Related
OKay so heres the story phone is missing idk how but i set it down on this table in the foodcourt at the mall..i was getting my food..and as soon as i got back to my table it was gone!!!IT SUCKS!I NEED MY PHONE!!
But idk i have something i pay for insurance its 6$$ a month i know i have it cuz i pay for it on my bill and it says can be fixed ...theft,stole,broke,etc.
so theres it it got stolen!
What should i do?can someone help i really want it back!but its hard to find in a mall with billions of people!
Is T-mobile going to recover this?
Can somebody tell me what i need to do?because im not fixing to pay another 400 dollars for the phone.
Thanks
-Lilray979
OKAY IM ANGRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
why would you post this in the forum? this has nothing to do with XDA nor the dream nor q&a.
call t-mobile. if you pay for insurance..you need to call the insurance provider.
korndub said:
why would you post this in the forum? this has nothing to do with XDA nor the dream nor q&a.
call t-mobile. if you pay for insurance..you need to call the insurance provider.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this has everything to do with the dream
n i only did because it saids questions and answers
lilray979 said:
OKay so heres the story phone is missing idk how but i set it down on this table in the foodcourt at the mall..i was getting my food..and as soon as i got back to my table it was gone!!!IT SUCKS!I NEED MY PHONE!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess hindsight is 20/20, but don't leave your personal belongings unattended if you don't want them to get stolen.
You could always try calling your phone. You could have tried calling a security guard to assist you if the thief turned up in the vicinity.
But since this occurred a while ago the best you can do now is just to file an insurance claim with Asurion.
Personally, I would be more worried about identity theft rather than the cost of replacing a phone. I suggest you immediately go change your Google Account password.
Did you have GPS and your "My Location" enabled? If so, track yourself down. lol
Find your IME and have your phone permanently disabled. Should be on the box.
lilray979 said:
OKay so heres the story phone is missing idk how but i set it down on this table in the foodcourt at the mall..i was getting my food..and as soon as i got back to my table it was gone!!!IT SUCKS!I NEED MY PHONE!!
But idk i have something i pay for insurance its 6$$ a month i know i have it cuz i pay for it on my bill and it says can be fixed ...theft,stole,broke,etc.
so theres it it got stolen!
What should i do?can someone help i really want it back!but its hard to find in a mall with billions of people!
Is T-mobile going to recover this?
Can somebody tell me what i need to do?because im not fixing to pay another 400 dollars for the phone.
Thanks
-Lilray979
OKAY IM ANGRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
really??? you put your very exspensive phone down in plain sight and walked away from it in a crowded area and when you got back it was gone?? wow i never would have though people could be so cruel, with the economy kicking ass the way it is there should be no reason for anyone to steal anything, we all have enough money to just go out and buy whatever it is that we want. prices are down on everything and my wages are up so i have loads of money in the bank and plenty in cash too.........
oh wait nvm that was all a dream, you screwed up and should have known better than to leave your phone on a table at the mall, no offense but you made a stupid mistake, change all your passwords and call t-mo/asurion
lilray979 said:
this has everything to do with the dream
n i only did because it saids questions and answers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Come on guys..give the kid a break. Lilray, u asked what u should do, so I'll answer.
Kick ur self in the ass for leaving ur phone on a table in a food court at a mall with hundreds of people. I hope ur insurance laughs at u and refuses to cover on grounds of stupidity.
Oh, and before u unleash a childish and enraged response at me... remember, it won't make u smarter.
uansari1 said:
Come on guys..give the kid a break. Lilray, u asked what u should do, so I'll answer.
Kick ur self in the ass for leaving ur phone on a table in a food court at a mall with hundreds of people. I hope ur insurance laughs at u and refuses to cover on grounds of stupidity.
Oh, and before u unleash a childish and enraged response at me... remember, it won't make u smarter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL!!my bad its just...i was really hungry n i thought i had my phone in my pocket until i realized it wasnt in there when i got the money out my pocket!LOL
but thanks everybody i will change my password and file that repport on phoneclaim.com
Mi|enko said:
Did you have GPS and your "My Location" enabled? If so, track yourself down. lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and no by the way i never did because i read on a forum people said it kills the battery
lilray979 said:
and no by the way i never did because i read on a forum people said it kills the battery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have any other type of tracking program like Mobile Defense or something? Do you know your IME(or w/e it's called) #?
ThR1LL said:
Do you have any other type of tracking program like Mobile Defense or something? Do you know your IME(or w/e it's called) #?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use an app called Pinpoint or something like that. You send a text to your number (you would use someone elses phone or e-mail or something obviously) with just the word "Locate" and it bounces back with the exact location. Unfortunatly the thief will likely notice the text and shut off the phone. However if you keep your phone LOCKED then you won't have to worry about it. Another unfortunate possibility is that the thief will also more then likely pull out your sim.
In regards to the "keeping the gps locate off to conserve battery" do this.
Download and install Locale. Set up a rule with a high priority (move it to the top) that when you recieve a call from a specific number it will turn on your GPS. Then track it down that way. There is also Latitude with Google, Loopt, etc that can give you an idea of where your phone is as long as they didn't clear or wipe your data. But as I said... if you keep your phone LOCKED they can't do that in the first place. Which buys you some time because they will have to research to find out how to wipe the phone. Since most people would use a computer at HOME... you might be lucky enough to track him down there. Just make sure you have a 'black and white' with you and be prepared to give evidence that it's your property. The G1 box has the IMEI and if you don't have that call T-Mobile (if you got it from them) and they can give you the IMEI over the phone.
Hind sight is always 20/20, but you will get a new phone and being careless is a bad habit. And bad habits are hard to break. So you'll likely do it again even though you say that you've learned your lesson. So take precautions next time (if there is a next time).
1) NEVER LEAVE YOUR STUFF UNATTENDED.
2) Have security preventions (such as system lock) on your device.
3) Have some software to recover your device should you not do #1 and/or #2.
I've been doing the theft and investigations line of work for about 6 years and I have caught 8 people and helped recover about 20 lost/stolen equipment. I'm so confident in recovery (as long as the preventions are already in place) that I've risked my Tilt by setting it out as bait just to see if anyone would take it WHERE I WORK. It turned up missing in less then an hour! I tracked it down the next day with the coordinates that it sent me.
It turned out that one of my supervisors found it and took it home. BUSTED! The next day he resigned. So... trust no one. Keep your **** locked, backed up and on you at all times! Even at home! (Caught my girl sneaking through it a couple of times ).
Binary100100 said:
Another unfortunate possibility is that the thief will also more then likely pull out your sim.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sim Checker
I love this lil program and it's free, every time i even flash a new rom, it sends me the alerts
lilray979 said:
and no by the way i never did because i read on a forum people said it kills the battery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
next time have your own mind and make a better decision. android gets stolen and you need to locate it, Yes theres an app for that....
It is always nice to see so many helpful people who never make mistakes.
Anyway call your provider and tell them your phone got stolen. That way they can put a freeze on the SIM (and IMEI if you are in Europe). Then deal with insurance and get it replaced. Not a big deal.
Personally I have locale running but would not bother trying to recover a stolen phone. It is not precise enough to track down the phone in realtime. Sim Checker could prove useful but I am not sure it would be worth the effort if the phone is insured. Remote Wipe would be the direction I would go. The hardware can be replaced but the personal info on the phone I would just as soon not get into a stranger's hands.
You still have to pay even if the insurance covers for your stolen phone. That's what i heard? Not entirely sure though. Next time be more careful.. I never leave my phone out of my sight .
So I have been using my lovely N1 with AT&T from the day I got it. Just popped my old SIM card into the N1, added a $15/month unlimited data plan and presto blamo it worked like a charm.
So last night I get a text from AT&T telling me I need to add a "smartphone" plan to my account. How do they know I have a smartphone? Anyway, I ignored it. Just now, I got a message from them telling me my phone plan had been upgraded to the minimum plan...$30/month. I am now paying $15 more a month for absolutely nothing.
Buh-bye AT&T...going carrier shopping. Good thing I am not in contract! That's what using unlocked phones will let you do!
Same issue. I guess they figured out how to find nexus ones on their network.
My thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=630660
Anyone know how they do this ? can we hide the phone model from them ?
you imei is a digital trace. once you make one phone call or text from the phone, thats called billable airtime! your imei comes up in their system as what ever phone you are using in this case the nexus one. this is the same way tmobile knows how people are using a iphone
britoso said:
Same issue. I guess they figured out how to find nexus ones on their network.
My thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=630660
Anyone know how they do this ? can we hide the phone model from them ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no way to hide the phone at all
T-Mobile is waiting with open arms
Frankly, if a lousy dollar a day for data is too expensive, maybe you shouldn't have a smartphone in the first place.
Old MuckenMire said:
Frankly, if a lousy dollar a day for data is too expensive, maybe you shouldn't have a smartphone in the first place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
quoted for truth.
Old MuckenMire said:
Frankly, if a lousy dollar a day for data is too expensive, maybe you shouldn't have a smartphone in the first place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ahfunaki said:
quoted for truth.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everyones needs are different. I have wifi at work, home etc and have a premium GPS on my phone (offline maps).
Heres another one, actually an idiom.
A fool and his money are soon parted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Old MuckenMire said:
Frankly, if a lousy dollar a day for data is too expensive, maybe you shouldn't have a smartphone in the first place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amen!
I was just about to dial whine one one and call a Waaaambualnce.
If you don't want to pay, change network. You'll still have to pay so get over it.
Besides this is a Nexus One forum not my carrier is crap forum. Two threads that are the same and keep floating to the top of the forum list like unwanted turds.
SC
Old MuckenMire said:
Frankly, if a lousy dollar a day for data is too expensive, maybe you shouldn't have a smartphone in the first place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good thing your first post here is a bash.
About paying for data and not paying for data:
For me I don't pay for any data on any phone. Why? No 3G, and I mainly use WiFi.
P.S I totally agree with "A fool and his money are soon parted"
AND to top things off, if someone was saving for a nice and shiny phone, this (and you) have no right to tell them "if you can't waste money, you cant have a new phone" saving for a 530$ phone and paying ONE TIME is far different than paying 30$ a month for data, when it isn't even used or isn't to its full capacity.
jm2c
ScaredyCat said:
Amen!
I was just about to dial whine one one and call a Waaaambualnce.
If you don't want to pay, change network. You'll still have to pay so get over it.
Besides this is a Nexus One forum not my carrier is crap forum. Two threads that are the same and keep floating to the top of the forum list like unwanted turds.
SC
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Totally untrue. You can use this phone with a standard voice with T-Mob, how do I know? I do it.
The real problem is not the price but rather the fact AT&T charges you $30 a month when you can't even use their 3G on your Nexus One.
theomajigga said:
Totally untrue. You can use this phone with a standard voice with T-Mob, how do I know? I do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did this with my tp2 also. I didn't think it was worth paying $30 a month to use when I have wifi pretty much every where I go. I like the nexus a lot better, so I pay for the data for now. However, I rarely use the data, so it is basically $25 down the drain every month.
It's not a matter of being able to afford it, flametards... It's about perceived value for services received.
rossiscatch said:
I did this with my tp2 also. I didn't think it was worth paying $30 a month to use when I have wifi pretty much every where I go. I like the nexus a lot better, so I pay for the data for now. However, I rarely use the data, so it is basically $25 down the drain every month.
It's not a matter of being able to afford it, flametards... It's about perceived value for services received.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're wasting that $25 that's your own fault. Do what you did before if it worked fine.
The point is AT&T or T-Mobile can charge whatever they like. No amount of complaining in here is going to help that. If you want to have a moan the moan on their forums where they might actually see it. ( http://forums.wireless.att.com/ && http://forums.t-mobile.com/ )
Your complaints about carrier pricing are nothing to do with the Nexus One.
SC
toooitwo said:
The real problem is not the price but rather the fact AT&T charges you $30 a month when you can't even use their 3G on your Nexus One.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bingo. This just happend to me yesterday as well. I guess AT&T figured out how to detect the Nexus. I've been paying the full data price for years, just switched it over 2 weeks ago because of this phone. It is pretty weak since its only on edge...
I definitely wouldnt be down for paying 30 a month for Edge, that sucks. Also, why do people have to go trash every thread like it was a personal attack on them, if you dont like his post then dont read it, this is a discussion forum. You act like it automatically directed you here when you went to xda, no, you clicked the link, so click back, there, youre safe.
JoshHart said:
I definitely wouldnt be down for paying 30 a month for Edge, that sucks. Also, why do people have to go trash every thread like it was a personal attack on them, if you dont like his post then dont read it, this is a discussion forum. You act like it automatically directed you here when you went to xda, no, you clicked the link, so click back, there, youre safe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.
ScaredyCat said:
Your complaints about carrier pricing are nothing to do with the Nexus One.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is relevant to this forum since ATT only just discovered they can label the N1(EDGE) a "smartphone" and charge more money. Other phones with web support still get the EDGE pricing.
ScaredyCat said:
Your complaints about carrier pricing are nothing to do with the Nexus One.
SC
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you see me complaining? No, you did not. I was simply saying it was possible to not have a data plan at all which was contrary to what you said, incorrectly, earlier. "If you don't want to pay, change network. You'll still have to pay so get over it."
Advice: if you want the thread to die quit posting in it. By the way, AT&T changing their policy on the nexus pertains to the nexus in general. Hence this thread's location in Nexus One General sub-forum.
theomajigga said:
Good thing your first post here is a bash.
About paying for data and not paying for data:
For me I don't pay for any data on any phone. Why? No 3G, and I mainly use WiFi.
P.S I totally agree with "A fool and his money are soon parted"
AND to top things off, if someone was saving for a nice and shiny phone, this (and you) have no right to tell them "if you can't waste money, you cant have a new phone" saving for a 530$ phone and paying ONE TIME is far different than paying 30$ a month for data, when it isn't even used or isn't to its full capacity.
jm2c
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't bash anyone. Just stated my opinion based on the OP.
I hope not everyone here is as overly sensitive as you seem to be.
ahfunaki said:
quoted for truth.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Normally i would agree with the 'it's only $15' rationale.
However since these guys can't use 3g, they should get SOME discount from the normal price.
Greetings good people of the xda-developers forum!
After a little reading around I figure this is the most apropriate forum to post this thread in, correct me if I'm wrong.
Earlier this year I lost my phone in a cab after a night out, the driver decided to keep my phone instead of turning it in (usually if you leave something in a taxi in this region, you'll have it back with a little humiliation from the taxi-central the day after, not this time though).
A couple months after loosing it, I got a "emergency message" from my lost phone, and it went on and off for a little while untill yesterday when it apparently was taken into use! I have an "invisible" tracking app installed that will survive factory resets and gives me the opportunity to take pictures, record sound and some more.
Anyway, the phone has moved a couple countries away since it was initially lost, so I've lost hope of reclaiming it. My plan now is to give an honest shot at making my phone the most annoying device the new owner has ever had!
I come to this forum now, looking for inspiration/ideas and warning where warnings are due!
Is there anything I really shouldn't do, that could come back and bite me?
What would you do if you were in my situation?
Any good ideas of how to bother this guy?
So far I've only really come up with the idea of wiping his data from time to time..
I appreciate any ideas or warnings!
Thanks!
vengeful said:
Greetings good people of the xda-developers forum!
After a little reading around I figure this is the most apropriate forum to post this thread in, correct me if I'm wrong.
Earlier this year I lost my phone in a cab after a night out, the driver decided to keep my phone instead of turning it in (usually if you leave something in a taxi in this region, you'll have it back with a little humiliation from the taxi-central the day after, not this time though).
A couple months after loosing it, I got a "emergency message" from my lost phone, and it went on and off for a little while untill yesterday when it apparently was taken into use! I have an "invisible" tracking app installed that will survive factory resets and gives me the opportunity to take pictures, record sound and some more.
Anyway, the phone has moved a couple countries away since it was initially lost, so I've lost hope of reclaiming it. My plan now is to give an honest shot at making my phone the most annoying device the new owner has ever had!
I come to this forum now, looking for inspiration/ideas and warning where warnings are due!
Is there anything I really shouldn't do, that could come back and bite me?
What would you do if you were in my situation?
Any good ideas of how to bother this guy?
So far I've only really come up with the idea of wiping his data from time to time..
I appreciate any ideas or warnings!
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it will not back bite you if have retail invoice of that phone do whatever you want
Isn't it possible, even with sim card phones, to call your carrier, report it stolen, and have it basically bricked so Noone can use it again. I know they can with like sprint and Verizon phones that don't take sim cards. But I've heard of it happening with sim devices too. I would just try calling your carrier.
If that don't work. I'd leave it alone. The person who has your phone now probably isn't the person who took it. Which is why it was sold out of the country. And that person most likely doesn't deserve all that crap
Contemplating getting the S5....
