If you’ve never been scammed, you may not understand how disorienting it can be. Scammers can do a lot of damage to your phone, not just by stealing your money. They might even steal your identity or use your device to commit crimes. In addition, scammers can:
Turn your phone into a data collection device.
Scammers can turn your phone into a data collection device if you don’t have a reverse phone lookup service.
If they know that you’re using an app that allows text messages and calls over WiFi, they might try to access those by pretending to be from the company that made it—and this happens more than people realize! Someone posing as an employee at some tech company will call on another person’s cell phone and ask if they’d like free upgrades or services provided by the said company (which would cost thousands). The scammed person might think this sounds great, but if they haven’t read the fine print carefully enough, everything costs 1 million dollars instead!
Use your phone to access your accounts
Scammers can use your phone to access your email account, social media accounts and any other services you’ve synced to your phone.
Scammers will try to access your email by guessing the secret question they need to enter into their device’s “reset” function. This means they’ll try their best to guess the answer and hope for the best!
The scammers have another method of getting into your email: They’ll open up an attachment or download an app on your phone and try opening it up with their device.
Get access to your location data
Scammers could access your location data by placing a cloned cell phone into airplane mode or turning off location services entirely.
The scammer can also use the information they collect to track you down.
If this happens to you, don’t panic! You can turn location services back on immediately if you’re able—or even better yet, change your PIN so that anyone who tries to access your phone will be unable to do so. Read and know how unknown callers might steal your info.
Use the built-in camera on your phone
Scammers can use your phone’s built-in camera for video and audio recording purposes. They will record you or even multiple people as you move around. This means they can use it to see if there are other people in the area or if anyone is in a room with you where they shouldn’t be (like inside a bathroom).
They also have access to photos and videos from your phone.
Credentials are the codes that allow users to access specific phone functions. For example, if you have an email account with Yahoo, then any time you log onto that website using your phone’s browser and open up a webmail window, it will be using your credentials to do so.
When someone else has your credentials for some reason (such as losing them), they can take control of your phone remotely by installing a remote control app. A remote control app is simply software used by hackers who want to steal information from computers and phones; when installed onto someone else’s computer or phone, these apps allow them to perform actions such as changing settings or deleting files without being physically present either device—all while being able to see everything happening on both devices simultaneously!
Your cell phone is an easy way for them to get in contact with you.
If you get a call from an unknown number and don’t recognize it like +1 617 941 5740, don’t answer it—and if you do answer, hang up! Delete it immediately if someone leaves you a voicemail from an unknown number and doesn’t identify themselves as such. And if someone calls your house asking for someone else by name who isn’t there (this is called “phishing”), just don’t pick up the phone!
Your phone is a valuable tool that can be used to help you stay connected with the people you care about. Unfortunately, scammers have learned the value of your device, and they’re using it to their advantage. By taking some simple precautions, you can ensure that yours remains a haven from other people trying to get into your life.