Samsung Galaxy S3 screen isn't working. How to erase data to send back to ins. co?

[cardangel23]

Hello,

My old Samsung Galaxy S3's screen isn't working and is completely black. The indicators light up occasionally. I got a new phone through an insurance company and they require the old one to be sent back, otherwise, I get a $200 charge. I have sensitive data on the old phone. Is there a way to clear the data so I can feel safe sending it back?

Many thanks!
Dawn

 

[Rukbat]

Not without a screen you can temporarily plug into the phone. But the first thing they'll do with a phone that old is disassemble it, so your data is probably safe. (If the data is worth considerably more than $200, consider a sledge hammer - reducing the phone to crumbled bits. Then bake the bits until they start glowing. Half an hour at Broil should do it.)