EE warns all Android and iPhone owners to do FREE check if you don’t want your bank emptied and private info stolen

NETWORK provider EE has reminded customers of a free check they can do to make sure their personal information hasn’t been stolen.

The scan is facilitated by cybersecurity giant Norton, and gives EE customers the opportunity to run an annual identity check on themselves to find out if passwords or credit card numbers have been found on the dark web.

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“Your personal information isn’t something you want a cybercriminal to use to commit identity fraud,” EE writes in a help forum on its website.

“Our annual online identity check can help you know if your personal info has been found on the dark web.”

All you have to do is visit EE Cyber security > click Check My Email > log in to your account > enter email address > wait for EE to do a scan.

EE customers can check one email address per year, scanning hard-to-find dark websites and forums, free of charge.

Once the scan’s is complete, customers will be able to see where traces of their identity arise in the shady underbelly internet.

Personal information that might be found for sale by criminals online include:

• Usernames
• Passwords
• Emails
• Date of birth
• Mother’s maiden name
• Driving licence number
• Bank account
• Passport number
• Name or address
• Phone number
• Insurance information
• Gamer tag
• Credit or debit card details

Small pieces of information weaved together can be used by identity thieves to hack into accounts and commit fraud.

If your username, email, gamer tag and passwords have been found, consider changing them and set up two-factor authentication where possible.

If your passport number was discovered, contact your local passport office to file a complaint and then apply for a replacement passport.

If you phone number was exposed and you’re being flooded with spam calls, contact your service provider to see if it is possible to block calls from those numbers and register your phone number on the national do not call registry.

If information such as your name, address, date of birth, mother’s maiden name, driving licence number or insurance information appear, follow these five steps:

1. Review your financial statements and watch for any transactions you don’t recognise.
2. Remove mail from your mailbox right away. If you’ll be away from home, request a mail hold.
3. Shred anything that has personal information, including credit card and bank statements, receipts, and medical records.
4. Opt for paperless delivery whenever possible and practical.
5. Consider setting up a locked mailbox to decrease the risk of stolen mail.

If your bank account details were found, here are some next steps to help protect yourself:

1. Review bank statements for accuracy.
2. Never disclose a debit or credit card PIN (personal identification number) in email or on the phone.
3. Be suspicious of strangers who ask for personal information by email or phone.
4. Be wary of email attachments and ‘free’ software offers.
5. Think before you download apps, click on links or reply to emails that might be harmful or fraudulent.
6. Keep your laptop or mobile device’s operating system and Internet browser up to date.
7. Don’t store passwords or other sensitive information on your smartphone.
8. Be aware of your surroundings when you bank online and watch out for “shoulder surfers,” people who hover nearby and observe your information without your knowledge.

And if its your card details that have been leaked, contact your bank for a replacement card and monitor your activity closely.

Report any suspicious activity to your bank as soon as you spot it.

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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk