4 Ways to Prepare for Damaged, Lost or Stolen Phones

Have you ever had your phone stolen, dropped it in the sink, or have it fall off the balcony 30 floors up? It’s a sinking feeling and you’re terrified to pick it up and see if it’s shattered, scratched up, or completely unusable. All your numbers, contacts, texts, and emails, gone… The panic sets in!

Apple Picking

If you’ve never had your phone stolen, you are in the lucky majority. Snatching phones is so common, it’s called “apple picking”. It can really happen anywhere; a concert, the bus, or simply just walking down the street. It’s important to be prepared because it can happen at anywhere, or any time. In the U.S. alone, in 2013, there were 3.1M phones reported stolen, but it declined in 2015, to 2.1M. This decline is largely attributed to the “kill switch app”. This allows you to disable the phone if it is stolen.

Be Prepared

It’s still smart to take a few cautionary steps just in case it is stolen, dropped in a river, or ran over by a bus. So, here’s 4 things you should do:

  1. Back-Up It Up Often! – And backup everything! It’s easy to do, and doesn’t take long, but if you do have to get a new phone, most phones can have all the data restored up to the last time you backed up your phone.
  2. Set-Up A Passcode On Your Device – A passcode or pin number can deter others from getting in to your phone and data long enough for you to change your passwords on your accounts. Especially if you use an app for depositing checks or accessing your bank balances. It is recommended that you use a 6 digit pin rather than 4.
  3. Have a Tracking Option on Your Phone – Many phones now have built in tracking apps that you can access from your computer. There are several other options like the TrackR device that you keep on your key ring. If you lose your phone, it will find it. If you lose your keys, your phone will find your keys.
  4. Purchase Insurance For Your Phone – Replacement insurance is an affordable way to replace lost, damaged, or stolen phones. Enough said!

We store so many things on our phones today that it would be terrifying to lose it or have it stolen. Bank information, emails, passwords, social security numbers, and addresses can all be found through one simple little device, our phones.

We store so many things on our phones today that it would be terrifying to lose it or have it stolen. Bank information, emails, passwords, social security numbers, and addresses are just a few things that can be found through one simple little device, our phones. Just think if someone got to your Paypal, Amazon account, or even worse… Your bank account! Most of us probably keep our phones nearby at all hours of the day… so protect yourself so you can recover quickly and as painless as possible. Don’t think it can’t or won’t happen to you! You might check out my video on Spring Cleaning Your Wallet as well. That also has a few good tips on keeping your personal information safe.

The housing market is heating up here in Folsom, as well as Roseville, Elk Grove, El Dorado Hills, and the Sacramento County area! Houses aren’t lasting long on the market, so be ready with a preapproval before you make an offer. It will strengthen your chances of success in a multiple offer environment. Give me a call if I can help with a preapproval or refinance. Have a great day.