• Set a password on your phone.

• Ensure that the password you use is effective.

• Configure your settings to ensure that your device locks after a short period of time.

For more tips and information on mobile safety for both you and your device, visit the CWTA’s website at https://www.devicecheck.ca/protect-your-data. For more information on the CWTA, visit www.cwta.ca.

If you believe you have misplaced your device, contact us. We will put a temporary suspension on your account to prevent fraudulent usage on your account while you try to locate it.

To report a lost or stolen phone or if you subscribe to Eastlink Device Protection and require a replacement, contact us at 1-888-345-1111 or visit us at one of our retail stores. If you were the victim of a personal theft, it is imperative that you contact your local law enforcement agency to report the incident. Also contact us. We will place a temporary suspension on your account and/or have the device permanently suspended, so it cannot be reactivated on our network without your permission. When you report your phone as lost or stolen, your account will be suspended, and your phone cannot be used and your device IMEI will be blacklisted to prevent resale activation. However, in order to keep your mobile number, the account will remain in our billing system. You will still be responsible for the monthly service charges as well all charges incurred up to the time you report your handset stolen.

• Be sure to use a strong device lock code or password to restrict access to your device.

• Be mindful of where you leave your device.  It is best to keep it secure on your person when not in use.

• Set up & use built-in tracking apps in order to track or erase you device if it becomes lost or stolen.

• Write down your device details such as phone number, device make/model, IMEI and any PIN details and store them in a secure place at home.

Fraudulent porting and SIM swaps are both unauthorized requests to transfer your mobile phone number to another provider or device without your permission. Once the fraudster has control of your mobile phone number, they can use it to gain access to other personal services and accounts that you may have linked to that phone number, including banking and/or social media apps.

The most important thing you can do to prevent porting fraud is to protect your personal information and identification from online and physical theft.

We recommend you contact us immediately if your phone suddenly stops working, you believe your device or SIM card has been compromised, or suspect fraudulent activity has taken place on your account. Additionally, be sure to routinely change any passwords on email accounts, banking and social media apps.

If you're receiving unwanted spam calls on your smartphone, we recommend using the guidelines above to safely avoid scams. Here are some other tips to try on your mobile device:

1. Set up as many familiar phone numbers as possible as entries in your smartphone's Contact List so incoming calls will stand out from unsolicited callers.

2. Don't answer or return calls to numbers you don't recognize. A legitimate caller is likely to leave a voicemail that you can confirm later.

3. Use your device's call blocking features to block incoming callers by number.

4. Scammers can use local area codes to target smartphone users. Avoid answering calls from unfamiliar phone numbers, even if it appears like they're coming from your community.

5. If you receive unwanted scam/spam/cyber threats, you may report incidents to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by phone at 1-888-495-8501 or online by clicking here.

6. You may also register for Canada’s National Do Not Call List (DNCL) to have your phone number added to the registry in order to prevent/reduce incoming spam/telemarketing calls by clicking here.

We want to ensure that the privacy of your voicemail is always protected. The best way to do this is to turn your password on at all times. It’s easy to do. The next time you check your voicemail, press option 2 for personal options, then press 2 to change your password. Once you’ve selected a password that is memorable for you but hard for others to guess, press option 5 to turn your password on.

How to set up voicemail on your mobile phone:

1. Open your device's phone application

2. Dial your phone number

3. Follow the instructions given by the recording

Text message (SMS) spam or ‘smishing’ is any unsolicited text messages sent to your mobile phone. Smishing messages often ask that you call or text a phone number, click on a link to a website for more information, or download an application.

How to protect yourself:

1. Never click on links contained in text messages, unless they come from a trusted source.

2. Do not provide any personal information in response to an unsolicited text messages.

3. If you get a text message asking you to call a number, verify the number on your account statement, in the telephone book or the company’s or government agency’s website.

4. Do not download applications from unauthorized app stores.

5. If you receive unwanted scam/spam/cyber threats, you may report incidents to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by phone at 1-888-495-8501 or online.

Contact us at 1-888-345-1111 or visit us at one of our retail stores and we can remove the temporary suspension.

Contact us at 1-888-345-1111 or visit us at one of our retail stores and we can help suspend your service and open a claim for a replacement device if required.