The Lost-Phone and SIM-Swap Recovery Drill

Losing a phone used to mean losing your contacts, photos, and maybe a few frustrating hours replacing it. Today, that little device may also hold the keys to your email, bank accounts, credit cards, investment apps, and the codes used to verify your identity.

That makes a lost or stolen phone more than an inconvenience. It is worth having a recovery plan before you ever need one. Now is a great time to put one together!

Start with the phone itself. Use a strong passcode, enable the device's location and remote lock features, keep the software updated, and ensure important information is backed up. If your phone disappears, you want to be able to lock it quickly without worrying that your only copy of something important went missing with it.

Then look at how your accounts verify your identity. Text message codes are convenient, but they can be vulnerable if someone takes control of your phone number through a SIM swap, in which your number is fraudulently transferred to another device. For important financial and email accounts, consider using an authenticator app or other stronger authentication method when available.

Your wireless account deserves protection, too. Ask your carrier about adding an account PIN, password, or number transfer protection. These additional steps can make it more difficult for someone to move your number without authorization.

If your phone is lost or stolen, here are important steps:

1. Immediately lock or erase your device remotely using tracking tools. Make sure your tracking tools are kept separate from your phone.
2. Suspend your service with your carrier and ask your carrier to blacklist your phone's unique IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number. This prevents the device from connecting to cellular networks on most major carriers.
3. Revoke app sessions such as social media, shopping apps, email, and banking accounts. Sign out of all accounts and if necessary, change the passwords.
4. Report the theft to the authorities. For safety’s sake, do not chase your phone using the location data.

It is also smart to keep a few things somewhere other than your phone:

• Recovery codes for important accounts
• Your wireless carrier's contact information
• Phone numbers for banks and credit card companies so you can lock your accounts immediately
• Instructions for remotely locking or erasing your device

If your phone suddenly loses service unexpectedly, do not assume it is simply a technical problem. Contact your wireless carrier from another device, especially if you receive a notice of a SIM change or number transfer you did not request.

Hopefully, you will never need your recovery drill, but, much like knowing where the fire extinguisher is, having a plan in advance can make a stressful situation considerably easier to manage.