A young woman had her phone stolen while on holiday in Zante and has warned others about using simple passwords. Lydia Coates, a Gen Z-er, shared her experience on TikTok, explaining how a thief accessed her photos and online banking.
Lydia said her phone was stolen during a trip with friends to Zante in Greece. On the second day, during a boat trip, she had her phone, ID, and cash in a small bag that she kept close. However, while swimming, she left the bag with her friend on the boat. When she returned, the phone was gone.
They asked the DJ to announce the missing phone, and organizers promised to check everyone before leaving the boat. Unfortunately, they did not search thoroughly, and the phone remained missing.
The worst part came later. Lydia had her driving license in the phone case, and her birthday was her password for both her phone and online banking. She checked her bank account and saw no withdrawals initially, so she used her friend’s phone for the rest of the trip.
Upon returning home, Lydia discovered a transfer of £12,242 to someone named Jessica from her help-to-buy ISA savings. She contacted the police, who advised her to reach out to Zante police, but they were not helpful.
The thief had access to all her photos, ID, and banking details, leading Lydia to sign up for identity fraud protection. She had to change all her bank details and report her account as fraudulent. After multiple meetings with banks and police, Lydia got her money back through the fraud protection scheme, not from the thief.
The person who stole her phone had used a fake name, and the phone was traced to Birmingham, but she was advised not to track it down.
Lydia’s story highlights the importance of not keeping your ID in your phone case and using strong passwords to avoid similar experiences.
