How Do You Protect Yourself From Gym Robbers Who Stole Thousands Using Banking Apps?

London thieves harass gym-goers while they exercise, copying credit cards and taking more than $11,000 from them. Despite the latest reports from the UK, scams like this can pop up anywhere – here’s how to protect yourself.

BBC News reports that women in London have reported that large sums of money were stolen from their bank accounts while exercising at the gym. In each case, there was a similar story: the female victim left her belongings in a locker at a popular gym chain, and when she returned, she found that their phone and cards had been stolen. While checking their bank accounts, they discover that high-value purchases have been made on their credit cards.

One victim said she used the thief’s account to spend £10,000 ($11,391) at Harrods and Apple stores in Covent Garden and tried to spend another £10,000, but blocked her cards.

Another woman searched the gym locker in the city and within 90 minutes spent £7,500 ($8,543) at similar stores like Selfridges, Apple, Balenciaga and Harrods.

Police believe the thief has a way to bypass mobile device passwords or Face ID. After receiving the phone and the card, the thief saves the card on the relevant bank’s phone or application on his computer. Since this card is used for the first time on a new device, a one-time passcode is sent to the stolen phone and the thief uses this card to connect it to their device and now has full access to the victim’s bank account. . The security code is usually visible on a stolen phone even if it’s locked because most people leave their message previews enabled.

So how can you prevent this from happening to you? The easiest way is not to bring your cards or phone to the gym or leave them together in a locker or other place.

If hiding your gym equipment isn’t an option, the strategy of suspected theft can be stopped entirely, or at least slowed down, by disabling message previews on the lock screen. We’ve included the process for iPhone and Android devices below.

• go to settings
• Scroll through messages
• Scroll through notifications
• Go to “Show preview” where there are three options: “Always”, “When unlocked”, “Never”.
• Choose “When Unlocked” or “Never”. Your messages will no longer flash when your phone is locked

• go to settings
• Choose a lock screen
• Select Notifications
• Select Don’t Show Notifications. Your messages will no longer flash when your phone is locked

Read more about BBC News here.