Special Report: Cell secrets

Everyone wants the hottest new phone or the latest in texting technology. So, millions of us sell our old phones every year, making sure to delete all our important messages and numbers first.

But as Jessica Kordis learned, you may be selling more than you thought!

She was shocked to find out that exclusive phone numbers she'd stored...

Jessica Kordis, cell phone victim
"Red Sox wife."

And security info for her job...

Jessica Kordis, cell phone victim
"It is my alarm code. They could use that to break into the store."

... ended up in a stranger's hand.

Here's the 411 on how it happened: when she wanted to upgrade, she went for a trade-in.

But what she didn't realize was the tiny chip inside her cell called a Sim card -- the brain that holds every dialing detail -- ended up for sale.

Jessica Kordis, cell phone victim
"It could absolutely ruin my career. My phone and the numbers in my contacts, I mean, that's my credibility."

All of Jessica's personal info ended up in this man's cell.

Darrel Winquist was shocked to find all Jessica's numbers, even her credit card info, in his phone.

Darrel Winquist, buyer
"I didn't think it was right that I had somebody else's Sim card that has 250 phone numbers. Somebody else could have got it. They could be stalking her, probably get into bank accounts."

Experts say there are thieves, who get their hands on phones just to do damage with the details inside.

Dan Brown, BBN Technologies
"Whether they are involved in corporate espionage, whether they be trying to make money, identity theft and so forth, this is just one of the really easy targets."

To see how easy it is, 7News bought a used blackberry online and took it to data experts to see what secrets they could find inside. They found phone numbers and calendar entries.

Kyle Hogan, Techfusion
"Somebody went through and deliberately tried to remove all the data."

And these experts have found very sensitive stuff on other cells, too.

Kyle Hogan, Techfusion
"Some people have credit card information on there, billing information, records for client data."

Here's how to protect your personal cell info:

- Always set a password, so only you can get a hold of the data.

- Ask a dealer to help you wipe out all of the information.

And as Jessica now knows, you should only put your most sensitive info on a memory card that can be physically pulled out of your phone. Not all phones come with this feature, so make sure you ask about it.

These are easy things you can do so the next time you upgrade to a new phone, you keep your cell secrets.

Experts say you can also download tools to help you wipe out information.

Related links:
Techfusion.com
BBN Technologies

(Copyright (c) 2006 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)