Freeze Bank Accounts if Phone Is Hacked

Anyone who thinks their phone has been hacked should freeze their bank accounts at once and report any suspicious transfers, Bahrain’s Interior Ministry has warned.

The advice came in a public message delivered by Captain Manaf Al Qattan, who urged citizens and residents to act quickly when they suspect a mobile phone has been compromised.

He said the first call should be to the bank, where affected customers should freeze their accounts and report any transaction or transfer they did not make.

The case should then be reported to the authorities by calling 992 or through the MyGov app.

Users were also told to factory reset the affected phone, a step meant to clear harmful apps or malware that could still be running on the device.

Passwords should then be changed from a secure phone or trusted computer rather than the hacked handset.

That includes email, banking and other financial apps, as well as social media accounts.

The warning, issued through the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security, urged people to stay alert to cyber fraud and move fast to protect their money, accounts and personal data.