We know that you can’t always have an idea of what to prioritize at these times, so we’ve listed some of the most important factors. In case you’re curious, you can check out everything you should do first after having your iPhone stolen. Check out all our tips and suggestions in our list below!
1. Locate iPhone via GPS
Most iPhone users use the “Find My” app for situations like this. Its configuration is highly recommended right at the beginning of its use with the device, ensuring that it is possible to find it in any situation where it is lost. With it active, you can easily access the iCloud website to locate it when your iPhone is stolen. You can do this by logging into your account using the link below. If you have another Apple device with the same Apple ID, you can also search for it. You can even make the device emit a sound if you notice that it is close to your current location. This helps a lot when finding it, but remember to prioritize your safety. When your iPhone is stolen, it may be better to go after the device with the police, depending on where you live and who you are.
2. Mark the device as lost
Another advantage that the iPhone has is that it is possible to mark it as lost at any time. This locks the device completely remotely and you get a special passcode. This way, only you will be able to unlock it if you manage to recover the device. Other than that, after enabling this option, the stolen iPhone will display a special message. In it, there will be an indication that this iPhone has been lost and that the person who finds it will be able to contact its owner on a specific phone. All this can be done through the “Find My” app. You can check more about it through the link.
3. Close sessions on social networks
Even when your iPhone is locked, it is good to take some security measures to protect your data. This includes logging out of any social media that you have previously logged into on the device. In general, chat apps, social networks, and email accounts allow you to end specific sessions on the official website. Use this opportunity so that the person who stole the iPhone does not have access to anything. Such access could put your information in danger, and also open up the possibility of scams. So it’s important to pay due attention to this.
4. Remove your credit cards
There are those who have credit and debit cards added to Apple Pay, something you can and should remove on the Apple website as soon as possible when your iPhone is stolen. Other than that, it’s good to remember any shopping site you accessed on the device. They may still be signed in and have their purchase information available on their device. In this case, you can either remove the cards from the site or try to end those active sessions on the iPhone in question.
5. Change your passwords
Here is another very important tip regarding your most used networks and apps. If you can’t log out of any of them or just want an extra guarantee of security, change your passwords. This almost always forces you to re-login to certain websites, which leaves the information and data on the stolen iPhone far less accessible. It can be a bit of a tedious process, but it is highly recommended.
6. Report the theft
One of the first things you should do is report the stolen iPhone to the police. This not only makes it easier to find later, but it is also a necessary step for anyone who has insurance on the device. Make your incident report and find out what the procedure is to try to recover the device as quickly as possible in your region.
7. Call your carrier
Another step you should take very quickly is to call your cell phone provider. Let them know you just had your iPhone stolen and give them all the information they need to find it. The important thing here is to ask that your number be deactivated. This way, no one will be able to use it to send messages, make calls, or attempt to authenticate through some two-step security process. It is worth remembering that it is also possible to transfer this number to a new SIM if necessary. You can take advantage of this call with your carrier to find out exactly how to do this.
8. Erase the data
Now that most of the security measures have been taken, it’s good to start thinking about erasing data from stolen iPhones. This is a more drastic measure and should only be taken in certain situations. This includes cases where you were unable to erase specific personal information or files. Having no more hopes of recovering the stolen iPhone is also one of these cases. We say this because, when deleting the data, it will no longer be possible to use the “Find My” app to locate it, for example. Of course, you’ll still have your old account backup to use on a new iPhone. This ends up making the process more acceptable in these cases. Everything can be done from the Apple website, as you can see in the following link.
9. Notify your insurer
As we mentioned earlier, it is possible that you have insurance in case your iPhone is stolen. It may not seem like it, but this has already become common practice with more expensive smartphones. The most obvious and used coverage in the case of iPhones is AppleCare+, from Apple itself. In any case, if you have contract insurance for your iPhone, it’s a good idea to contact them as soon as possible to try to reduce your losses.
10. Let everyone know
We also recommend that you notify everyone you can that your cell phone has been stolen. This ensures that your friends, family, and study/work colleagues don’t fall for possible scams. This can happen via text messages, chat apps, or even phone calls. The thief can also grab your iPhone contacts and attempt a later call. In general, a post on your social networks is enough to alert everyone to the situation. It’s a simple measure, but extremely useful.
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