Stolen Phone- Apple & AT&T don't protect customers

[StoneColdSober]

Although I share your concerns about the ease at which stolen iPhones can be activated, I don't think it's part of a larger conspiracy for Apple and AT&T to make more money.

IMEI's can be blocked on a cellular network. However, AT&T has to have a police report in order to block the IMEI. I would suggest calling 611 back and asking them what the procedures are for getting that IMEI blocked from the network. It CAN be done with a police report.

That said I do agree it's B.S. that anyone has to go through that. You'd think they'd block IMEI's with a single phone call from the customer simply to cut down on insurance fraud.

The cellular provider's requirement for a police report is actually a smart idea and it is there to protect the customers. Think about how much security is actually required to make changes on an account, really very little. With AT&T they generally ask you to verify the last 4 of your social security number. That's it unless you have password protected your account.

Now imagine that ex-girlfriend you just broke up with, you know the one that lived with you and had access to all of your records, the one that is PO'd because she came home and caught you in bed with another woman. Now imagine she is so PO'd she gets her brother to call the cell phone company claiming he is you and he tells them to suspend your account and that your iPhone was stolen and because she had access to your personal information, he can verify the the last 4 of your social security number. So because the cellular provider didn't require the police report, they lock your imei and lock your account blocking any usage.

That's an ugly situation but one that happens more often than you might think. And trust me, once the provider takes this action based on the claim of theft the trouble you will have to go through to get it fixed is much greater than you might suspect.

 

[MichaelLogan]

Now thats just gay of at&t

And that's just unnecessarily offensive of you. Grow up.

 

[Moi un Mouton]

That's an ugly situation but one that happens more often than you might think.

Not as often as a stolen phone. It's just a couldn't-care-less policy on the part of AT&T. But I'm sure they're happy to have you inventing far-fetched scenarios to justify their actions, maybe they'll give you some free minutes.

 

[theBB]

Now imagine that ex-girlfriend you just broke up with, you know the one that lived with you and had access to all of your records, ...

That would make sense if the phone company would refuse to deactivate your SIM card without a police report, as well. Right now, in the case of this imaginary angry girlfriend, she can still render your SIM card and your phone useless with just a phone call, but the thieves can easily use your cell phone. They do not have this policy to help the customers, they are just trying to avoid work for something that will not bring them any new revenue.

 

[bluenoise]

Although I share your concerns about the ease at which stolen iPhones can be activated, I don't think it's part of a larger conspiracy for Apple and AT&T to make more money.

IMEI's can be blocked on a cellular network. However, AT&T has to have a police report in order to block the IMEI. I would suggest calling 611 back and asking them what the procedures are for getting that IMEI blocked from the network. It CAN be done with a police report.

That said I do agree it's B.S. that anyone has to go through that. You'd think they'd block IMEI's with a single phone call from the customer simply to cut down on insurance fraud.

I would be glad if they required more than just a phone call to block the IMEI. Once someone finds out your IMEI, what's to prevent them from calling your provider and reporting it stolen? Perhaps the provider should qualify the caller's ID the same way they do for any account-related business, but I still think it would be too easy to abuse.

 

[StoneColdSober]

The point you are missing is that a lost or stolen piece of equipment can't continue to rack up usage charges if the SIM is blocked. Whereas a blocked IMEI is meaningless if the thief can take the SIM card out and put it into another phone. In the time it takes to file a police report, a thief could potentially rack up $100's in charges (in some jurisdictions, possible $1000's) making international calls.

Having worked support for a cellular provider (Nextel years ago, and they use SIM cards as well), it was much easier when I worked there to block and unblock a SIM card than it was an imei. Not saying it couldn't be done, my point is, when someone called in saying a phone was lost/stolen, the first thing we would do is place a lock on the account, effectively preventing the SIM from working in any phone. This was to protect the caller from unauthorized calls on the cell.

If the service was locked out because someone had called in lying, which did happen, the subscriber would usually immediately call in saying their service wasn't working and unfortunately they would be forced to jump through some hoops to prove who they were as their account had obviously been compromised. Once they had provided proof of identity, we would restore service and then setup additional security on the account.

It was easy to reactivate the service on a new SIM card for the customer. Once a police report was provided, we would then block the imei. Blocking the imei was a much more in depth process and much harder to undo.

My point about the ex-girlfriend (exes of any sort really, boyfriends, wives, husbands) was not that they would call in all the time to report phones stolen but we would get many calls from exes in an attempt to mess with the subscribers account in one way or another and cause them grief. And yes, it happed a lot.