SaintCity86 said:
Isn't it possible, even with sim card phones, to call your carrier, report it stolen, and have it basically bricked so Noone can use it again. I know they can with like sprint and Verizon phones that don't take sim cards. But I've heard of it happening with sim devices too. I would just try calling your carrier.
If that don't work. I'd leave it alone. The person who has your phone now probably isn't the person who took it. Which is why it was sold out of the country. And that person most likely doesn't deserve all that crap
Contemplating getting the S5....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the nasty part of stealing a phone. The Carrier will lock the "ESN" (Electronic Serial Number) so all they need to do is flash it over to another carrier... I.E. if you have a GSN type phone from say AT&T you can flash the software over to T-Mobile who doesn't give a flying flip about a stolen ESN (As a example) I personally have T-Mobile... They did try to make a law making req the manufacture to add a "Kill Switch" allowing the consumer to render the phone useless how ever that did not pass... SO Basically some one steals your phone that's it nothing you can do but buy another phone or hack into it like the OP..
TO OP: I'd go Impractical Jokers Style. Ease drop on him and play really dirty sounds (Porn sounds... moans/grunts etc) then Fry the phone... **** that guy he had to know it was stolen and if he didn't he's a fool... Check your ESN's People!
abhishek 9650 said:
it will not back bite you if have retail invoice of that phone do whatever you want
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the record, I do have the invoice.
SaintCity86 said:
Isn't it possible, even with sim card phones, to call your carrier, report it stolen, and have it basically bricked so Noone can use it again. I know they can with like sprint and Verizon phones that don't take sim cards. But I've heard of it happening with sim devices too. I would just try calling your carrier.
If that don't work. I'd leave it alone. The person who has your phone now probably isn't the person who took it. Which is why it was sold out of the country. And that person most likely doesn't deserve all that crap
Contemplating getting the S5....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is indeed possible, but not flawless. There is supposed to be some automation to it in the country the phone was initially lost, but either this automation failed or it's sucess is the reason it left that country. Problem is though, the idea is that they block the IMEI from the networks, but some countries are not part of this agreement/system.
I think the guy who is currently in posession of the phone knows perfectly well how it was acquired. Judging from pictures taken through the phone, the taxi-driver and the current holder of the phone may very well be related. Also, the phone had it's language changed to Arabic by the taxi-driver, this has not been changed by the new user (not that it prooves anything). There is also the fact that the SIM inserted in the phone in the country I lost it in, followed the phone over to the current country, where it was replaced by what appears to be a prepaid SIM. I don't think this phone was up for sale anywhere, I think the taxidriver sold or gave it away to some family member coming to visit.
As mentioned, I have no hope of having it returned. I'm not gonna push this too far, but I do feel like putting a dent in his joy over his shadily acquired device.
Drooling a little over the HTC One M8
Tangodown78 said:
That's the nasty part of stealing a phone. The Carrier will lock the "ESN" (Electronic Serial Number) so all they need to do is flash it over to another carrier... I.E. if you have a GSN type phone from say AT&T you can flash the software over to T-Mobile who doesn't give a flying flip about a stolen ESN (As a example) I personally have T-Mobile... They did try to make a law making req the manufacture to add a "Kill Switch" allowing the consumer to render the phone useless how ever that did not pass... SO Basically some one steals your phone that's it nothing you can do but buy another phone or hack into it like the OP..
TO OP: I'd go Impractical Jokers Style. Ease drop on him and play really dirty sounds (Porn sounds... moans/grunts etc) then Fry the phone... **** that guy he had to know it was stolen and if he didn't he's a fool... Check your ESN's People!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I've understood, in the European countries that are part of this agreement any locked IMEI number will be locked out of all mobile networks, this can only be worked around by changing the IMEI number or shipping the phone off to some country that is not part of this agreement. In the country my phone was lost the police send a notification to the networks when they recieve a lost/stolen report. Not sure if it went through in my case.
My list of options are limited to what my tracking software allows me to do, sadly (or happily, depending how you look at it) my programming skills are not by far sufficient for me to go beyond what the software offers, allthough I reckon someone with the right knowledge could use the tracking software as a backdoor into the device?
Wow. I'll be honest, I never thought them tracking apps would ever give you anything useful, but if your able to basically see every picture they take, take pictures yourself...I think that's crazy... wipe the phone....
What exactly can you do with yours? Read texts sent and received on the phone? Does it gps track its location on demand? Even if the gps is disabled in the device itself?
