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To think we will have to leave our phones at home

370 replies

Pippy2022 · 13/12/2024 10:36

Fraud and phone theft is becoming such a problem I think it will reach a point where it's safer to leave the smart phone at home, certainly when visiting a city like London.

Maybe smart phones will become such a risk - as in our lives are on them - we will stop using them and revert to bricks? Use tablets at home etc.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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BeAzureAnt · 13/12/2024 13:57

Eh, I just have a Nokia flip phone for talking on the phone whilst out and about in London, and an Ipad with the bank details on it that stays at home. If someone wants my old flip phone, they can have at it. There are just a few numbers in the contacts. I just won’t stare at my phone for hours and hours…some of is people aren’t aware of their surroundings as the phone has all their attention.

TheLimeHedgehog · 13/12/2024 13:55

TennisLady · 13/12/2024 13:45

Does anyone have a link as to HOW the thieves are accessing the banking apps etc on your phone if it's stolen? I've always assumed they'd be safe as all face ID/PIN protected but seems they're managing to by pass it somehow but the news article doesn't explain how.

Very informative link, its a deep dive page. So dont worry its daily fail.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14165053/How-stolen-phone-ends-Chinas-Silicon-Valley.html

Tdp123 · 13/12/2024 13:54

Pippy2022 · 13/12/2024 10:48

A phone is reported stolen in London every 6 minutes.

On average 248 were stolen EACH DAY in London in 2022 and that figure has probably risen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65105199

So given that the daytime population of London is 10m+, there's a 0.0027% chance of getting your phone stolen on any one day. So you would expect to have a phone stolen every 37,313 day (once every 102 years) if you were to spend everyday in London. I am not losing any sleep over it.

Digdongdoo · 13/12/2024 13:54

TennisLady · 13/12/2024 13:50

I wouldn't have thought you could even switch off any form of PIN/face ID/finger print on the banking apps? I can't set up new payments without similar or them confirming my face etc. but seems thieves are stealing phones and then managing to drain everyone's accounts.

I've just checked, and I can turn everything but the passcode off on my main bank. So I suppose an unlocked phone, and an easy to guess passcode it would be easy.
I'm personally not buying that phone thieves are using sophisticated hacking tech speculatively. But maybe they are.

Moulook31 · 13/12/2024 13:52

My daughter has had her phone stolen in central London. It was taken from her pocket while she was in a shop. She also had an attempted snatch by someone on a bike. Luckily the phone got stuck in her coat. The person on the bike actually stopped and turn around to look at her before driving off. She was quite frightened and she is very wary of going to Oxford Street. She now uses wireless earphones with her mobile.

skippy67 · 13/12/2024 13:51

dottiehens · 13/12/2024 11:35

Or may be people stop voting useless Sadiq Khan as London Mayor over and over.

Edited

🙄🙄

TennisLady · 13/12/2024 13:50

Digdongdoo · 13/12/2024 13:49

I've personally always assumed people lie about how secure their phone is. But perhaps I am wrong.

I wouldn't have thought you could even switch off any form of PIN/face ID/finger print on the banking apps? I can't set up new payments without similar or them confirming my face etc. but seems thieves are stealing phones and then managing to drain everyone's accounts.

Daytrips · 13/12/2024 13:50

All products will have some bad reviews but this one has overwhelmingly good reviews and a lot of them.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B0CRDG2692/ref=cm_cr_unknown?filterByStar=five_star&pageNumber=1

Mirabai · 13/12/2024 13:50

Pippy2022 · 13/12/2024 10:48

A phone is reported stolen in London every 6 minutes.

On average 248 were stolen EACH DAY in London in 2022 and that figure has probably risen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65105199

That represents 1% of the London population annually.

Digdongdoo · 13/12/2024 13:49

TennisLady · 13/12/2024 13:45

Does anyone have a link as to HOW the thieves are accessing the banking apps etc on your phone if it's stolen? I've always assumed they'd be safe as all face ID/PIN protected but seems they're managing to by pass it somehow but the news article doesn't explain how.

