O2 is warning customers to “turn off text message previews” immediately

O2 has warned all customers to turn off text message previews. The company’s warning comes amid a spate of thefts up and down the country, with the provider issuing five handy tips and tricks to make sure your phone isn’t broken.

O2 warned: “Only store sensitive information such as login details in apps with password or biometric protection. Use different PINs for your apps on your primary device. Set up and turn on a SIM PIN. Turn off message preview.”

Explaining the final point, he said: “Fraudsters are increasingly using stolen phones to access bank accounts and even take out loans in victims’ names. Many banks and websites send verification messages to your phone to verify that it’s really you. If a fraudster can read these, it will be easier for them to search your savings or spend money on your behalf.

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“More than a third of us (36%) have message preview enabled, meaning messages can be read even without a PIN. All one has to do is look at the home screen. To prevent this, you should turn off preview, so you can only see who the message is from – not what the message is in – when the device is locked.”

O2 added: “Make sure you have important device account information handy and in a safe place.” The Metropolitan Police, Britain’s largest force, recorded 165,933 phone thefts during this period – just over half (52 per cent) of the total in England and Wales.

At least 316,683 mobile phone thefts were reported between January 1, 2019 and December 31 last year, according to data obtained by The Times from 35 police forces under freedom of information laws. Commander Owain Richards from the Met said: “We understand the impact mobile phone theft can have on victims. It is invasive and sometimes violent crime and we are committed to protecting Londoners and tackling this problem as we make the capital safer. Our response in this case did not meet the expected standards and we apologize to the victim for the services received.

“Met officers are directing resources to hotspot areas such as Westminster, Lambeth and Newham with increased patrols and plainclothes officers deterring criminals and making more visible officers available to members of the community.”