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How To DISABLE a Stolen iPhone...
- Thread starter SFStateStudent
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To check your Mobile Phone's IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity), key in the following digits on your phone: *#06# and the IMEI 15-digit code will appear on the screen or check it in Settings/About/IMEI or it is imprinted on the back of your iPhone. This IMEI number is unique to your iPhone. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe.
If your iPhone gets stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the the thief changes the SIM Card, your iPhone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your iPhone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody did this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones. The above listed information was printed in the Contra Costa Market Place, February 2008, (pg. 50-51).
I've spoken with AT&T to verify this procedure and they've confirmed that they can disable the iPhone as well as the phone number, until you get a replacement phone.
I am so pissed off about that person stealing my iPhone at the Deer Valley Movies in Antioch, CA. I am pissed at my self for being so careless, not to mention I am utterly disappointed in Apple for not providing theft/loss insurance. I was told in Walnut Creek Apple store that the Apple care that I paid for when I purchased the phone that it covered theft and loss which is why I bought it!!! **cking LIARS!
After all of the ish I went through to get the phone. I placed the phone in my purse in the cell phone compartment and the **** fell out. I didn't realize it was gone until it was too late. I am sooooo sad
and mad...I have a headache. Why don't people have the respect and dignity enough to turn in lost items? I would never steal someones anything let alone their iPhone. Apple sucks! I hate their company and every fruitless thing they stand for!They went to great lengths to sell the phone and create a craze but they don't care about their customers!!! All they care about is making money, but when it comes to TRUE customer care they don't care... what the hell type of sense does it make to not offer to replace a phone that was lost or stolen! what if I was robbed for the phone?? they don't care all they want is for you to pay $200 + and then you can get another phone. I HATE THIS COMPANY! AND I HOPE THEY GO BANKRUPT LIKE OTHER BUSINESSES. FAKE AZZ PEOPLE!
ANYONE WHO STEALS SOMEONE ELSES BELONGING IS THE BIGGEST AZZ IN THE WORLD ANYONE WHO HACKS SOMEONES PHONE WHO WAS STOLEN IS A BIG LOSER AZZ PERSON WHO WILL SPEND THE REST OF THEIR LIFE LOSING AND NEVER GAINING A THING.. OH YES, THAT INCLUDES FRIENDS, APPROVAL, SUPPORT, WEALTH, GOOD HEALTH, GOOD TIMES, GOOD FORTUNE, FAVOR, OR ANYTHING THAT REPRESENTS A GOOD LIFE AND IF YOU ARE READING THIS MESSAGE AND YOU HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE PROBLEM YOU ARE CURSED!!! REMEMBER YOU WILL HAVE NOTHING YOU SORRY AZZ LOSER!
P.S. This message was some what comforting. The thing that was driving me crazy was thinking that were going to have a free working phone.
You can get the IMEI number by holding down control as you go to the "About iTunes" window.
I just lost mine last night and I'm trying to find a way to if nothing else disable it for whoever took it
I feel your pain
but it's good to see that the thieves can't use the phone beyond the point when AT&T disables it. The last phone that I had stolen in Chicago, was being used by some THUG who demanded a $100 reward and refused to meet me in a public place, so by the time we shut the phone down via disabling the SIM card, the thief was able to put another SIM card in an continue using or even selling my phone!
Don't worry that poor excuse of a human being will get what he deserves.
I just wanted to express my epic lulz for the person above me.
lulz
If you take time to find out about your apple care plan you'd realise that they do cover lost or stolen phones if you took the time to call the police, report the phone being lost (did you even call the movies to ask them). Once you have a crime reference from the police you can contact apple and report your phone being lost. They will replace it after you pay a certain amount.
Signing up for things without knowing what they are isn't apples fault, it's your fault for not getting all the facts first.
lulz
If you take time to find out about your apple care plan you'd realise that they do cover lost or stolen phones if you took the time to call the police, report the phone being lost (did you even call the movies to ask them). Once you have a crime reference from the police you can contact apple and report your phone being lost. They will replace it after you pay a certain amount.
