Security: Forensic Expert Warns Against Buying Used Phones

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – Nigerians have been warned against buying used phones in the open market, as information stored in these phones could be deployed as digital evidence in the course of criminal and civil investigations.
Speaking at the Forensic Symposium that took place recently in Abuja , a police forensic expert, Dr Ben Agbo, noted that since the owners of these used phones are unknown, “It becomes very dangerous to buy used phones from any source that is not the legal owner or has no proof of purchase from original point of sale.
“Used phones or what Nigerians popularly call ‘second hand’ or ‘Belgium’ phones are cheap. They are cheaper than new phones. But how certain are we of their legitimacy? What if the mobile phone was obtained by robbery or theft?
“There is virtually no case of robbery and theft where mobile devices are not taken by perpetrators, be it smart phones, laptops or tablets. The stories of victims of these crimes losing their mobile devices are rife,” the forensic expert said.
According to him, “It is worthy to note that it is very possible to track a stolen phone without the owner’s sim care in it. Also remember that deleting data such as photos, videos, text messages, chats from Whatsapp, BBM, Facebook Messenger and the like, from a phone does not permanently erase those data from it. There are powerful digital devices that can track mobile phones even when the devices have no sim or are switched off.
“Our security and law enforcement agents are already being trained in digital forensics and recovery of digital data from mobile devices. Hence, to avoid becoming a victim of crime that you have no idea about, refrain from purchasing used phones or mobile devices, online or offline.”
Agbo advised that, “except in the case when the source and the proof of purchase from the origin is available, purchasing used mobile devices is risky and probably, criminal. What if the used phone is linked to an ongoing criminal or terrorist investigation by law enforcement or security agents?

“Mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets can be used to save several types of personal information such as contacts, photos, calendars and notes, SMS and MMS messages.
“Smart phones record web browsing information, geographical location information, social media messages and contacts, call records, emails, voicemails, documents, spreadsheets, calendar entries, internet history, photos, recorded audio and video, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connection information and GPS data.”