Attn techies: Can text messages or calls be copied to another device without me know

[Lady Companion]

Somebody who is very technologically savvy and who has managed to pretty much wipe me out financially through some extremely complex and detailed schemes with fraud and forgery has had access to my cell phone and computer for several hours. Don't worry - my work phone isn't compromised, but my personal one, which still contains banking info etc. was.

My phone is not jail broken, and I am not on iCloud.

My phone has been acting odd though. Often text messages don't show up at all (It's an Iphone.....5 I believe). It doesn't show anything, and eventually they start showing up with just numbers, then a few minutes later, if they are in my address book, the name comes up too.

I'm wondering if anybody knows of any way that somebody could get a copy of text messages from my phone sent to them.

Also, any thoughts on ensuring that nothing on my computer is being copied. I did see that he had an external hard drive, and am assuming that he has a copy of everything on my current hard drive. I am hoping that this precludes any banking passwords - as well as any log in passwords for email etc.

I don't seem to have a key logger running, but if anyone knows of a REALLY good way to check, it would be greatly appreciated.

I have changed all my passwords on emails, banks and everything else. But he got into my financials in the past because he was able to access my email and then had my banking info reset. (Obviously this is somebody who I know well, and who could easily answer my security questions - which have also all now been changed)

Is there any way to check who notifications go out to when there is a change in something. I know I always get an email telling me, and I updated that to a text message (and that is one of the reasons that I want to ensure my text messages can't be read by a third party with extreme technical skills.

Any help with allowing me to re establish privacy and security would be greatly appreciated. I'm absolutely devistated right now that this could happen to me, but realize that I need to protect myself much more strongly before I can begin to pick up the pieces and start over.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

And feel free to PM me or to send me an email to Angel@ClassyAngel.com if you feel more secure doing that. Or just give me a call at 604 728 8161.

Thank you so much for any assistance!

 

[escapefromstress]

I'm so sorry to hear this happened to you Angel.

I wish I could help.

 

[Flowerzrkoo1]

Your phone is bugged. I managed to keep tabs on my ex who I suspected was up to skullduggery by downloading a program off the internet - I only needed to be in the proximity of his phone for two minutes to download tracking software onto it that sent info to my computer. It's illegal but I'm sure that bothers him about as much as it bothered me at the time which was nil. You can't tell the software is there unless you're looking specifically for it, and I was able to record every call sent and received, saw all his text messages, and even knew where he was as it uses the phone's GPS to tell you where the phone is located. And I'm not in the least tech savvy, I found the program after 5 min of googling. Get rid of the phone asap.

 

[westwoody]

Your phone has been hacked. Do not use it at all.
There are many programs that allow someone else complete control of your phone. The programs can ring the hacker's phone so they can listen to your conversations. They can even track you via the phone's GPS.

Usually the hacker needs physical access for less than a minute. Regarding the portable drive: There are devices for copying the entire contents of your phone very quickly, some police in the US were copying people's phone contents at random traffic stops. US Customs also do it sometimes.

NEVER let anyone handle your phone even for a moment.

Go to your bank in person and change all your passwords and account numbers ASAP. Use their landline to contact your credit card providers. Assume everything has been compromised. Better to err on the side of caution.

Finally do not use the phone for anything, get rid of it.

 

[NataliaBijoux]

I really hope you called the police!!
Yes there are ways to track your cell phone and its very easy! He could be getting all your texts/calls directly to his phone!

 

[westwoody]

The ONLY way to make sure your phone is not spying on you is to remove the battery.

Many phones will appear to be turned off but they are still operating and transmitting data.

Anyone with concerns about privacy should only use a phone with a removable battery.

 

[badbadboy]

The ONLY way to make sure your phone is not spying on you is to remove the battery.

Many phones will appear to be turned off but they are still operating and transmitting data.

Anyone with concerns about privacy should only use a phone with a removable battery.

You can not take the battery out of an iPhone.

Angel, somehow you have been hacked or possibly cloned.

You need to contact Police Fraud to report it.

Perhaps opening up some dubious email or link on a text comprised your phone?

 

[escapefromstress]

Why would anybody turn to an escort review board for a problem of this magnitude? Wouldn't it make sense to be in touch with law enforcement and the various third-parties involved?

