Prevent Phone and Money Theft When Travelling

Prevention is better than cure. If you make your phone an easy target for a thief, you will be vulnerable. Don’t let your phone be that target.

For those that live on their phones, how do you prevent theft when travelling?

• Lanyards – it’s one of the best deterrents I’ve seen. But maybe they’re not ‘cool’ right? Give a thief a choice of a phone attached to someone, or not, and they will take the easy option. Lanyards can be cut, but that takes time even if it’s just a second or two. Time a thief doesn’t have. Lanyards can be either long (over shoulder or around waist) or short (wrist), whatever suits. Lanyards, or security cords also act as a safety net when taking photos from high places, or off the side of a boat! Imagine dropping your phone there!
• Limit ‘in your hand’ phone time – when you’re travelling, try to limit the time it’s in your hand, in open view. Out of sight, out of mind. A snatch thief is going to love you if your new phone is blatantly on display out in front of you in your hand not attached to anything.

Lanyards are excellent for security when travelling and a hands free life.

Stolen Phone? – sadly, you have to assume you won’t see your phone again. Truth is, the authorities are not going to chase a phone. Too many are stolen, they can’t keep up with the number of incidents. The best you’ll get is a Police Report, which will support any insurance claim for a replacement handset.

Preparation for a Stolen/Loss of/Damaged Phone? – many see these measures as a faff, but talk to anyone who has lost or had their phone stolen and they will tell you they wish they had bothered. If your phone has been stolen, this becomes damage limitation and the risk of becomes real.

• Back up your phone, regularly. By doing this, you can confidently wipe your phone’s data remotely. It will help prevent identity fraud, but do remember your photos and videos will go, so the back up is really important.
• Notifications – do they show on your phone when it’s locked? Perhaps switch them off.
• Other security measures – make use of the numerous security features on your phone designed to help prevent a thief getting access to your data. These include:
  • Face ID/fingerprint biometrics
  • Find my phone features
  • Two-factor authentication
  • How your locked screen is controlled
  • How to ‘hide’ Apps

Make sure you know what to do IF your phone is stolen.

• Do you know your IMEI number?
• Do you know how to access your phone remotely from another device?
• Do you know how to remotely delete your data?
• Remember to delete the data BEFORE you tell your provider to block the phone. Once the phone is blocked, you can’t delete the data.
• Do you know who to call to prevent any further financial implications (fraud). Banks, credit cards, insurance.

You can write down the procedure and have it available to a friend or family, or email it to yourself. Maybe set up a temporary hotmail address, which can be accessed from any device or PC.

** Read how to protect your funds when booking a holiday. It’s a myth buster on ATOL and ABTA **

Protection of your cash/cards is thankfully easier than a phone! Ditch the obvious bulky wallets or big purses, they present too big a target. Concentrate on just what you need; some notes and a few cards. They take up very little space.

Remember that thieves won’t target what they can’t see.

CASH

• Consider splitting any cash between a couple. It lessens any loss should it happen. Only take out what you need for that period of time, don’t take all of it.
• Use a money belt under clothing.

CARDS

It’s wise to travel with both to provide options. Given the size of cards, you should have no problem storing them safely about your person. If you have to use a PIN, be aware of your surroundings in terms of people and cameras (these can be above you). Cover the machine with your hand if needed when entering the PIN.

• Debit cards (including prepaid travel cards) designed for travelling, such as Monzo are excellent. Load limited amounts every other day or so to limit any damage should it be stolen or lost. If you don’t have such a card, it is well worth getting one for travelling purposes.
• Credit cards can be used for the larger sums of money. Credit cards are a higher risk as they can be utilised up to their credit limit if stolen.

In both cases, make sure you know how to freeze the card if it is stolen (or know the phone number to call). Most Apps on phones allow you to do this.