I felt like such a good Samaritan.

Grimm said...

Never thought of that before - but I will now.

Thank you for sharing!

Anonymous said...

This really is a good warning.

I find it highly entertaining to assign descriptive nicknames that in no way reveal my relationship to that person. It's even funnier when Dave asks, "Who's this 'Mr. T. Wannabe' that keeps calling you?" (Hehe. It's Dave.)

Susan in St. Paul said...

I use mainly nicknames, with the exception of "the parents" and various friend's mom's. I remember pin numbers and passwords in code.

My bank only lets $300/day with a pin number anyway. Even though I am unemployed and all, I haven't gotten to the point where $300 would clean out my bank account, yet ;)

Laurie said...

Grimm - You are quite welcome.

Leslie - HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

Susan - I think our limit is $250 a day. While that wouldn't clean me out, it would sure piss me off.