Signing up for things without knowing what they are isn't apples fault, it's your fault for not getting all the facts first.
My iphone disappeared a few days ago and I've gone through a whole lot of trouble to figure out what to do about it. I thought I'd share to help out others.
1) Applecare does not cover loss or theft. It is only for technical support. However, I was told if you repurchase a phone you can transfer your AppleCare to the new phone and it should reset the warranty date. I haven't done this yet, as the department is closed, but thought I'd mention it.
2) My credit card company has purchase protection for purchases made within 90 days - however the item must be stolen, not just lost. They require either a police report or a report from the hotel or restaurant or other location where the theft occurred. They would have reimbursed me if I hadn't been 11 days outside the 90 day window.
3) My homeowners / renters insurance would cover theft unless it was out of a car. However, my deductible was $500 and making the claim probably would have raised my payments.
4) You need to file a police report within 48 hours of the theft (according to my credit card company) or most insurance won't replace it. I also have heard that AT&T may give the police tracking information, although it's unlikely to be helpful. Unfortunately, in Seattle the police department does not file reports for stolen property (what??). They said that they would be happy to tell the insurance that they don't fine reports, but how helpful is that when you have to fax in a report?
5) It is cheaper to cancel your AT&T account (and lose your phone number and rollover minutes) and purchase a new iphone at the subsidized price with a new 2 year AT&T account than it is to buy an iphone at the unsubsidized price. This gets more and more true the longer you have the phone, as the AT&T termination fee starts at $175(ish) and goes down by $5 every month. I was told there is no way to get your old number back if you close one account and get a new one.
6) AT&T will let you upgrade your phone at a subsidized price every 21 months, however that does not include the iphone.
7) AT&T does not offer insurance on the iphone. You are on your own if it gets lost / stolen.
8) AT&T will not brick your phone from a distance. If you don't lock your Sim card and voice mail with passwords, they are open to anyone. Your email accounts / aim accounts / facebook, whatever - those passwords are all compromised. Even if you do lock your sim, and report the IMEI to AT&T as stolen, at minimum your stolen phone can be used as an iPod touch or a phone hacker could unlock it, change the IMEI and use it as a regular iPhone.
9) AT&T and Apple both thought that the other company would be able to override the price and kept sending me back and forth, but my experience was that it took a manager at an actual Apple store to say they were willing to override the price and let me repurchase at the subsidized price. They agreed to do this because I had received so much misinformation about repurchasing. This was after 3 full days of phone calls and internet research. I think it's up to you whether that's worth the $200 savings to you or not.
Good luck. I'm still trying to find software that will help me track my phone down if it ever gets stolen again.
1) Applecare does not cover loss or theft. It is only for technical support. However, I was told if you repurchase a phone you can transfer your AppleCare to the new phone and it should reset the warranty date. I haven't done this yet, as the department is closed, but thought I'd mention it.
2) My credit card company has purchase protection for purchases made within 90 days - however the item must be stolen, not just lost. They require either a police report or a report from the hotel or restaurant or other location where the theft occurred. They would have reimbursed me if I hadn't been 11 days outside the 90 day window.
3) My homeowners / renters insurance would cover theft unless it was out of a car. However, my deductible was $500 and making the claim probably would have raised my payments.
4) You need to file a police report within 48 hours of the theft (according to my credit card company) or most insurance won't replace it. I also have heard that AT&T may give the police tracking information, although it's unlikely to be helpful. Unfortunately, in Seattle the police department does not file reports for stolen property (what??). They said that they would be happy to tell the insurance that they don't fine reports, but how helpful is that when you have to fax in a report?
5) It is cheaper to cancel your AT&T account (and lose your phone number and rollover minutes) and purchase a new iphone at the subsidized price with a new 2 year AT&T account than it is to buy an iphone at the unsubsidized price. This gets more and more true the longer you have the phone, as the AT&T termination fee starts at $175(ish) and goes down by $5 every month. I was told there is no way to get your old number back if you close one account and get a new one.
