Here, is how to prevent mobile identity theft.

Hello, mobile identity theft is high rising crime. And not well discussed. Here are few tips from me on how can you prevent this crime:

• Create a strong password that is required to unlock your phone and access data. Make sure to set up the phone to automatically lock when it has not been used for a specified period of time.
• Never share sensitive data such as passwords or credit card numbers over an unsecured Wi-Fi connection.

Carefully review your phone bills for sudden increases in data usage.

If you're still shopping, know that experts consider the iPhone and Windows Phone the latest version of these to have the most secure operating systems.

If your phone offers encryption, use it to protect stored data in case of loss or theft.

Lock its screen with a PIN — only one in three smartphone users does this.

An app that will track and report the location of your phone is useful and may help police recover it if it's stolen.

Here are more useful resources that will help you learn more:

http://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-12-2012/protecting-your-new-smartphone.html

https://www.pinow.com/articles/1682/mobile-identity-theft-statistics-and-prevention-tips

http://www.elitepersonalfinance.com/smishing/

https://co-opcreditunions.org/how-to-prevent-a-lost-phone-meltdown/

Hope this helps.

Both iOS and Android (via Google > Account > Security) offer tracking and data erasure options. You can set an iPhone to erase all data after a set number of failed login attempts and/or erase the phone remotely from Find my iPhone on the iCloud web site.

It is also worth mentioning that 2 Step Verification or 2 Factor Authentication are available for both iOS and Android and despite the potential for problems, if instructions are followed carefully are worthwhile additions to mobile device security. I use Google Authenticator and Apples 2FA security and have never had a problem. Just make sure you store those passwords in a safe place (NOT on your phone)