Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
A thief who steals your smartphone can try to crack it themselves, sell it locally, or use it to commit fraud. But your stolen phone could also travel as far away as China. A recent investigation by The Financial Times (paywall) found that a particular building in Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei district is home to a treasure trove of second-hand iPhones, including stolen devices.
Though several locations in and around the Huaqiangbei district are hot spots for trading used phones, FT’s investigation focused mostly on the Feiyang Times building. Much of the buying and selling here is for phones that were legitimately traded in by their owners, according to the reporter who covered the action. But at least some of the activity involves stolen phones, leading the Feiyang Times to be known as China’s “stolen iPhone building.”
Also: 5 warning signs that your phone’s been hacked – and how to fight back
The Times relates one unfortunate individual whose iPhone 15 Pro was stolen by thieves in London. Using tracking technology, the victim followed the phone to its final destination in the Huaqiangbei district. After sharing his experience on LinkedIn, he discovered that many other people had encountered similar situations.
A woman in North Carolina whose phone was stolen tracked it on its journey from Charlotte to Miami and then finally to Shenzhen, according to WRAL News. In this case, the thieves compounded the crime with a spin on the usual ransomware ploy. In texts sent to the woman, they told her that unless she deactivated the stolen phone, they would sell her private information on the black market, meaning the dark web.
Phone theft is on the rise, especially in major cities like London, Paris, and New York. In February, the UK’s Metropolitan Police said that phone theft in London is a business that generates £50 million ($67 million) per year. In one week, UK police officials captured 1,000 stolen devices and made 230 arrests, FT reported.
A phone that can be cracked easily due to a weak passcode is more lucrative to thieves. In that case, they can steal any personal information and then wipe the phone to sell it as fully functional. However, even a locked and protected phone is valuable. Thieves can simply strip it and sell the used components — sort of a chop shop for mobile devices.
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One phone seller who spoke to the FT reporter revealed that phones with security measures such as IDs generally sell for about 70% less than unlocked ones. Such phones are then broken down into parts and sold in Shenzhen at a small profit.
OK, now that you’re sufficiently worried about carrying around your phone, how can you protect it from thieves? Miguel Fornés, a cybersecurity expert at VPN and security service Surfshark, shares his thoughts on phone snatching and offers tips on securing your phone.
1. Take advantage of anti-theft settings
iPhones and Android devices both offer theft protection features that can help you better secure your phone. On an iPhone, go to Settings and select Face ID & Passcode. Swipe down the screen, tap the setting for Stolen Device Protection, and turn on its switch.
Also: 7 ways to lock down your phone’s security – before it’s too late
On an Android device, head to Settings and select Google or Google services. Swipe down the screen for All Services and select Theft Protection. You can now turn on options such as Identity Check, Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, and Remote Lock.
2. Use the Find my feature
iPhones and Android devices also both provide a Find My tool to help you locate a stolen or lost phone.
On an iPhone, go to Settings, tap your account name at the top, select Find My, and tap Find My iPhone. Turn on the switches for Find My iPhone, Find My network, and Send Last Location. You can then sign in to another Apple device or the iCloud Find website if you need to track your device.
On an Android device, go to Settings, select Security & privacy, and then tap Device finders. Select Find My Device and turn on its switch. To track your phone, you can use Google’s Find Hub app on another device or sign in to the Find My Hub website.
3. Save your phone’s IMEI number
If your phone is ever stolen, your provider or even the police can use the IMEI number to try to track it down and even disable it. To find your IMEI number on an iPhone or Android phone, launch the dial pad in the Phone app and dial *#06#. You can then take a screenshot of the IMEI number and the other numbers on display and store the information in a safe and secure place.
4. Use a strong passcode
Do you use a simple four-digit number for your passcode, maybe something like 1234? That’s just asking for trouble. As with any PIN or password, you need to use one that’s strong and secure to prevent a thief from accessing your phone.
On an iPhone, you can create a custom numeric or alphanumeric code. On an Android device, you can create a numeric code with up to 16 digits. Though it may be tempting to stick with a four-digit code, consider one with at least six digits for added security. And don’t use the same PIN everywhere.
Also: Biometrics vs. passcodes: What lawyers say if you’re worried about warrantless phone searches
“Let’s be honest, using the same login everywhere is basically leaving your digital front door wide open,” Fornés says. “Avoid simple PINs, like 1234 or birth dates. This makes it harder for thieves to access your phone, even if they watch you type it in. Never use the same passcode for your phone and apps, especially banking. If a thief unlocks your phone, reused PINs could grant full access to sensitive data.”
5. Turn off access to Control Center on an iPhone
Control Center on an iPhone provides easy entry to key features and controls. For this reason, you should prevent access to this screen when your device is locked. On your iPhone, go to Settings and select Face ID & Passcode.
Also: How to open Control Center on your iPhone without swiping from top: 4 easier ways
Swipe down the screen to the section on “Allow Access When Locked” and turn off the switch for Control Center.
6. Back up your device
You can always replace a stolen phone with a new device. But you can’t replace the photos, files, or other important information on it unless you have a backup. For that reason, make sure you back up your phone and all its content on a regular basis. You can easily back up and sync your iPhone or Android phone with all its data and then recover it if necessary.
“Your more cherished memories might be easily recovered in case of a stolen phone,” Fornés says. “After all, nowadays the device is just a ‘container’ of our data. Be sure your images, documents, etc., are properly backed up.”
7. Protect your physical space
Finally, you naturally want to avoid having your phone stolen in the first place. That means you need to safeguard it when you’re in public areas, especially in crowded places.
“Always stay vigilant in public, especially in crowded or high-risk areas,” Fornés says. “Keep your phone out of sight when not in use. Use an anti-spying screen so people around you can’t easily see what you’re doing. Also, consider using an anti-theft case with a chain or metallic lanyard to deter quick snatching.”
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