Pre-paid phone account security

What if you don't tell anybody that your phone is pre paid. I had one for about 3 months, never thought about. On the other hand most bank's cards have 4 digit security code. So it even worse.

 

Don't use the same PIN as the last 4 digits of your phone number. I doubt someone will take the time to call AT&T, wait on hold, speak to a rep, guess the code, add packages, deplete your balance, then laugh. Seems like a lot of work that would offer no reward to even the most serious of pranksters or dirtbags.

That being said, you give your credit card number to the pizza man when ordering and all that needs is a PIN.

 

So someone is going to sit there and try to guess 9,999 possible combinations of pins to get into your prepaid settings? And how is that easy and weak and why wouldn't the system lock him out after a certain number of failed attempts?

 

How would they get your pin though?

 

If all they did was use your minutes then the world will not end. I have my doubts about anyone will to spend the time to go though all the 9999 combinations, just to steal your minutes.

 

That would be one of the world's lamest pranks.

 

What do you mean by redirect? All AT&T stores require ID for a new sim so they couldn't get a sim on the account. Also, there is very little someone could do on the GoPhone login. All they show is the address and balance on the account. I'm not sure how they store debit and credit card information because I use refill cards, so I wouldn't keep a card number attached to the account. However, I do agree it is odd there is no option for a stronger password. But like others said someone would need to match a phone number to a pin which could be difficult, with very little reward.

 

I don't think he called customer support hundreds or thousands of times and just guessed.
Like you said somehow he knew his pin.
It can happen to any type of account if you don't keep your info private.

 

I think the phone users should take security more seriously. A 4 digit PIN is good enough security in this case. Most will not even bother to use any security at all

 

the only person that could guess my 4 disgit pin and knows my number is my brother. That's because my pin is my dad's date of birth. if he tampers with my account it's my fault for not having a strong pin.

 

I am surprised you are worried about your phone. If you look at credit and debit cards you give the numbers out over the phone all the time. Every time you order food, pay a bill, order a service, etc. you give the number out and the expiration date. You also give your name. So essentially it is a set of four numbers that keep them away from your account. Talk about insecure if you ask me.

If the PIN is properly created it should be decently secure. In my opinion, I feel we all should be more secure about credit and debit cards that are the same thing rather than our phones. Maybe I am the crazy one though.

 

True, but I fail to understand why one would try to steal a GoPhone account or other prepaid cell phone account. I agree that it is rather insecure, but in the scheme of things it is the least of the issues. A good PIN that is not related to anything is a good idea and will protect the account. Also, unless the customer service rep is a total schmuck that will let a dirtbag guess the PIN more than three times, they will lock the system out. If you think a GoPhone is anonymous, you should see Tracfone's system for activating phones.

 

I have a GoPhone Account too. As far as the information on there, I never changed the generic personal information created by ATT when I first signed up for the pre-paid plan; all the information they have for my specific no# does not even apply to me. For example, the email they have for me is nana@att.com. (na = not applicable). I also don't have my cc# on file with them. I elect to pay on a per month basis.

It's a non-obligatory plan, so just change the personal information on your account. You control whether or not to continue service or stop.