Your cell phone is a common target for identity thieves on three fronts. First, a modern phone can contain an incredible amount of personal information such as names, numbers and addresses. Second, cell phone accounts can themselves be targets for fraud. Your cellular plan is based on your good name, so it can be abused to acquire new phones and services. Finally, criminals can use the phone to contact people you know while pretending to be you. They normally do this to get enough of your personal information to complete a larger identity theft scam. Whether it’s a bad loan or a massive phone bill, an identity thief can use your phone to put you on the hook for a huge amount of money.

An identity thief can exploit your cell phone by either stealing the phone itself, or using your account information. One thing you’ve always got to remember about identity theft is that it’s often an organized criminal activity. Professional identity fraudsters broker stolen information through a criminal network. That network also includes muggers and pickpockets. Thus, your phone is valuable as more than a piece of electronic equipment. Organized criminals will sell the phone and the information inside.

When somebody steals your cell phone, you should notify the phone company right away and explain exactly what happened. Make sure they block your cell phone service. You should also get a hold of everyone on your contact list to tell them about the situation insist on communicating by voice only. Identity thieves will often text people on your list to avoid detection.

ID fraudsters can get your account information by spying on you, stealing your mail and collecting just enough bank information to fool a customer service representative at the phone company.  They can do this to get a second phone, and may even be able to arrange billing so that it takes a long time for you can even realize you have a phone in their name. Now that telecommunications companies also have interests in internet services and television, someone with access to your account can access a variety of services in your name. Some criminals do this to great permanent, floating “home bases;” they carry out phone and online fraud through services they’ve stolen from you. And of course, if a crook knows enough to use your phone account, they may know enough to get a phone or credit card in your name, too.