6) AT&T will let you upgrade your phone at a subsidized price every 21 months, however that does not include the iphone.
7) AT&T does not offer insurance on the iphone. You are on your own if it gets lost / stolen.
8) AT&T will not brick your phone from a distance. If you don't lock your Sim card and voice mail with passwords, they are open to anyone. Your email accounts / aim accounts / facebook, whatever - those passwords are all compromised. Even if you do lock your sim, and report the IMEI to AT&T as stolen, at minimum your stolen phone can be used as an iPod touch or a phone hacker could unlock it, change the IMEI and use it as a regular iPhone.
9) AT&T and Apple both thought that the other company would be able to override the price and kept sending me back and forth, but my experience was that it took a manager at an actual Apple store to say they were willing to override the price and let me repurchase at the subsidized price. They agreed to do this because I had received so much misinformation about repurchasing. This was after 3 full days of phone calls and internet research. I think it's up to you whether that's worth the $200 savings to you or not.
Good luck. I'm still trying to find software that will help me track my phone down if it ever gets stolen again.
AT&T rep does not know **** about the MIME blocking
I knwo bunch of you said ATT can/will disable it.. but the rep guy I spoke to did not know how to do it. So all I have is a password protected phone that is reported as stolen.
What else can I do? Did someone write an app where a hand comes out and whacks the guy holding it on the other end??
I wish I had installed the app that tracks the location. Sounds pretty handy. AT&T sucks, btw.
I knwo bunch of you said ATT can/will disable it.. but the rep guy I spoke to did not know how to do it. So all I have is a password protected phone that is reported as stolen.
What else can I do? Did someone write an app where a hand comes out and whacks the guy holding it on the other end??
I wish I had installed the app that tracks the location. Sounds pretty handy. AT&T sucks, btw.
That sucks.... but to my knowledge AT&T does not blacklist or block stolen phones. I have read reports that some will, some won't. I think the bottomline is that it takes time and money on their end so it become not cost effect to protect your interest.
Is there some phone insurance you can buy? that would cover just this problem?
Is there some phone insurance you can buy? that would cover just this problem?
Weird, I had a phone "stolen" (I left it in a restroom at a bar, came back 10min later gone, waited around for an hour, still gone) and I called AT&T. They said there's nothing they could do, I even provided the serial number of my device. Granted this was exactly a year ago so things may have changed but I was a little disappointed by this.
Add me to the list of getting jacked for my iPhone. I can't be upset with anyone but myself because I'm such an idiot for sitting it down in the first place. I sent my friend a text message, and instead of putting it in my pocket, I stick it in the water bottle holder thingy like a frickin idiot. I get off the treadmill tired as can be, and forget that it's there. I come back down after about 30 minutes, and it's gone of course. An iPhone is like money so I doubt if someone is every going to bring it back. In order to make me feel like less of the idiot that I am. I just think of a few things
1. It could have been my laptop that got stolen
2. I could have been just as careless with my wallet and left that somewhere
3. Someone could have snatched my little puppy (which I love so much) when I ran into the gas station to pay for gas
Anyway, I called up AT&T and apparently there is NOTHING they can do. I have my IMEI and my Serial number, and there is nothing they can do with those. I spoke with Apple and there is nothing they can do with that either. All they told me was sorry and they wish there was something they could do. As the rep at AT&T activated my old phone, he told me "Well, at least you won't have to worry about someone stealing this one". That's classic.
I haven't lost anything since I lost my key to my front door when I was in second grade so I guess I was about due.
1. It could have been my laptop that got stolen
2. I could have been just as careless with my wallet and left that somewhere
3. Someone could have snatched my little puppy (which I love so much) when I ran into the gas station to pay for gas
Anyway, I called up AT&T and apparently there is NOTHING they can do. I have my IMEI and my Serial number, and there is nothing they can do with those. I spoke with Apple and there is nothing they can do with that either. All they told me was sorry and they wish there was something they could do. As the rep at AT&T activated my old phone, he told me "Well, at least you won't have to worry about someone stealing this one". That's classic.