You said the one you have stays on the device even after restores and factory resets? What's the name of the app?
As for the locked esns.... If an American cell company like tmo locks one up, is that gonna stick over any of the carriers in the US? Basically, all 4 of them?
Cuz I know before, as long as you had a sim card, it didn't matter, you just swapped it for a new one.
Contemplating getting the S5....
Wish they did that here... though the explanation was for the poster above me... Id use what ever i could to screw with him... what ever happens good luck messing with the dirt bag
Sent from my LG-D959 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
I would also like to know this app
Go the South Park route. Some cartoon parodies of Mohammed should be effective. Then again, if they are in a Muslim country they could get in a lot of trouble if they have certain content on their device.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app
yea... Mocking Mohammad not general a good idea... it will get you killed. I wouldn't want that on any one's conscience
Tangodown78 said:
yea... Mocking Mohammad not general a good idea... it will get you killed. I wouldn't want that on any one's conscience
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No different than mocking L. Ron Hubbard or Jesus. All of them are con men and are fair game. Don't believe the hype.
I am very spiritual, believe in a higher power, but I will never bow down to some schmuck just because I am told to.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app
c5satellite2 said:
No different than mocking L. Ron Hubbard or Jesus. All of them are con men and are fair game. Don't believe the hype.
I am very spiritual, believe in a higher power, but I will never bow down to some schmuck just because I am told to.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bro, dafuq, don't insult other members of xda. Calling religious icons schmucks will insult some people. THIS IS NO PLACE TO HAVE A RELIGIOUS WAR. So stfu and leave the thread back to it's topic. Thank you.
I'm using Cerberus. I had the same app installed without root access/without placing it in system/apps on another phone I lost a couple months earlier, in which case it gave me absolutely nothing. This one however, installed in system/apps with root access, appears to be "immortal".
I reckon they will have a comprehensive list of what you can do with the app on their homepage.
I don't know anything about how things are done in the US.
I'm not gonna do religious insults. I wan't to annoy him, not make him want my head on a stick.
Yesterday a sound recording convinced me he was in a crowded area, so I couldn't resist the urge to sound the alarm. Which is played at max volume. The picture taken of him when he touched the screen to stop it was not optimal, but it did have a feeling of desperation to it
App is still active today
Someone in my family had her Galaxy S9 stolen. She reported it to Verizon and they had the EMEI blacklisted with all carriers.
But how permanently attached is the EMEI number, can't you just wipe it/hack it?
How sophisticated does a thief have to be to circumvent it and make it work on a carrier again?
FYI: I am not asking anything about how to "get around a blacklisted EMEI" number nor do I want to hear about a single way of doing so.
I simply wanted to ask if blacklisting the EMEI is very effective against a phone thief?
We had a brand new S9 stolen, and reported it to Verizon, but they are just general customer service. So their claim that it can't be used by anyone in the US doesn't really mean much to me
halfhumble said:
Someone in my family had her Galaxy S9 stolen. She reported it to Verizon and they had the EMEI blacklisted with all carriers.
But how permanently attached is the EMEI number, can't you just wipe it/hack it?
How sophisticated does a thief have to be to circumvent it and make it work on a carrier again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It can be done. We don't necessarily allow discussion of how to do it here for obvious reasons, but the guy would have to be fairly competent on a computer to go in and do that.
More than likely he'll sell it really cheap to someone or a shady outfit that does know how to do it.
orangekid said:
It can be done. We don't necessarily allow discussion of how to do it here for obvious reasons, but the guy would have to be fairly competent on a computer to go in and do that.
More than likely he'll sell it really cheap to someone or a shady outfit that does know how to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, that's what I figured, I thought there must be a way.
halfhumble said:
Okay, that's what I figured, I thought there must be a way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately yes. That is one thing iOS has over Android, I don't think it's possible to reprgoram an IMEI on an iPhone, so once it iCloud locks it really is a brick.
I still prefer Android though because of other pros.
orangekid said:
Unfortunately yes. That is one thing iOS has over Android, I don't think it's possible to reprgoram an IMEI on an iPhone, so once it iCloud locks it really is a brick.
I still prefer Android though because of other pros.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting, didn't know that. Android manufactures should follow suit to reduce phone thefts.
