A QUARTER of mobile phone users in the Midlands are putting themselves at risk of fraud by storing personal information such as PIN numbers, passwords and home addresses on their phones, according to Which? Mobile.

It is especially concerning as one in six Midlanders (17%) have lost a mobile phone in the last five years, with nearly three in 10 of them having lost more than one phone in that time. Nearly one in 10 Midlanders have also had their mobiles stolen.

Which? Mobile recommends people protect themselves against potential mobile-related fraud by taking simple steps, such as ensuring phones are mobile PIN or password protected and disguising any personal information.

If a phone goes missing, the owner should immediately contact their provider to put a block on it, preventing thieves from running up big bills. Most smart phones offer apps or services - such as the iPhone app Find my iPhone - that let the user locate their handset if it goes missing.

Some also lock the phone remotely or even remotely wipe all the data from the handset to stop thieves accessing personal information.

For more tips on improving your mobile phone security, go to http://conversation.which.co.uk/mobile/mobile-phones/what-to-do-if-you-lose-your-mobile-phone/.

Tom McLennan, head of Which? Mobile, said: “Losing a mobile phone is not only a huge inconvenience, it can put your financial and personal security at risk too.

“Although it’s impractical to keep your phone locked up at all times, be safe and keep your private information to yourself.

“If you do notice your mobile is missing, contact your provider straight away so they can stop it from being misused.”