5 Things To Do If You’ve Lost Your Phone

For many people in today’s society, keeping your smartphone nearby is a necessity to getting through the day. So if you find yourself having lost or misplaced it, it can definitely prove to be stressful. Before you let yourself get too worried, take a deep breath and take a moment to consider what steps you can take to take care of your lost phone.

1. Call Your Provider

Source: Lifehack

Whether you lost it or you feel that your phone has been stolen, one of the first people you will want to contact is your cell phone provider. It’s possible that they may be able to track the location of your phone. At the very least, you can suspend or turn off your service so if it’s been taken, it will be unusable. They’re sure to be experts in the field of lost phones, and will probably have some tips for you on how to proceed.

2. Take Care of Your Bank Accounts

Source: US News Money

This is a very important step, especially if you suspect that your phone has been stolen. Many of us have our debit or Visa Platinum card information saved on shopping apps, or an app to access our bank accounts. Before the culprit racks up thousands in purchases and credit card debt, make some calls to freeze your accounts until you can take the other necessary steps when dealing with a lost phone. David Glod, vice president of information security at Mountain America Credit Union, says that “in order to safeguard your funds, make sure to protect your accounts with a strong password, set up your account alerts, and monitor all transactions that are made.”

3. Remote Phone Lock

Source: Business Insider

Depending on what kind of phone you have, you may have the possibility of remotely locking or possibly wiping your phone to avoid any unwanted activity. Keep in mind that, in order to take advantage of this option, you will need it to have already downloaded and set up this feature on your phone. Even if you never find your phone again, you can have peace of mind knowing that whoever has it can’t do anything malicious or detrimental.

4. Change Your Passwords

Source: Lifewire

If you’ve lost your smartphone, you’ve also lost some security. Most apps leave you automatically logged in for convenience, which would make it very easy for someone to take advantage of personal records, the information in your inbox, and bank account information as mentioned above. Take 15 minutes on your computer and change all of your passwords. This will keep anyone from taking advantage of the information found on those accounts until the password is updated.

5. Check Your Insurance

Source: Starpoint Law

Double check with your provider on whether or not you purchased insurance for your phone. If not, get in contact with your insurance agent to see whether or not it’s covered under your homeowners or renters insurance! Smartphones can be pricey, and there’s definitely a possibility that it could be covered under your policy. It doesn’t hurt to ask!

It Will All Work Out

Take a deep breath, double and triple check all of the places your phone could possibly be, and then start making some calls and changing passwords. While this can be a stressful situation, it is not beyond your ability to solve. Just make sure to get all your ducks in a row and take this head on. You’ve got this!

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