Maybe it would have been better to NOT blacklist the EMEI when it's stolen, so that the thief or buyer activates it. Then report it like a month later to track who has it at the time.
If it's been sold, the police could work backwards from the for sale listing or emails with the buyer (Craigslist for example). Kinda elaborate though.....
halfhumble said:
Interesting, didn't know that. Android manufactures should follow suit to reduce phone thefts.
Maybe it would have been better to NOT blacklist the EMEI when it's stolen, so that the thief or buyer activates it. Then report it like a month later to track who has it at the time.
If it's been sold, the police could work backwards from the for sale listing or emails with the buyer (Craigslist for example). Kinda elaborate though.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah well it's not on the manufacturers really, I think it's just a limitation of AOSP and the way android works. Even KNOX can't prevent it or even working around FRP (which I had to do not too long ago for a legitimate forgotten password).
But yeah I think those types of thefts are probably too low importance for the cyber crime division to go thru those types of hoops. The only real possibility would have been to try to track the phone when turned back on, or put one of those invisible self installing tracker type apps in the SD card.
End of the day if you lose or phone or it gets stolen, you're pretty much SOL.
orangekid said:
Yeah well it's not on the manufacturers really, I think it's just a limitation of AOSP and the way android works. Even KNOX can't prevent it or even working around FRP (which I had to do not too long ago for a legitimate forgotten password).
But yeah I think those types of thefts are probably too low importance for the cyber crime division to go thru those types of hoops. The only real possibility would have been to try to track the phone when turned back on, or put one of those invisible self installing tracker type apps in the SD card.
End of the day if you lose or phone or it gets stolen, you're pretty much SOL.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"self installing tracker type apps in the SD card." Didn't know that existed. Will look into that.
How and from whom one can submit a request to blacklist/block the IMEI (i.e. in case of theft)?
(basically the IMEIs, since this phone has two..)
Can this be requested directly to Xiaomi?
In the USA, this.
blackhawk said:
In the USA, this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That looks to be for India
But in any case, I contacted Xiaomi - they say they can't do it "for privacy and security reasons" (...)
The telephone provider says also they cannot do it
So another motive for potential thieves - go out, steal a phone and all is good. No punishment and you may continue using the device or re-sell it. Ridiculous
Banning an IMEI and have a global database for blacklisted IMEIs should be perfectly viable, so that stolen phones are rendered unusable globally. So that potential thieves can only maybe use the stolen phones for parts
I find it very interesting that governments/providers/manufacturers cannot agree all on that one thing, so that consumers are more protected
jstoner said:
That looks to be for India
But in any case, I contacted Xiaomi - they say they can't do it "for privacy and security reasons" (...)
The telephone provider says also they cannot do it
So another motive for potential thieves - go out, steal a phone and all is good. No punishment and you may continue using the device or re-sell it. Ridiculous
Banning an IMEI and have a global database for blacklisted IMEIs should be perfectly viable, so that stolen phones are rendered unusable globally. So that potential thieves can only maybe use the stolen phones for parts
I find it very interesting that governments/providers/manufacturers cannot agree all on that one thing, so that consumers are more protected
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, my bad DoT
Your carrier sure can do it stateside, ask them.
However that's not how I protect mine. I try to avoid flashing it around strangers and keep it out of sight. Eyes, ears, mind in the real world instead of digital lala land. Don't let strangers use it. Never leave it lying around in unsecured areas. When not using stash it right away. If all that fails... anyone trying to steal mine will pay in blood, no free rides.
blackhawk said:
Sorry, my bad DoT
Your carrier sure can do it stateside, ask them.
However that's not how I protect mine. I try to avoid flashing it around strangers and keep it out of sight. Eyes, ears, mind in the real world instead of digital lala land. Don't let strangers use it. Never leave it lying around in unsecured areas. When not using stash it right away. If all that fails... anyone trying to steal mine will pay in blood, no free rides.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, prevention is the best thing
But if/when it happens, there needs to be a way to make the device useless to them. Its the least you can do after that point..
jstoner said:
Yeah, prevention is the best thing
But if/when it happens, there needs to be a way to make the device useless to them. Its the least you can do after that point..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ask your carrier, may have ask more than one rep and/or escalate it.
Unfortunately as with many things in life you get one shot to make/keep it right. I think Admiral Bull Halsey had the right plan when in a jam; "Attack, Attack, Attack!" Anger is more useful than fear.