TIP : Always store your folks/hubby's names in your cell.. WHY ? read on..

That is a good point but I would be suspicious if someone messaged me and asked me something so personal . I would figure they would call since they have the cell phone to begin with . It does show how clever people are getting though .

Whether this actualy happened or not can't be verified, but better than changing the way you store names in your cell phone is making sure that folks who have info like PINs, bank account numbers, etc know better than to give them out via text. http://www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/pintheft.asp

I would never email, mail or sms pin number to anyone. Plus, they have to have your credit card ot ATM card to begin with, or bank account. It is not that easy. Something is missing in this story.

poor thing... but usually, my close relatives and my hubby never gives it.. they knew i am never gonna say a bit of pin code but my sister knows everything, and yet even if in the peak, she doesnt say it to me, because she know i can remember it right away. this is a very thoughtful discussion, i hope people will realize the urgency of privacy and such shall never be given without affirmation of real and alive person, it could have been prevented if the husband called and insist that she should answer his call, so he can hear her voice if not, he must ask a signficant question where they have a clue line.. as i have always with my closest, we made a code when said it means we are in danger or we have a secret pass, if asked, it means we have one answer that only us knew.. take care^_^

Oh, wow. I hope that that couple can get their money back somehow :( That's really sad. I see what you mean, and it really isn't that difficult to have people listed by their names. At least someone as close as your husband, it isn't like you're going to suddenly have a momentary lapse about remembering their name, lol! I can see why for someone like a mother in law you might not remember if you don't see her that often, but for your kids and husband and stuff it would be so much safer to put in their names and not their roles in your life. Thanks for the tip! I haven't had a cell phone yet, but I may be getting one this summer, and I definitely know what to avoid doing now.

Geeze. The level to which criminals will stoop never ceases to amaze me. I would hope that my hubby, parents, and children would know better than to text something so important as a PIN number...but you never know. They may see it as being incredibly helpful. I have warned them thanks to your post!

Wow that is crafty! Food for thought tho' you would never think of this, only till it's too late, thanks for the warning, you have to be one step ahead of would be thieves and miscreants nowadays. Those poor people, that would be a nightmare. Very scary and very real.

That is awful but I have to say me and the Kids never send a Message like that we phone each other for something like that. Because funny enough we have said we never know when it is a message who it is.

If a person is that silly to do something like that, don't they desreve it? That may be a little blunt saying that but I mean come on. What ever happened to common sence?

Oh geez this is truly scary what else will these theives do next? And thanks for the tip it does help.

That is a good tip. I think it's horrible--the things going on in the world today. And I agree, the thieves are getting smarter every day, and that is a really scary thought. I remember one time I thought I lost my check card and I totally freaked out...haha but it was just in my coat pocket. Thanks for making everyone aware of this...I'll keep that in mind!

Thank god i never use nicknames in my cell phone. That is not surprising how clever the thiefs are. I just get discusted everytime I hear what they are up to. This is one I haven't heard yet. I will have to tell my other family members about it. They all will appreciate this information. Thank you for sharing it.

yes, they are clever and we should be careful in everything we do. We will never know how and when they will be attacking us or rather when will it happen to us. i hope not..... thanks for sharing it here. I am sure this is of great help to those who can read you post.

Sometimes I despair at people so silly as to send their pin number as an sms message, surely it would have been sensible to phone and check it was a genuine message first.

I do not wish to sound unkind, but I do feel that the husband was very gullible to transmit the number rather than call his wife back. Of course, they did not deserve to suffer that kind of loss, nevertheless it is unlikely that the majority of people would have fallen for it.

i think the real message is, NEVER give out personal information over text messages. my husband would never say my pin, and he shouldn't really remember it anyway. i barely know his and if i needed to ask him something personal i would call him personally, and vise versa.

My husband's number is stored under his name but my parents are under Mom, Dad and Mom/Dad. But they would never give any personal info to someone that didn't sound like me. Especially since my cell is my only phone (I don't have a landline) and I probably already would have called with my husband's phone and complained that I lost my phone. I'm not one of those who waits around a day or two to find my phone...I call and have it shut off til I find it.

okay...if i got a message from my husbands phone asking for the pin number I would automatically know something was wrong and not do it. What was that husband thinking?? Handing out his pin number like it was candy...for a very hungry child! lol

wow, thanks for the head's up! It sure does seem like thieves are becoming more ingenious. Makes you think nothing is safe anymore! (;

I would have never thought about that! That is just crazy! Makes sense to a point- How did the thief have her debit card? Must be they stole her purse.. That stinks! I have all mine saved as home- mom- dad- .. My parents wouldn't know my pin #.. But still for other safety reasons I think I'll be changing it to their names- Thanks for the tip!