Mobile operators block looted smartphones from their networks

Jan

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Vodacom and MTN block smartphones stolen in looting

South Africa’s mobile operators are blocking smartphones and tablets stolen during July’s looting in parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal from connecting to their networks.

Multiple mobile network stores and other shops which held stock of mobile devices were hit during the violence.
 
They should lock the phones immediately. If it is in the process of being locked then some people who bought the phones 2nd hand are also going to be victims
 
Unfortunately, these will be taken out of SA where it works 100%.
I once came across a phone that I discovered via saps it was stolen. I asked vodacom to either give me the owners contact number or pass my number to the owner so that I could return it. THEY REFUSED.
 
The network operators have missed an opportunity here: allow the looters to spend money topping up the SIM cards in the stolen devices, and gobble up the airtime / data / bundles with no explanation (just black hole it).

When the looters come in to complain about their money that has gone down the drain, have them arrested (the same goes for anyone that bought a stolen device).

Another thing that could be done, is to blacklist SIM cards inserted into stolen devices (all those SIM cards that have been illegally RICA'ed with fake ID and residential address details), until eventually the village idiot looters insert a SIM card that can be traced.
 
swim said:
Correct got my phone stolen and its still in use by the perp i can still track it via my Imei. Vodacom know about it and they wont block it.
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That's because it was stolen from you, so no loss to them, unless they block it.
 
These phones will unfortunately work on any Wifi network :-/
 
swim said:
Correct got my phone stolen and its still in use by the perp i can still track it via my Imei. Vodacom know about it and they wont block it.
Click to expand...
How did you track your iphone through the IMEI number? Please help my sealed iphone was stolen.
 
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