 

[26139]

Out of this situation there is a bit of hope. My employer's insurance company is going to cover the cost of the iPhone and GPS unit. The better part is I have friends in the police department that work in the area this occured. They are working on a way of tracking the iPhone and arresting the chicken sh*t coward that did this.

I wish you the best of luck. I left my removable faceplate on my car stereo in ONCE after playing basketball with a bunch of buddies. I parked my car not 30 feet from my front door and it was gone by morning.

People are *******s.

 

[method84]

I wish you the best of luck. I left my removable faceplate on my car stereo in ONCE after playing basketball with a bunch of buddies. I parked my car not 30 feet from my front door and it was gone by morning.

People are *******s.

Thanks dude I appreciate it and Im sorry that happened to you.

 

[26139]

ya know...

Thanks dude I appreciate it and Im sorry that happened to you.

I don't think the problem will be solved by making it harder to steal, though.

Drug addiction is a health care problem, not a criminal one. Ever wonder how much crime would go down if drugs were readily available? I really don't have a problem with someone smoking crack, as long as they don't steal from me to get it.

And we REALLY should have some sort of sterility gun so crack heads and whores stop reproducing.

 

[Moi un Mouton]

The point you are missing is that a lost or stolen piece of equipment can't continue to rack up usage charges if the SIM is blocked.

I think you're missing the point that someone stealing an iPhone wants a usable phone, not a SIM. Most probably to sell on. If the IMEI were blocked it would be useless. By refusing to block the IMEI, AT&T is ensuring that the thieves get their wish and a stolen phone remains an item of value. It's just laziness and lack of concern for the customer.

 

[JPIndustrie]

No guns involved. Ever heard of pickpockets? Anyways, blaming the victim of any crime is a pretty lame response.

I still fail to see how this is not your fault. Ever heard of the front pocket? Inside pocket?

It still comes down to you being careful enough not to have your stuff stolen.

And yes. You're right. ATT/Apple doesn't care. They already have your money. They have specific systems and technicalities in place to remove liability on their end. So where should it go? Your's, genius.

 

[Sauron's Master]

I still fail to see how this is not your fault. Ever heard of the front pocket? Inside pocket?

It still comes down to you being careful enough not to have your stuff stolen.

And yes. You're right. ATT/Apple doesn't care. They already have your money. They have specific systems and technicalities in place to remove liability on their end. So where should it go? Your's, genius.

So if I come to your house and shoot you, it'll be your fault because you were in the way of my bullet and were too genetically inferior to dodge, right?

Great logic. And, genius, it's yours.

 

[Xtgirl]

This has to be the only forum where a victim of a crime is berated and ridiculed....come on.....if he had been stabbed while having his belongings stolen would it still be his fault?

Honestly, this really disgusts me in so many ways. I guess victims of crimes are always asking for it....we should blame them because they were the cause of the crime....not the thief. It's not like he was waving his phone around daring someone to steal it.....I guess simply carrying your phone on your person is just asking for trouble......

 

[whatever3000]

Apple Don't Care About Stolen/lost Iphones

Ok! I finally got an iphone last year because it was a need to help me with my online business.

I been a Apple/Mac user for over 19 years and I love macs, but I did not buy the iphone when it first came out because it was too much money for a cellphone. On top of that: AT&T as a service provider? AT&T was and still is the most expensive service provider.

Last year, 2009, I got the iphone with the $200.00 dollar deal. I thought! Wow! Finally Apple lower the prices. I signed for cheapest cellphone service with AT&T, I was more interested in the data plan (internet use) than talking on the iphone. Of course the bad deal was a two year contract with AT&T.

I went to Apple Store to buy the iphone and I don't recall being offer any type of coverage for my equipment.

Three months pass, my iphone was the coolest thing, it help me a lot with my business. Well guess what? I was at a retail store and I went into the bathroom, I don't remember what happend, but I guess I put the iphone on top of the toilet paper dispenser. After leaving the store I realize the iphone was not in my purse. I went running back to the bathroom and nothing. Immediately I ask the employee at the counter of the store to see if someone brought the iphone over, but nothing. Then I staring calling it, the founder decided to keep it since she did not want to speak when she answer the iphone or did not want to pick up any of my "millions" phone calls.

This is the first time in my life that I loose a cellphone to a person that does not want to return it. Then it hit me! I thought I had just another cellphone! It was not clear in my mind that this was a very desirable product that iphones were stolen left and right. I thought, if it only costs $200.00, anyone can get one!

