How to Avoid Getting Your Cell Phone Stolen: 10 Steps

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

More elaborate, popular and expensive mobile devices and cell phones are becoming more and more appealing to thieves. As never before, many thieves are interested in accessing your wireless services, perhaps to steal your identity. Unless you want to go through all the tedious chores of getting a new phone (or paying unauthorized bills on your bill), you'd do well to find a way to ensure you get your phone back or, at least, make it difficult for your thieves to benefit from it.

Steps

Step 1. Write down the details

Make a list of all the information on your phone and keep it in a safe place. Include the following items:

• Your phone number
• The make and model
• Details on color and appearance
• The PIN code or security lock code

• The IMEI number (present only on GSMs).

  

  Step 2. Add a security mark

  Use an ultraviolet pen to print your zip code and house number on your mobile phone and battery. This will make it easily identifiable as yours, in case it gets lost or stolen. Also, you would do well to write your alternate phone number or e-mail address on your mobile phone. This would make it easier for anyone who eventually found your mobile phone: if they wanted to return it to you, they could contact you. The ultraviolet marking lasts for a couple of months, so you will need to reapply it when you deem it necessary.

  

  Step 3. Use the security code, or PIN, to lock the phone

  This will make it less valuable in the eyes of a thief and deny him access to personal numbers stored on your SIM card.

  

  Step 4. Register your phone with your network operator

  If your phone is stolen, report it to him immediately. By using the IMEI number, they may be able to block your device and account details. Some wireless operators are willing to do this, others are not. This will prevent anyone from using your mobile phone with any network, even if the SIM card is changed.

  • Keep in mind that once your phone is disabled, it may not be reusable, even if it is returned to you.
  • Track this call - date, time, name of the person you spoke to, what they said and their internal phone number. Ask for written confirmation that the phone has been deactivated. This is important in case the thief makes fraudulent charges on your account.

  Step 5. Have your phone number deactivated

  In addition to reporting a lost or stolen mobile phone, you should also have the phone number disabled (not the account) so that no additional charges can be applied to you. Have it deactivated in case the thief finds a way to access your account via another device or if the manager is unwilling to block the mobile. Remember that, as previously mentioned, many thieves benefit from using the service rather than selling the phone, especially between the time they steal it and the time you realize you no longer have it. As in the previous step, please keep detailed references of when you requested account deactivation.

  

  Step 6. Request an immediate and formal investigation from your carrier

  At times, this can prevent (or at least delay) the manager from taking on a collection process, thus tarnishing your credit standing if things go wrong.

  Step 7. File a police report immediately

  Time is money, literally. A thief can charge your bill over € 10,000 in a few hours by making international calls and they may ask you to pay the bill. Some phone companies may require proof that the phone was actually stolen rather than lost. A police report serves as evidence and will make the telephone company more cooperative, especially if insurance is involved. If you continue to have problems with your provider because they did not disable your phone or account in a timely manner and insists on charging you for the charges made by the thief, let them know that you intend to file a complaint with the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), the your state's attorney general's office and the local Public Utility Commission (PUC) (or equivalent authority in your country).

  

  Step 8. Put lime green film on the phone display

  This will make the phone look like an old black and white model. A very experienced hobbyist can also replace all white SMD LEDs with lime green ones (it would be better if he did this not only on the screen, but also on the keyboard). A modern antiques item will distract most thieves, but be warned - it may attract a rare group of thieves on the hunt for vintage items.

  

  Step 9. Install software with phone anti-theft function

  There are manufacturers that provide modern anti-thief programs for mobile phones. The software allows you to remotely connect to your mobile phone to keep it under your control. For example, for Symbian and Android, one of the newest solutions is Theft Aware:; others provide support for Windows Mobile or Blackberry (GadgetTrak).

  

  Step 10. Never leave the phone out of your sight

  Unless you're asleep, of course, always keep your eyes peeled for your phone.

  Advice

  • Cell phones are valuable, both to you and to potential thieves, so be careful when using them in public. Avoid keeping them in sight or using them in crowded areas, where they can be easily snatched out of your hand.
  • If you have a MobileMe account and an iPhone, you can use the "Find my iPhone" feature (the same goes for the iPad, although this article is not about that device).
  • On some Sprint phones (and possibly other carriers), if the default lock code is not 1234, it could be the last 4 digits of your mobile number. For example, if your mobile number is (123) 456-7890, the default lock code might be 7890.
  • IMEI, which stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity, is the 15-digit number that uniquely identifies the phone: you can find it by looking under the battery or by typing * # 06 # on most phones.
  • If by chance the phone has been lost / stolen, the company may not want to give you back the line or your old number, because they think you may be the thief: you must make it clear that you are the owner, reciting the detailed history of the phone., telling how many hours you were usually on the phone, how many times the phone was replaced, how much you paid for the service, etc. You have to prove that you are the real owner by telling their story.
  • If you own a Nokia 60 series phone (ex E61, 6620, etc.) or some others, you can enable a remote lock command. This allows you to send a message (sms) to the phone to block it remotely. If your phone doesn't support this option, products like Theft Aware will help you do this anyway.
  • If you are in the UK, the Home Office and Police also recommend that you visit ImMobilise. It is a freely joinable service that allows you to register your equipment with your contact details. If an item of your property is recovered, the police are able to access this information, and when a person whose cell phone has the IMEI number of a stolen phone is reported, this is usually sufficient for them to be escorted to the local police station..

  Warnings

  • Always store your phone deep inside your jacket or coat pocket whenever you are on the road.
  • Do not leave your mobile phone unattended. It only takes a second to grab it. Keep it safe and out of sight.
  • Never reveal your PIN or SIM Lock code under any circumstances, unless asked by who is authorized.
  • Don't lose your security code. Managers can give you the PIN code, but the security code that is set on your phone can usually only be reset with a software reset performed by the manufacturer. This means that you will have to go to or send the device to a repair center.
  • Keep in mind the possibility that you have simply lost your cell phone and that whoever found it intends to return it to you. Be polite under all circumstances, even if you suspect theft.
  • If you live in the United States, all of these tips won't work for you. Some cell phone companies in the United States deactivate the phone via the IMEI number in a different way than we have described.