A mobile phone in the hands of a fraudster is like an open purse left on a bench in Hyde Park—everything is there for the taking, and it’s only a matter of time before someone seizes the opportunity.
Here are three types of messages you should never keep on your phone unless you wish to hand over your money, personal details, and peace of mind to criminals.
1. **Bank Passwords and Codes**
*”It’s just a one-time code—what harm could it do?”* thinks the unwary user. Meanwhile, the fraudster chuckles, *”Cheers, mate.”*
The trouble is, even a handful of digits can give scammers the upper hand—especially if they’ve already pieced together details like your full name, phone number, or bank login. Gaining access to an account is like solving a puzzle, and every tiny clue matters.
So, the moment you receive a verification code, use it—then delete it without mercy. And don’t forget to empty the trash, too, because on both Android and iOS, deleted messages can linger in the device’s memory for weeks, even months.
2. **Photos of Official Documents**
This includes your passport, driving licence, National Insurance number, and bank cards—anything that could help someone impersonate you.
What do criminals do with such photos? Take out payday loans, order replacement SIMs, create fake accounts, or even sell the data on the dark web.
A single clear photo with legible details is all it takes to open the floodgates to endless trouble. So no excuses like *”I’ll just send it to a friend and delete it later.”* Do it now—not later.
If you must keep a copy, store it in a secure cloud with two-factor authentication or a trusted encrypted service like 1Password, NordLocker, or Google Files.
3. **Messages Containing Personal or Sensitive Details**
PINs, card numbers, CVVs, home addresses, family members’ phone numbers, answers to security questions like *”What was your childhood pet’s name?”*—all of it can be turned against you.
Fraudsters who gain access to a phone often scour texts and messaging apps first. If they strike gold—say, a chat with your mum where you’ve written *”The Wi-Fi password is the same as my card PIN”*—then it’s game over.
Even if you stash such details in a note to yourself, that’s no safer. An unlocked, misplaced phone is an invitation to disaster.
And don’t overlook trash folders and backups!
*Deleted* doesn’t always mean *gone*. Texts and files may linger in the phone’s memory or lurk in automatic backups. Check your settings periodically, disable auto-saving for sensitive data, and manually clear anything suspicious.
The Takeaway:
If it could cause trouble, don’t store it on your phone—especially not in plain text messages. A phone isn’t a vault, a time capsule, or a secure archive. It’s a device that can be lost, stolen, or hacked without warning.
So here’s the simple rule: be cautious to a fault, and you’ll sleep soundly.
Now, fess up—do you routinely purge your messages? Or is your inbox a trove of secrets worthy of a true-crime documentary?