Now I call AT&T, bad news, to replace my iphone it will cost me $499.00. What?!!! But wait, the iphone just cost me $200.00. Well, the $200.00 iphone is an offer you get when you signed a two year contract with AT&T and in reality the iphone costs $699.00. WHAT A BAD DEAL! So now I am stock with a two year contract with AT&T. Either I pay the $499.00 or I buy a cheaper cellphone and on top of that it will cost me another $25.00 installation fee.

HERE IS WHEN I GET REALLY MAD!!!

Ok Apple! You have the technology to offer us a out of this world cellphone, but you don't have the technology to block iphones? You don't want to offer protection for equipment? What is the deal?

I will tell you what is the deal here: APPLE IS MAKING LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY! You buy a iphone they make money, you lose a iphone the make money again.

Of course the person that found my iphone does not want to return she has it for sale on craigslist.

Now Apple offers MobileMe, that service is no guarantee that the person will return my iphone! Here is what is offers: Locate your iPhone on a map, Set a passcode lock remotely, Display a message or play a sound on your lost iPhone, Protect your privacy with Remote Wipe: here is the link if you want to learn more http://www.apple.com/mobileme/whats-new/. SERVICE COST $99.00 a year. If the person that finds the lost iphone or that steals the iphone can wipe it clean what good is MobileMe to me.

AGAIN APPLE: You have the technology to block iphones if you want!!! You have the technology to block IMEI! You have the type of technology that will make this person who finds or steals iphones to return it to its owner. FOR THAT TYPE OF SERVICE I WILL PAY IF I NEED TOO.

I hope more people post regarding this matter. Because I don't think Apple is giving us much choice but to complain.

 

[Applejuiced]

Maybe if you didnt forget your iphone in the bathroom you wouldnt have this problem......
Apple or AT&T is not in the business of trying to retrieve lost cellphones due to their customers negligence.
You should have known better.

 

[yg17]

Now I call AT&T, bad news, to replace my iphone it will cost me $499.00. What?!!! But wait, the iphone just cost me $200.00. Well, the $200.00 iphone is an offer you get when you signed a two year contract with AT&T and in reality the iphone costs $699.00. WHAT A BAD DEAL! So now I am stock with a two year contract with AT&T. Either I pay the $499.00 or I buy a cheaper cellphone and on top of that it will cost me another $25.00 installation fee.

That's how cell phone pricing has always worked. I don't know why you're so surprised and mad about it.

 

[DJTHEFUNNY]

I Was Told If You have The FamilyMap Or Whatever From ATT As Long As They Havent Messed With it (Like They're Taking It Somewhere To Mess With It ETC) You Can Find Out Where It Is And Call The Police To Get it.

And While You Would Think They Police Wouldn't Be Interested Apparently the Value Of The item Stole Is Determined By The Police As The MSRP (So For iPhones It Would Be Like 500 Bucks) So That Would Be Like Grand Theft

 

[Moi un Mouton]

Once again I think she has the right to be mad at the US cellphone industry for encouraging theft. (The networks, not Apple. Apple has done its bit by making the iPhone IMEI virtually unchangable, afaik)

In the UK the phone would be blocked from all networks by reporting its IMEI to the operator. Phone theft has dropped greatly since that was introduced, because it destroys the value of a stolen phone.

Yes, people are careless and forgetful sometimes, it's in our nature, but why are people on this forum always so ready to say "it's all your own fault, tough luck on you, ha ha ha" and excuse the networks for their behaviour? It would cost AT&T nothing at all to introduce IMEI blocking for stolen phones - and as people point out often on here, on AT&T you pay a lot more for service already than equivalent charges in Europe. Don't people in the US want to make thieving a less attractive pastime? I for one don't get it.

 

[sapporobaby]

Surely, every cellphone doesn't cost between $400 and $600. And those in the upper price range almost always offer insurance plans that cover loss or theft. The iPhone is 3x to 4x more expensive than most phones and is not offered with any such coverage. This makes it different from other phones. Would you at least concede those points?

And what exactly do you mean that every cellphone is the same? Doesn't an iPhone actually transmit its Serial number when it's registered through iTunes? Doesn't that make it different/more trackable than other cellphones?

I'm asking a real question here, and the usual Hobbesian "keep an eye on your stuff" response isn't going to get us anywhere.

Without going down the you should or should not be careful route, I will simply correct your misunderstanding of cell phones because of the pitiful state of the North American market. Cell phones actually do cost $400, $500, $600, and in some cases $700. Just because yours was most likely subsidized does not mean that they are inexpensive. Point being, ALL phones are expensive.

