Money-saving expert Martin Lewis has urged smartphone owners to dial a five-digit code and save the result before their phone is stolen. The simple precaution could help identify a missing device, while other security changes may prevent thieves from accessing sensitive financial information.
Why Martin Lewis Is Warning Smartphone Owners
According to the Express, Lewis shared the advice during an episode of ITV’s The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, amid concerns about rising phone thefts and criminals targeting banking information stored on stolen devices.
Speaking during the March 11 broadcast in 2025, Lewis warned:
“Mobile security tips – thefts are up 40% in London but they’re going up right across the country too.
“Now the crucial thing, they’re not just trying to nick your phone, some of them are trying to access your financial data from your phone.
“You have to protect yourselves on this, folks.”
The warning extends beyond the physical loss of a smartphone. Stolen devices can contain banking applications, saved passwords, personal messages and authentication notifications that criminals may attempt to exploit.
Lewis recommended several precautions for iPhone, Samsung and Google Pixel users, beginning with a code that identifies the device itself.
The 5-Digit Code Every Phone Owner Should Know
The code is *#06#, which displays a smartphone’s International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. This unique identifier helps distinguish a device from other phones.
Lewis explained:
“Now, this one sounds a bit weird. 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 stolen. Screen grab it and assuming you can access your email not just on your phone, I would just email it to yourself so you’ve got a copy somewhere.”
Users can enter the code through their phone’s dialer without making a call. The IMEI information should appear automatically.
Keeping a copy somewhere accessible from another device can help owners provide identifying information when reporting a theft. The IMEI can also assist mobile carriers in identifying or blocking stolen handsets.
Credit: Shutterstock
The Phone Setting Lewis Says Matters Most
Lewis also highlighted a vulnerability involving two-factor authentication (2FA) messages displayed on locked screens.
Some smartphones show incoming text messages in notification previews, potentially revealing security codes without requiring the device to be unlocked.
He warned: “Many people have that appear on their lock screen so when your phone’s locked, the code still appears. You don’t want that. It means if someone gets your phone they can get the code. So what you need to do to stop that is turn off your ‘preview notifications’. It will still tell you you’ve had a message but it won’t tell you your code on your message. Everybody, please do that one. It’s a nightmare if you’ve not done it.”
Disabling lock-screen notification previews can reduce that exposure. The precise setting varies between iOS and Android devices.
Other Steps That Can Protect a Stolen Phone
Lewis advised enabling fingerprint or facial recognition for both smartphone access and banking applications.
He also recommended activating remote-location services, including Apple’s Find My, Samsung’s SmartThings Find and Google’s device-finding service, which can help owners locate or secure missing devices.
These features work alongside stronger screen locks and app-level authentication rather than replacing them.
If a phone disappears, owners should contact their mobile carrier and financial providers promptly to secure accounts and suspend payment services where necessary.
Lewis’s advice centers on preparations made before a theft occurs: save the IMEI number, protect banking applications and prevent authentication codes from appearing on a locked screen.
