Billions of iPhone and Android users warned about ‘killer six’ mistakes that let money-stealing criminals ‘wreak havoc’

FIVE major mistakes when it comes to your phone number can cost you a lot, but you can protect yourself.

Scammers want access to your phone number so they can hide behind it and pretend to be you.

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They can commit fraud, gain access to your data and money, or blackmail you.

The phone number scams can affect iPhone or Android owners.

Some may think their phone number could not be used in a scam but technology has allowed scammers to warp them to their advantage and wreak havoc.

“As technology becomes more integrated with our lives, criminals will continue to develop new and nasty ways to find and exploit your personal information,” Apple Insider said.

Here is a breakdown of the five killer mistakes to keep in mind to secure your phone number and private information, per Apple Insider.

1. UNKNOWN NUMBERS

One of the most common tricks a scammer will use is using a fake phone number and pretending to be someone important to try and get you to fall for their scheme.

It is recommended to not answer unknown phone calls.

2. SOCIAL MEDIA

Scammers will head to social media in hopes that you will post personal information or hints to some without thinking twice about it.

They will lurk in the background until you make the mistake of sharing something they need.

It is important to be wary of what you share on social media and definitely not post your phone number.

3. TERMS & CONDITIONS

Signing up for a new service will usually ask you for tons of personal information including phone numbers.

You want to read over the terms and conditions to make sure you understand why they are taking your phone number.

4. PASSWORD MANAGER

Using a powerful password manager can be helpful for keeping sensitive information safe.

A password manager can help generate unique passwords for every website

They also use biometric authentication.

A good one to use is the one Apple provides for iOS devices.

5. AUTHENRICATION CODES

Scammers can use SIM swapping or other techniques to redirect text messages.

This is so they can get their hand on multifactor authentication communications.

It is recommended to use a unique token or authenticator app when accessing something such as a bank or health documents.

6. USE A VPN

A VPN encrypts your transmissions and makes it harder for a scammer to access your data.

It does this by creating a long and complex code before it can access anything.

This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk