BBB warns of identity theft

The Alaska Better Business Bureau warned cell phone users that improper disposal of a cell phone increases the risk of identity theft.Phone users can now shop online, make phone calls, take photos and do online banking from the smartphones. This leads to a host of personal information stored on these devices. The BBB advises to be cautious before throwing away an old phone and to remove all personal information. Even if the phone is not discarded, lost, stolen and hacked phones can lead to identity theft. Like computers, phones can contract viruses, sites can siphon private data and unprotected networks can put consumers at risk. The better business bureau advised to never keep account or credit card numbers, passwords, PIN codes or Social Security numbers on portable devices. They also say to avoid storing or messaging personal identifiers, such as birth dates or private photos unless absolutely necessary.