Lost or Stolen Phone? Top Cop Reveals Urgent Steps to Take Now
In a world increasingly reliant on smartphones, losing your device can lead to more than just inconvenience—it can result in significant financial and personal losses. Two recent cases highlight the growing threat of phone theft and its consequences.
Case 1: A Routine Errand Turns Costly
Lieutenant Colonel Ashiesh Kumar Dwivedi , now a joint director with the Union defence ministry, stepped out for a routine errand on July 6 in Wajidpur village, Noida. While in the crowd, his mobile phone was stolen . Concerned but not alarmed, he reported the theft at the nearest police station the next day and set out to replace his phone and SIM card.
According to the reports, within 24 hours, the real shock hit—bank alerts showed Rs 79,000 missing from one account and Rs 34,000 from another. Someone had used his saved net banking credentials to purchase e-commerce gift cards. His stolen phone had become the key to draining his savings. Panicked, Dwivedi rushed back to the police station to file a cybercrime complaint. By July 10, two FIRs were in place—one for theft and another under the IT Act for cyber fraud.
The police acted swiftly. “We managed to recover at least 90 per cent of the stolen amount. Rs 34,000 is already back in his account, and the rest is on hold and will be returned soon,” Sunil Kumar , station house officer, Expressway police station, was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.
Case 2: A Vegetable Run Leads to Financial Ruin
For Arabindra Kumar , a simple vegetable run at Andal South Bazar in West Bengal’s Asansol, in October 2024, turned into a financial disaster. According to a report in The Statesman, amid the morning rush, he misplaced his phone. An inconvenience, he thought, but nothing more. He filed a missing complaint at Andal police station and went about his day.
Within 48 hours, he realised the true extent of the loss—Rs 3.6 lakh had disappeared from his accounts. Fraudsters withdrew Rs 1,49,541 and Rs 20,146 from his two SBI accounts and another Rs 1,90,319 from his UBI account, the report said. His phone, with all his personal and banking details, had become a tool for cybercriminals. Despite filing a fresh complaint and launching a cybercrime investigation, neither his phone nor the culprits were traced.
The Scale of the Problem
According to the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR)—a centralised database that tracks mobile devices using their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers—28,44,959 mobile phones have been blocked after complaints were filed, and over 16,99,023 have been successfully traced.
In Delhi, the Metro unit of the police recently recovered and returned over 450 stolen phones––worth more than Rs 1 crore––to their owners within 20 days. However, this isn’t always the case.
How to Protect Yourself
Losing your smartphone puts your personal data, finances, and privacy at risk. To understand how to stay protected, indianexpress.com spoke with Ankush Mishra , deputy superintendent of police, cyber/special task force, Uttarakhand, who shared practical steps to minimise damage.
What to Do If Your Phone Is Lost or Stolen?
The moment you realise your phone is missing, act fast. “File a complaint at the nearest police station, and report it on the CEIR portal (https://www.ceir.gov.in) to block the device,” said Mishra.
The CEIR system helps track and disable stolen devices. Once blacklisted, the phone won’t work on any network, even with a new SIM. The portal has helped recover a third of stolen phones, making it an essential tool for security.
Proactive Measures to Secure Your Data
According to Mishra, being proactive can save a lot of trouble. Using an app locker to secure sensitive applications and enabling WhatsApp chat locks can help keep conversations private. “It is also advised to keep social media profiles private, so the personal details don’t fall into the hands of scammers. Most importantly it is advised to never share UPI PINs and banking credentials with anyone,” he said.
Android vs. iOS: Which Is Safer?
When it comes to theft, there are key differences between Android and iOS devices. Android phones don’t have built-in SIM locking, which means a thief can easily insert a new SIM card. On the other hand, iPhones link the SIM card to the Apple ID, making it much harder for a thief to use and resell it without bypassing security measures.
The Risks of a Stolen Phone
Other than losing the device itself and the risks of financial frauds, losing a smartphone can have other serious consequences. Identity theft is a risk, where personal information is stolen and misused. There is also a threat to your privacy––sensitive data, including photos, videos and messages, stored on the device may get exposed.
Most stolen phones are used by thieves for their personal use. In certain cases, phones are resold, and some thieves strip these phones for parts and sell those at cheaper prices in the black market.
Recommendations for Mobile Safety
Law enforcement agencies emphasise on the importance of regular updates––both your phone’s software and the applications you use should be updated regularly. “Many people often ignore these updates, but they contain critical security patches that protect against vulnerabilities. Having good anti-virus software installed is also recommended to prevent malicious attacks,” said Mishra.
Securing Your Data After Theft
If your phone is stolen, securing your data should be your top priority, according to Mishra. He shared five things to do:
📌Delink your phone from UPI and payment services.
📌Notify your bank to restrict online transactions.
📌Change passwords for email and social media accounts.
📌Log out remotely from WhatsApp and other apps.
📌Use the remote wipe feature, if available, to erase all data from the smartphone.
Common Mistakes That Increase Vulnerability
“Many people forget to log out of WhatsApp Web and other connected devices, which gives thieves direct access to their messages,” said Mishra, adding, “Others fail to set up recovery options like an alternate email or phone number, making it much harder to regain access to their accounts after a theft.”
Legal Recourse for Stolen Phones
If you find your stolen phone being resold, don’t panic—you have legal options to take action. Mishra explained:
IT Act Section 66B: This law covers the possession of stolen electronic devices. If someone knowingly buys or keeps a stolen phone, they can face up to three years in jail, a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh or both.
IPC Section 411 (Section 317 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita): Anyone who receives or holds stolen property, knowing it was stolen, can also be punished with imprisonment, a fine, or both, depending on the severity of the case.
“If you spot your stolen phone being sold online or in a market, gather proof (screenshots, receipts, seller details) and report it to the police immediately. Taking swift action can increase the chances of recovering your phone and holding the seller accountable,” said Mishra.
The Bigger Picture: Phone Theft and the BFSI Sector
“Smartphone theft poses a major risk to the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector by exposing sensitive data and login credentials. This can lead to financial fraud, identity theft, and operational disruptions,” said Anuj Khurana, co-founder and CEO, Anaptyss.
“To mitigate these risks, banks must enable security features such as cleanroom protocols restricting smartphone use in secure environments, ensuring network security with fully monitored LAN setups, and utilising thin clients with extensive IT controls like endpoint protection and remote monitoring,” he said.
According to Khurana, banks are:
📌Implementing AI-powered fraud detection to flag unusual account activity.
📌Enhancing multi-factor authentication beyond just passwords or OTPs.
📌Using blockchain for secure identity storage, reducing reliance on physical devices.
“These advanced measures ensure that even if a thief steals your phone, they won’t easily gain access to your personal or financial data,” he said.
Case 1: A Routine Errand Turns Costly
Lieutenant Colonel Ashiesh Kumar Dwivedi , now a joint director with the Union defence ministry, stepped out for a routine errand on July 6 in Wajidpur village, Noida. While in the crowd, his mobile phone was stolen . Concerned but not alarmed, he reported the theft at the nearest police station the next day and set out to replace his phone and SIM card.
According to the reports, within 24 hours, the real shock hit—bank alerts showed Rs 79,000 missing from one account and Rs 34,000 from another. Someone had used his saved net banking credentials to purchase e-commerce gift cards. His stolen phone had become the key to draining his savings. Panicked, Dwivedi rushed back to the police station to file a cybercrime complaint. By July 10, two FIRs were in place—one for theft and another under the IT Act for cyber fraud.
The police acted swiftly. “We managed to recover at least 90 per cent of the stolen amount. Rs 34,000 is already back in his account, and the rest is on hold and will be returned soon,” Sunil Kumar , station house officer, Expressway police station, was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.
Case 2: A Vegetable Run Leads to Financial Ruin
For Arabindra Kumar , a simple vegetable run at Andal South Bazar in West Bengal’s Asansol, in October 2024, turned into a financial disaster. According to a report in The Statesman, amid the morning rush, he misplaced his phone. An inconvenience, he thought, but nothing more. He filed a missing complaint at Andal police station and went about his day.
Within 48 hours, he realised the true extent of the loss—Rs 3.6 lakh had disappeared from his accounts. Fraudsters withdrew Rs 1,49,541 and Rs 20,146 from his two SBI accounts and another Rs 1,90,319 from his UBI account, the report said. His phone, with all his personal and banking details, had become a tool for cybercriminals. Despite filing a fresh complaint and launching a cybercrime investigation, neither his phone nor the culprits were traced.
The Scale of the Problem
According to the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR)—a centralised database that tracks mobile devices using their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers—28,44,959 mobile phones have been blocked after complaints were filed, and over 16,99,023 have been successfully traced.
