iPhone Theft Trends: What You Need to Watch Out For

Here’s an alarming iPhone theft trend that police are learning about, and victims too. It has to do with your iPhone’s passcode…the numbers you key in to unlock the phone. Here are some invaluable safety tips for those who have an iPhone, and who are active and actively on their phones: Here’s why. Criminals are noticing (capturing) iPhone passwords, then stealing phones (right out of your hands) and then stealing your money and memories. They don’t look like “criminals”—they look like nice people. Sounds unlikely? Not where you live? Well, it may not be commonplace, but unfortunately it is becoming more common in some places, especially in bigger cities, when people are having a good time. Could you imagine this scenario happening? That someone you met had quietly, sneakily stolen your iPhone from you. Of course, you didn’t know it was happening or could see it coming. Scary thought, isn’t it? Then imagine this: once you ultimately realized your phone was indeed gone and missing, and after you started trying to get it back, you discover some things that shock you. The worse thing? There’s little you can do. Your iPhone is gone. Gone forever. In a Wall Street Journal article from February of this year, they cited a handful of actual incidents where people who were enjoying a night out became victims of criminals on the prowl. Here’s a couple of examples: The question is…why is this happening and why this general method? Need to say password… You’re out with a group of friends…maybe it’s a social get-together, a hangout at bar or a networking event. Lots of people, fun, strangers, conversation and alcohol too. You meet plenty of new people, and one group asks you to share photos, or see your profile on LinkedIn, and is just eager to share data and contact information with you. It’s all so fun and a good time, you think nothing of the interaction. Only until later, when you realize that you can’t find your iPhone anywhere. Then you start to wonder. Soon, you’ll be in a real panic. The iPhone’s passcode (when you need to enter a number to unlock it) is the weak link in the security process. It’s an important aspect of this iPhone theft trend. First—a reminder that we brought up right at the top. Your face or finger, biometric methods, are more secure than a passcode you enter on your screen. There’s a simple reason: We have a handful or articles on iPhone safety and other safety products and procedures. A few of them are very pertinent to protecting your accounts. Here are just a few: For more articles on online safety, visit our content library at whatismyIPAddress.com/library . Click to go there now.