Martin Lewis warns UK cellphone customers to dial *#06# code now amid theft surge

Need to know: Martin Lewis urges Brits to dial five-digit code immediately to protect phones from thieves

• Money expert Martin Lewis has issued urgent advice for mobile phone users to dial a five-digit code immediately to protect themselves from soaring phone thefts.
• The financial guru warned his ITV audience that phone thefts have rocketed by 40%, with criminals increasingly targeting people’s financial data through their mobiles. He urged people to act straight away to safeguard their handsets and prevent thieves from draining bank accounts.
• Martin revealed the crucial five-digit code *#06# which displays your phone’s IMEI number. He advised: “Dial *#06# to get your IMEI image then screengrab and save it. That is what you’re gonna need to give to police if your phone is nicked.”
• The money expert also recommended activating biometric security like fingerprint ID on both phones and banking apps. He suggested using remote tracking apps such as Find My on Apple devices and Find My Device on Android phones.
• Martin emphasised that turning off preview notifications is “possibly the most crucial” tip to prevent two-factor authentication codes appearing on lock screens. He explained: “Many people have that appear on their lock screen so when your phone’s locked, the code still appears. You don’t want that.”
• The advice comes as phone thefts surge across London and the rest of the country, with criminals becoming more sophisticated in accessing financial information from stolen devices.
• READ THE FULL STORY: Martin Lewis issues urgent ‘dial this code now’ warning to mobile phone users