Understanding AT&T IMEI blocking.

[GeorgieAcevedo]

My little sister got her iPhone 5 stolen. So if I call AT&T and ask them to block the IMEI of that iPhone, the person would not be able to use it on any carrier? Just wondering if that's how it works, if not please tell me.

[bohbot16]

There was a recent effort by the 4 big carriers to have a common stolen phone database to reference and use for blocking activations.

http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/1/35...phone-database

[GeorgieAcevedo]

Originally Posted by bohbot16

There was a recent effort by the 4 big carriers to have a common stolen phone database to reference and use for blocking activations.

http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/1/35...phone-database

Lol wow, sweet. I work for the verge and didn't catch this. Thanks!

[617aircav]

Originally Posted by GeorgieAcevedo

My little sister got her iPhone 5 stolen. So if I call AT&T and ask them to block the IMEI of that iPhone, the person would not be able to use it on any carrier? Just wondering if that's how it works, if not please tell me.

If it was unlocked before the block it could be used on tmobile, if not it can only be used in another country. It wont work on any carrier that uses tmobile or att networks.

[Applejuiced]

Or since its an iphone 5 and still under warranty the thief can make up an excuse to get the phone replace by applecare and then receive a whitelisted iphone 5 that can be used with no probs.

[Baggio]

Originally Posted by Applejuiced

Or since its an iphone 5 and still under warranty the thief can make up an excuse to get the phone replace by applecare and then receive a whitelisted iphone 5 that can be used with no probs.

Old IMEI status follows to new IMEI with replacement at least for locks/unlocks. Not sure if stolen IMEI info shared between carriers and Apple.

[Applejuiced]

Originally Posted by Baggio

Old IMEI status follows to new IMEI with replacement at least for locks/unlocks. Not sure if stolen IMEI info shared between carriers and Apple.

I havent attempt it myself so Im not 100% of the outcome.
But I heard others that got stuck buying bad esn iphones for verizon and sprint were able to activate the new devices once replaced by apple.

[617aircav]

Originally Posted by Baggio

Old IMEI status follows to new IMEI with replacement at least for locks/unlocks. Not sure if stolen IMEI info shared between carriers and Apple.

Nope if they exchange it the new phone will work without issues.

[jav6454]

Originally Posted by GeorgieAcevedo

My little sister got her iPhone 5 stolen. So if I call AT&T and ask them to block the IMEI of that iPhone, the person would not be able to use it on any carrier? Just wondering if that's how it works, if not please tell me.

Exactly. Her iPhone 5's IMEI will be put on a "Stolen List" which means anyone within the US (and who tries to use the iPhone on AT&T) will be greeted with a surprise. In this case, the line will go on Hold.

[hockeyman94]

Originally Posted by Baggio

Old IMEI status follows to new IMEI with replacement at least for locks/unlocks. Not sure if stolen IMEI info shared between carriers and Apple.

FALSE- only follows if its unlocked. Experience from doing this to acouple Verizon iPhones

[saud0488]

Originally Posted by hockeyman94

FALSE- only follows if its unlocked. Experience from doing this to acouple Verizon iPhones

Wait so it would give you one with clean ESN too? I know IMEI's were fine if you swapped, but ESN as well?

[aziatiklover]

Here is a good read about the loophole for stolen iphones!

http://micgadget.com/33388/resell-st...ples-loophole/

[GeorgieAcevedo]

Originally Posted by aziatiklover

Here is a good read about the loophole for stolen iphones!

http://micgadget.com/33388/resell-st...ples-loophole/

The person that stole her iPhone its Latina. I'm pretty sure she won't be sending that iPhone to china lol.

[durruti]

are you sure of who took it or are you just guessing? If you are sure, why not try and get it back?

[617aircav]

Originally Posted by durruti

are you sure of who took it or are you just guessing? If you are sure, why not try and get it back?

That's what some people do. They assume who stole it when they don't or have any proof. I know this from experience. As store supervisor I was accused by a customer that I attended to on the sales register of stealing her purse. She accused me because she said she left it on my register. Well I told her to **** off and she called the cops. Well I reviewed the security camera with the cops and it shows me walking away from my register with the customer and her purse still there. She leaves her purse behind and it's sits there for half an hour. Then another customer sees it and walks away with it. If you didn't see it happen it didn't happen. It was normal for her to suspect me, but to come out and say it is libel. She was red faced and apologized.

[aziatiklover]

Originally Posted by GeorgieAcevedo

The person that stole her iPhone its Latina. I'm pretty sure she won't be sending that iPhone to china lol.

That was just a reference of the apple loophole, and not your iphone being sold to china s stolen!

[GeorgieAcevedo]

Originally Posted by durruti

are you sure of who took it or are you just guessing? If you are sure, why not try and get it back?

We tracked it with find my iPhone, it lead to a specific address. It was stolen at her school, the phone was shut off after it was at that location. I sent my little sister to school to find out which student lives in or around there. There's only one student that lives in that address & it's a girl and she's latina. She denies she took it of course but out of 500 students she's the only one that lives there and around that specific area. There's not much we can do besides block the IMEI.

[durruti]

Originally Posted by GeorgieAcevedo

We tracked it with find my iPhone, it lead to a specific address. It was stolen at her school, the phone was shut off after it was at that location. I sent my little sister to school to find out which student lives in or around there. There's only one student that lives in that address & it's a girl and she's latina. She denies she took it of course but out of 500 students she's the only one that lives there and around that specific area. There's not much we can do besides block the IMEI.

I don't think the latina bit has any relevance.

[GeorgieAcevedo]

Originally Posted by durruti

I don't think the latina bit has any relevance.

It doesn't, I only mentioned she's Latina because of the china article the guy posted. Read up.

[Baggio]

Originally Posted by hockeyman94

FALSE- only follows if its unlocked. Experience from doing this to acouple Verizon iPhones

What did a I say was false? I said unlock/lock status follows. I said I was unsure if stolen IMEI status followed. You guys need to read, especially, since you mention Verizon which ESN based for stolen status, not IMEI based.

[617aircav]

Stolen imei status does not follow.

[RotaryP7]

IMEI gets blocked by AT&T and T-Mobile. All GSM carriers in the US. It will stay at "No Service" ; the iPhone becomes an iPod only unless you use it overseas.

[617aircav]

Originally Posted by RotaryP7

IMEI gets blocked by AT&T and T-Mobile. All GSM carriers in the US. It will stay at "No Service" ; the iPhone becomes an iPod only unless you use it overseas.

Or you use it in the us with an international sim. My Vodafone UK sim works in an att blacklisted iphone 5 showing the att network logo. This will be expensive though.

[Applejuiced]

Originally Posted by 617aircav

Or you use it in the us with an international sim. My Vodafone UK sim works in an att blacklisted iphone 5 showing the att network logo. This will be expensive though.

Very expensive

[617aircav]

Originally Posted by Applejuiced

Very expensive

I have a friend in the UK so he is going to get it.