I've personally always assumed people lie about how secure their phone is. But perhaps I am wrong.

MrsMitford3 · 13/12/2024 13:47

TheLimeHedgehog · 13/12/2024 13:46

Id advise no one to buy from that link 46 reviews and all the latest ones says it is crap and the strap breaks. 🙄

Either you sell these or you really need to look at the links you post.

Edited

Omg I read the reviews and only saw good ones and didn't read down far enough Xmas Confused

off to check/cancel

TennisLady · 13/12/2024 13:45

Does anyone have a link as to HOW the thieves are accessing the banking apps etc on your phone if it's stolen? I've always assumed they'd be safe as all face ID/PIN protected but seems they're managing to by pass it somehow but the news article doesn't explain how.

MrsMitford3 · 13/12/2024 13:41

This is going in everyone's stocking!
Just makes sense-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ringke-Holder-Link-Strap-Adjustable/dp/B0BMQTG567/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1RDVFY76EMS1O&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kBcYeoNzQDqS2WmooDuNzO5gDlEJ5OZlgKfK8t3PUPQGdDJtuBU4H3kZ47jvSD7OxokXEwMfq3dc0sRfaUGfeAULy4LQYwPO0uaJpH5bPh3d6iF2yJ3FtUGvZ3hxQO8NFV6RNHa2KD1MTbNfWDujgiBA7Thhkd6O-9NFRXrgkCKC97bhR_HUHUmCnh1juUam6P3-T20U-AH6d-WcrO_6zrrH410KwH23BxYOge_1kXA.nGSXpwr6I28XY1dOVmKRf4v6uLISvp20Ftfqn5xSplU&dib_tag=se&keywords=Ringke+Holder+Link+Strap+with+Black+Nylon+Tag%2C+Adjustable+Crossbody+Phone+Lanyard+Strap+Compatible+with+Universal+Smartphones+and+Cases&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1734096900&sprefix=ringke+holder+link+strap+with+black+nylon+tag+adjustable+crossbody+phone+lanyard+strap+compatible+with+universal+smartphones+and+cases%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-3

Ringke Holder Link Strap with Black Nylon Tag, Adjustable Crossbody Polyester Rope Lanyard Compatible with Universal Smartphone Case - Khaki & White : Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Ringke Holder Link Strap with Black Nylon Tag, Adjustable Crossbody Polyester Rope Lanyard Compatible with Universal Smartphone Case - Khaki & White : Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ringke-Holder-Link-Strap-Adjustable/dp/B0BMQTG567/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1RDVFY76EMS1O&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kBcYeoNzQDqS2WmooDuNzO5gDlEJ5OZlgKfK8t3PUPQGdDJtuBU4H3kZ47jvSD7OxokXEwMfq3dc0sRfaUGfeAULy4LQYwPO0uaJpH5bPh3d6iF2yJ3FtUGvZ3hxQO8NFV6RNHa2KD1MTbNfWDujgiBA7Thhkd6O-9NFRXrgkCKC97bhR_HUHUmCnh1juUam6P3-T20U-AH6d-WcrO_6zrrH410KwH23BxYOge_1kXA.nGSXpwr6I28XY1dOVmKRf4v6uLISvp20Ftfqn5xSplU&dib_tag=se&keywords=Ringke%20Holder%20Link%20Strap%20with%20Black%20Nylon%20Tag%2C%20Adjustable%20Crossbody%20Phone%20Lanyard%20Strap%20Compatible%20with%20Universal%20Smartphones%20and%20Cases&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1734096900&sprefix=ringke%20holder%20link%20strap%20with%20black%20nylon%20tag%20adjustable%20crossbody%20phone%20lanyard%20strap%20compatible%20with%20universal%20smartphones%20and%20cases%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-3&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-am-i-being-unreasonable-5229599-to-think-we-will-have-to-leave-our-phones-at-home

Daytrips · 13/12/2024 13:40

For those who don’t use phone maps or e-tickets well good for you but a lot of advance tickets automatically are e-tickets unless you buy them at the station but realistically speaking I’m not going to travel to my train station and stand in a queue to purchase a ticket when I can get it online. That’s not an efficient use of my time.