 

[Applejuiced]

Once again I think she has the right to be mad at the US cellphone industry for encouraging theft. (The networks, not Apple. Apple has done its bit by making the iPhone IMEI virtually unchangable, afaik)

In the UK the phone would be blocked from all networks by reporting its IMEI to the operator. Phone theft has dropped greatly since that was introduced, because it destroys the value of a stolen phone.

Yes, people are careless and forgetful sometimes, it's in our nature, but why are people on this forum always so ready to say "it's all your own fault, tough luck on you, ha ha ha" and excuse the networks for their behaviour? It would cost AT&T nothing at all to introduce IMEI blocking for stolen phones - and as people point out often on here, on AT&T you pay a lot more for service already than equivalent charges in Europe. Don't people in the US want to make thieving a less attractive pastime? I for one don't get it.

In order to do that here in the US all networks would have to implement it. Not just AT&T. And either way a phone gets blacklisted in the uk it can still be sold and used on any other network outside. All this along with how subsidys work and why you can't get the promo price any time you want is common knowleadge that hasn't changed for many years. People come here all surprised and figure them out after they lost their cellphone and cry and complain towards Apple and AT&T.
Nonsense.
I forgot my jacket somewhere, I'm pissed off that Nike won't help me find it or give me another one at a discounted price.

 

[DJTHEFUNNY]

i agree that she has the right to be mad.

 

[Moi un Mouton]

In order to do that here in the US all networks would have to implement it. Not just AT&T.

Correct. So? It still only needs one shared blacklist. Don't people in the US want to make stealing phones a less attractive pastime?

 

[unixfool]

So, my wallet, with $400 in it, was stolen last night. I called Billabong and I was told that there was no way for them to block the thief from inserting their own cash and credit cards and using my wallet!!

Billabong customer service claims that they are working on greater security measures to prevent thieves from using stolen wallets in the future. Basically, I don't buy it. I have no doubt that they have some system that will flag wallets that are reported lost or stolen. But they lack real incentive, short of a lawsuit, to change the status quo.

Here's why: when you wallet is stolen, Billabong makes another $50 sale (you gotta get a new wallet, right?) and Billabong gets a new customer, the thief. What a way to double sales AND screw your customers. And since they offer no insurance for theft or loss on the wallet, you're basically carrying around $400 cash in your pocket.

If anyone thinks my understanding of this situation is wrong, please let me know.

Thanks,
Darren.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

 

[Applejuiced]

Correct. So? It still only needs one shared blacklist. Don't people in the US want to make stealing phones a less attractive pastime?

The question is are wireless carriers willing to bother blacklisting on and off cellphones and go thru the added legwork? Probably not.

 

[unixfool]

Im just reading this post and it just makes me more angry that some of you have the attitude of "well, take better care of your belongings, blah, blah, blah". For one AT&T doesnt offer insurance, if they did, I would of purchased it. Unfortunately, I am another person who was f*cked over by some skinny crackhead trying to get their next high. I was working overtime this weekend, for my company, in the city, locked all my doors (very OCD about this), Go inside, do the job, come back out and well, not only is my brand new iPhone 3G gone but so is my Tom Tom. Some genious decided to break the drivers side window at 10:30 in the morning in broad daylight. Who are you going to point a finger at in this case? Some things are just out of your control and theres nothing you can do about it. But, it would be nice if AT&T or Apple showed a little more care to their loyal customers who pay in 100+ dollars a month for the service and high $$ for the phone. Now the crackhead either has A.) more crack than usual or B.) a very expensive iPod Touch.

AT&T didn't do the f*cking, in your case or the OP's. It was the people who stole your phones. I don't believe AT&T ever stated that they sold insurance or offered tracking/blocking capability for the iPhone.

If my car got stolen and I didn't have OnStar (or whatever brand of car service), they wouldn't be able to track the car or block its usage, no matter how much I begged. And a car is worth a crapload more than any iPhone, 99% of the time. Yeah, insurance can be bought for a car (different plans offer different options, but only comprehensive is mandatory), but if you're using insurance to replace a stolen car, that's a little late...you want to prevent theft, not be reactionary to theft. Just because AT&T is capable doesn't mean they offer it as a service.

To the OP: Maybe you should've thought about getting State Farm insurance BEFORE it got stolen. I've never been pickpocketed but it would be kinda hard for someone to get my phone, as its kept in a belt clip with a velcro flap, and I'm usually not allowing any personal space evasion. Maybe you need deeper pockets??

Get mad at the person who stole it, not at the place you're buying the phone service.