I haven't lost anything since I lost my key to my front door when I was in second grade so I guess I was about due.
This is the way to do it boys and gals
I got hold of a stolen iphone and i could do everything with it except use the actual phone part of it.I could connect to the net with it.
I was on the phone with O2 for about a week and they could not figure it out.
O2 came to the conclusion i had a faulty handset,i told O2 that i bought it of ebay and never mentioned no more but still they were uncapable of working out what the problem was.So i was coming to the point where i was just going to leave it but my lodger said to me take it to the apple store at our local shopping centre (my lodger did not know it was stolen lol) So i go to the Apple shop and tell them my story,i kept telling them the same thing that i can get online with it but i cant use the phone,so they said book an appointment and they will get one of there "Genius people" to have a look at it.So i go back 30 mins later and she trys to put her sim card into it,so i said to her its not the sim card thats the problem,i told her that O2 said the handset must be faulty....then she gave me this form to sign for and i wasnt sure what it was for,so i just signed it and then to my utter amazement she gave me a brand new IPhone
PS I have to go to the O2 store now cos apparently when you buy a pay as you go iphone you get a years subscription free to the net imfaoooooo
i thought i would share that with you guys and gals lol
Assuming the phone was still under warranty and told Apple that you bought it from eBay, then yes, u would get away with it. Had the serial # been reported as stolen to AT&T and Apple, then you wouldn't have been so lucky.
To check your Mobile Phone's IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity), key in the following digits on your phone: *#06# and the IMEI 15-digit code will appear on the screen or check it in Settings/About/IMEI or it is imprinted on the back of your iPhone. This IMEI number is unique to your iPhone. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe.
If your iPhone gets stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the the thief changes the SIM Card, your iPhone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your iPhone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody did this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones. The above listed information was printed in the Contra Costa Market Place, February 2008, (pg. 50-51).
I've spoken with AT&T to verify this procedure and they've confirmed that they can disable the iPhone as well as the phone number, until you get a replacement phone.
IMEI can't be disable.JUST THE SIM CARD.
Recent apps to track your phone
2 recent apps that i've tried did the trick:
http://diepgangnl.blogspot.com/2009/04/find-my-iphone.html
2 recent apps that i've tried did the trick:
http://diepgangnl.blogspot.com/2009/04/find-my-iphone.html
Stolen Iphone
Okay so att now has a service called "FamilyMap" I use it to keep up with family but with the iphone it pinpoints it down to the street address on a google map accurately. AWESOME!!! Still wish I had the ability to flash it right after getting an address if I ever needed to.
https://familymap.wireless.att.com/finder-att-family/signIn.htm
Okay so att now has a service called "FamilyMap" I use it to keep up with family but with the iphone it pinpoints it down to the street address on a google map accurately. AWESOME!!! Still wish I had the ability to flash it right after getting an address if I ever needed to.
https://familymap.wireless.att.com/finder-att-family/signIn.htm
Ummm... wrong.
If you phone is stolen, and you call your provider with the IMEI number, the provider can add it to their Equipment Identity Register, which will disable that phone on the provider's network, no matter what SIM you put in the phone.
Additionally, if the provider feeds its EIR to the Central Equipment Identity Register, the phone can be blacklisted worldwide, on any provider that participates in the CEIR.
Don't forget that the actual cost of the iPhone is more than the sign up fee. This may be important because most home owners/ renters insurance has a $500 deductable. Include the price of the case.
I spoke with AT&T about this and they said they do not currently have a way of tracking iPhones, and will not take any action to prevent the re-activation of stolen phones because iPhones are often resold or given to other people. In other words, AT&T doesn't care about theft as long as they are making money providing service.
