Is Deactivating Your Phone Equivalent to Betraying Yourself?
This topic has suddenly gained traction. Indeed, nowadays, phones are linked to too many vital accounts. Not to mention the major payment platforms like WeChat and Alipay, various online shopping and banking accounts are all bound to the phone. The biggest fear of losing a phone lies in the potential leakage of these account details due to the abundance of applications linked to banking accounts.
If you deactivate your phone, will there be risks associated with the phone number that is linked to various accounts? This certainly needs to be the primary focus. If you deactivate your phone without unbinding the linked accounts, and if the phone number later gets circulated to others, could they potentially use it to log into your accounts? This risk must be approached with the utmost caution.
Mobile customer service states that deactivating a phone account is straightforward; all you need is the phone number and a valid ID card. However, the phone number will normally continue to circulate in the market. The mobile customer service mentions that after 1 to 2 years, the number will likely be resold in the market. Hence, there is a high likelihood that someone else might end up using your previous phone number. Therefore, the customer service still recommends deactivation and emphasizes the necessity to unbind all phone numbers specifically linked to shopping, consumption, finance, and banking accounts.
Some suggest that it’s better not to deactivate the phone. If you wish to switch to another telecom operator, you can simply port your number. Alternatively, you can use it as a secondary number for discounted packages or for family members. In fact, the author also does not recommend deactivating these registered payment and banking numbers, since these numbers have been used for a long time. It’s crucial to mitigate any potential risks.
Of course, if deactivation is the only option, unbinding is imperative. Before deactivation, it is advised to unbind all linked accounts. There is a method available now to check how many important accounts are linked, by directly searching on WeChat for “MIIT – One Certificate Inquiry – Internet Account”. Then, input your phone number, the last 6 digits of your ID, the verification code, and tick the declaration. Afterward, you will receive a message informing you of the number of linked accounts. The author tried this and found a total of 20 major applications linked, many of which are related to financial transactions. If deactivation is necessary, unbinding is essential. Simply unbind them one by one as prompted.
Furthermore, there are other online platforms. Even though they may not be payment-related, if they can be unlinked, it’s recommended to do so. In short, if deactivation is necessary, everything that can be unlinked should be unlinked to avoid unnecessary risks and losses.