In Delhi, the Metro unit of the police recently recovered and returned over 450 stolen phones––worth more than Rs 1 crore––to their owners within 20 days. However, this isn’t always the case.
How to Protect Yourself
Losing your smartphone puts your personal data, finances, and privacy at risk. To understand how to stay protected, indianexpress.com spoke with Ankush Mishra , deputy superintendent of police, cyber/special task force, Uttarakhand, who shared practical steps to minimise damage.
What to Do If Your Phone Is Lost or Stolen?
The moment you realise your phone is missing, act fast. “File a complaint at the nearest police station, and report it on the CEIR portal (https://www.ceir.gov.in) to block the device,” said Mishra.
The CEIR system helps track and disable stolen devices. Once blacklisted, the phone won’t work on any network, even with a new SIM. The portal has helped recover a third of stolen phones, making it an essential tool for security.
Proactive Measures to Secure Your Data
According to Mishra, being proactive can save a lot of trouble. Using an app locker to secure sensitive applications and enabling WhatsApp chat locks can help keep conversations private. “It is also advised to keep social media profiles private, so the personal details don’t fall into the hands of scammers. Most importantly it is advised to never share UPI PINs and banking credentials with anyone,” he said.
Android vs. iOS: Which Is Safer?
When it comes to theft, there are key differences between Android and iOS devices. Android phones don’t have built-in SIM locking, which means a thief can easily insert a new SIM card. On the other hand, iPhones link the SIM card to the Apple ID, making it much harder for a thief to use and resell it without bypassing security measures.
The Risks of a Stolen Phone
Other than losing the device itself and the risks of financial frauds, losing a smartphone can have other serious consequences. Identity theft is a risk, where personal information is stolen and misused. There is also a threat to your privacy––sensitive data, including photos, videos and messages, stored on the device may get exposed.
Most stolen phones are used by thieves for their personal use. In certain cases, phones are resold, and some thieves strip these phones for parts and sell those at cheaper prices in the black market.
Recommendations for Mobile Safety
Law enforcement agencies emphasise on the importance of regular updates––both your phone’s software and the applications you use should be updated regularly. “Many people often ignore these updates, but they contain critical security patches that protect against vulnerabilities. Having good anti-virus software installed is also recommended to prevent malicious attacks,” said Mishra.
Securing Your Data After Theft
If your phone is stolen, securing your data should be your top priority, according to Mishra. He shared five things to do:
📌Delink your phone from UPI and payment services.
📌Notify your bank to restrict online transactions.
📌Change passwords for email and social media accounts.
📌Log out remotely from WhatsApp and other apps.
📌Use the remote wipe feature, if available, to erase all data from the smartphone.
Common Mistakes That Increase Vulnerability
“Many people forget to log out of WhatsApp Web and other connected devices, which gives thieves direct access to their messages,” said Mishra, adding, “Others fail to set up recovery options like an alternate email or phone number, making it much harder to regain access to their accounts after a theft.”
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Legal Recourse for Stolen Phones
If you find your stolen phone being resold, don’t panic—you have legal options to take action. Mishra explained:
IT Act Section 66B: This law covers the possession of stolen electronic devices. If someone knowingly buys or keeps a stolen phone, they can face up to three years in jail, a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh or both.
IPC Section 411 (Section 317 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita): Anyone who receives or holds stolen property, knowing it was stolen, can also be punished with imprisonment, a fine, or both, depending on the severity of the case.
“If you spot your stolen phone being sold online or in a market, gather proof (screenshots, receipts, seller details) and report it to the police immediately. Taking swift action can increase the chances of recovering your phone and holding the seller accountable,” said Mishra.
The Bigger Picture: Phone Theft and the BFSI Sector
“Smartphone theft poses a major risk to the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector by exposing sensitive data and login credentials. This can lead to financial fraud, identity theft, and operational disruptions,” said Anuj Khurana, co-founder and CEO, Anaptyss.
“To mitigate these risks, banks must enable security features such as cleanroom protocols restricting smartphone use in secure environments, ensuring network security with fully monitored LAN setups, and utilising thin clients with extensive IT controls like endpoint protection and remote monitoring,” he said.
According to Khurana, banks are:
📌Implementing AI-powered fraud detection to flag unusual account activity.
📌Enhancing multi-factor authentication beyond just passwords or OTPs.
📌Using blockchain for secure identity storage, reducing reliance on physical devices.
“These advanced measures ensure that even if a thief steals your phone, they won’t easily gain access to your personal or financial data,” he said.
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