As someone who is ND, and struggles with organisation and directions phones are massively helpful to me for so many reasons and sometimes it’s security related. For instance Monzo app notifies me each time my card has been used. When I only had internet banking to use on my computer I’d forget to check statements etc a lot. Like many ND people out of sight is out of mind!

I’ve found it much easier to organise my money, keep track of what invoices have been paid and keep a track of other things using my smartphone.

I don’t drive and one day I ended up in Stockport at midnight coming back from London thanks to a series of delays (thanks British trains!) the thing is- I don’t live in Stockport but the trains had decided we were all getting off there 😂

I had to either get a bus replacement service that took 60 minutes to get me to my train station and I’d have to then Walk in the dark at 1am to get home OR use my Uber app and get a ride home for a decent amount, I chose the latter and I’m glad I did!

I do get there is a problem with overuse of them and we do need to take some precautions, but there are also valid reasons why most people will not just leave them at home.

TheGrinchIsComingToTown · 13/12/2024 13:39

Pippy2022 · 13/12/2024 13:15

I don't use banking apps and don't visit a bank.......

Rubbish. Utter rubbish.

noworklifebalance · 13/12/2024 13:31

ItGhoul · 13/12/2024 13:25

Millions of Londoners carry a smart phone every day without falling victim to theft or fraud. Don't be ridiculous.

This.
If you go out in London you will see 10million people walking around with phones in their hands - on calls, texting, using maps, taking photos. The statistics for theft of phones is actually tiny considering how many are on constant display.

RedRiverShore5 · 13/12/2024 13:26

I have never used a banking apps on phone, I have no need to bank and do bank tasks when I am out, all the apps are on my iPad which is at home or I use desktop banking on my iMac. What sort of banking does one do when out generally unless buying something specific like a car for example.

ItGhoul · 13/12/2024 13:25

Millions of Londoners carry a smart phone every day without falling victim to theft or fraud. Don't be ridiculous.

MumonabikeE5 · 13/12/2024 13:24

Live in central London. Use phone too much .
have not been robbed.

But I don’t stand on the kerb waving it about.

Pippy2022 · 13/12/2024 13:23

Allfur · 13/12/2024 13:20

Are you talking cash is king?

I just use my cards?

OP posts:
Pippy2022 · 13/12/2024 13:23

MrsSunshine2b · 13/12/2024 12:58

So I'm assuming you take the time to print off every ticket you buy, for trains, theatre, cinema, the zoo and pack them with you, buy a newspaper if you want to read the news, take a printed book rather than read an e-book, always have a diary with you for adding dates to your calendar? Sounds like a heavy bag. And if someone swipes your bag, you're in just as bad a situation as if I lose my phone, which has all my tickets, loyalty cards, e-books and news on it. Poor dear, being so addicted and reliant on your home printer and your handbag.

The difference is your phone is becoming increasingly vulnerable now to fraudsters who can access your life savings. Banks and phone companies can't guarantee your details are safe anymore.

But thank you. This did make me chortle.

OP posts:
Allfur · 13/12/2024 13:20

Pippy2022 · 13/12/2024 13:15

I don't use banking apps and don't visit a bank.......

Are you talking cash is king?

Digdongdoo · 13/12/2024 13:19

Pippy2022 · 13/12/2024 13:15

I don't use banking apps and don't visit a bank.......

What are you so scared of then?

Ginmonkeyagain · 13/12/2024 13:17

Also I would hazard a good number of those "stolen phones" in the quoted stats were nothing of the sort.