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Locating stolen phone using IMIE
- Thread starter rythmman
- Start date
Depends... A good few years ago, on the Vodacrap website, I could see the IMEIs of every phone that my sim was inserted in.
So the data is out there somewhere, however, I resume these crooks would use software and change the imei.
You could potentially get some telecoms forensic to do this, but I am not sure if the cost is worth it.
So the data is out there somewhere, however, I resume these crooks would use software and change the imei.
You could potentially get some telecoms forensic to do this, but I am not sure if the cost is worth it.
Dairyfarmer
Executive Member
It's easy to change the IMEI number through the Engineering Mode. No rooting needed.
*#*#3646633#*#*
*#*#3646633#*#*
supersunbird
Honorary Master
Assuming it is a smartphone one should enable the brands phonefinder software and even install a 3rd party software like Prey that will prevent it being switched off if screen is locked (if it has a better lock screen than swipe and a built in battery), before it is stolen.
Or else your only step is to blacklist it.
supersunbird
Honorary Master
Report it as stolen with police, then phone you network, I think, all it means is it shouldn't work in SA networks.
Dairyfarmer
Executive Member
You can remove the battery or, if the battery is soldered into place, wait a day or so for the battery to go flat.
Boot phone into recovery mode.
Remove any installed tracking software.
Change imei
supersunbird
Honorary Master
Correct fix would be removing the SIM card and then letting it drain
(as I had addressed the battery removal thing in my post you didn't quote fully)
Dairyfarmer
Executive Member
(Un)fortunatly for us in SA there are also network dead spots. The criminals take the phones there and leave them till the battery drains. Much quicker when the phone is continuously trying to get network.
You could track your phone to a point, but to try and get law enforcement to react. If you went to your local police station it would take an hour just to explain to the desk clerk that you know where your phone is. Another two hours for them to take a statement. The police are not going to do much about a phone anyway and all you are going to do is stress yourself out. Just report it stolen and get a case number for insurance.
Make sure you know how to erase and lock your phone via Google. Get on to Google as soon as you realise your phone is gone. Then report it to the network so that they can stop the sim card.
You could track your phone to a point, but to try and get law enforcement to react. If you went to your local police station it would take an hour just to explain to the desk clerk that you know where your phone is. Another two hours for them to take a statement. The police are not going to do much about a phone anyway and all you are going to do is stress yourself out. Just report it stolen and get a case number for insurance.
Make sure you know how to erase and lock your phone via Google. Get on to Google as soon as you realise your phone is gone. Then report it to the network so that they can stop the sim card.
ToAsTeD
Expert Member
Maybe back in the day - now days they hardcoded into the hardware
Dairyfarmer
Executive Member
I flashed a pair of phones this weekend. Had to specify IMEI numbers in engineering mode to get the sims to work.