Because in times of crisis, your first instinct is to reach out to your friends. We're a community and we're here to help and support each other in times like this.

 

[clu]

If it's not jail broken it's trickier to do the things people are describing on an iPhone 5 because it is not an open system, but if someone had iPhone developer credentials they could install anything they wanted once they have the device's UDID. You get that by connecting it to a computer with iTunes. (Though provisioning carries a signature identifying the developer.) Regardless, if anyone connects it to a computer they can backup your phone and clone its entire contents (text messages, contacts, app data, etc.) and then restore that to a secondary device. If you use iMessage for texting that would give them access to that stream. If they get a spy app on the phone they can also control the primary. Without it you'd need to clone the SIM somehow to get access to the cell communication but that would result in the communication loss you're describing.

I would backup the phone (in case you need it for evidence), restore it to factory defaults and change the SIM.

ETA: I would also change the iTunes password and the password of the email to which the iTunes account is registered as well as all security questions.

 

[epicurean604]

Why would anybody turn to an escort review board for a problem of this magnitude? Wouldn't it make sense to be in touch with law enforcement and the various third-parties involved?

Because in coming here she got some very valuable and correct advice. She trusts some of the people here, and I can see why.

 

[Robert Upndown]

You can not take the battery out of an iPhone.

The new Samsung S6 does not have a removable battery. It is becoming the norm

 

[LADY-VIA]

Why would anybody turn to an escort review board for a problem of this magnitude? Wouldn't it make sense to be in touch with law enforcement and the various third-parties involved?

Because she can ! She has every right to ask who ever she wants for advice. There's a saying/meme I read once " don't ever look down on someone unless you are reaching your hand down as well to help them back up "

Do you have any advice for her ?

Angel, sorry to hear of this!! I hope it gets sorted out quickly !!

-LV

 

[hornygandalf]

I'm really sorry to read about this dear lady. This is horrifying and a huge personal violation.

Why wouldn't she out reach to this board? No doubt she has also been in touch with the police if she was comfortable with that (she knows who did this and it sounds like it isn't the first time), and probably the bank. But, we don't know the full situation... so judgements and assumptions shouldn't be made.
As Lori suggested, we are a community, which means we provide support where we can. And there are many technologically savvy (and not-so-savvy) contributors to this forum. As we can see, some have a pretty good idea of how to do it, how to stop it and what can be done in the circumstances. Others of us don't. Ms. Angel is reaching out to those who have that knowledge (no presumption that the police would provide her with all of this knowledge).
I hope she is able to get it all sorted satisfactorily, and the rest of us can take note of what could happen in the wrong circumstances to many of us, and take the appropriate precautions.

Peace dear lady.

 

[MissingOne]

I can't help from a technical perspective, but to the extent that words of support help, let me add mine Angel. I fervently hope that all or at least much of your financial loss will prove to be recoverable. As to losses of a more personal nature, there isn't much anyone else can say, but many of us can empathize.

 

[Ms Erica Phoenix]

Why would anybody turn to an escort review board for a problem of this magnitude? Wouldn't it make sense to be in touch with law enforcement and the various third-parties involved?

You know what? You are a miserable odious hostile man. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why you are still here.

 

[P3t3rp4n]

Take the bug out. He's probably recording and logging your calls and messages which isn't illegal in Canada unfortunately but identity theft definitely is.

 

[Larry Storch]

(snip)He's probably recording and logging your calls and messages which isn't illegal in Canada (snip)

I don't know. Legal technicalities on that. i know you can record conversations as long as one person having the convo is aware of it being recorded, but I don't think covertly installing software on someone else's phone to record is. Police need a warrant to tap your phone, monitor your internet activity etc. They can't just do it because they feel like it so I don't think anyone else can either.

 

[ryankumar]

I didn't see this mentioned (apologies if it was and I missed it):

Do not use any existing email addresses. Use brand new email addresses created on a different/'clean' PC, at a day job, library etc - not your current PC. Then update all your banks etc with the new addresses.

I'd say that factory resetting your iPhone is a great idea. Do it at an Apple Store, just in case. They may even backup/restore for you if you explain your situation.

 

[Amerix]

If they had physical access to your computer, you need to assume the worst. Have it wiped and re-installed from scratch. You can backup your data files first and restore them, but no programs should be copied, only re-installed from source media or downloads.