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I found a Kaiser phone at my house after a party I had last weekend. It had a password on it but no sim card in it. I asked around and none of my friends/anyone we know are missing a kaiser, so I guess this one is up for grabs. I did some research on it and it seems to be a really excellent phone, a significant upgrade from my old, old razr, so since no one has claimed it I thought about keeping it.
My question is if I put my sim card into it, is there any way AT&T can track me down and accuse me of stealing it? If so, I may as well just sell it on ebay or craigslist rather than go through the hassle of defending myself over something that was left at my house.
well considering it was left at your house and if you asked everyone there if they lost it and they said no I wouldn't worry about it.
You might want to consider something really radical, taking it to AT&T and let them track down the owner. If it has a SIM card they can determine who is the owner.
GPS my foot!
a gentleman said:
I found a Kaiser phone at my house after a party I had last weekend. It had a password on it but no sim card in it.
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And this has what to do with GPS?
Seems strange to say the least - who goes around with a phone with the sim slot empty
I asked around and none of my friends/anyone we know are missing a kaiser...
My question is if I put my sim card into it, is there any way AT&T can track me down and accuse me of stealing it?
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Now you have my attention, my advise is to report it to AT&T and hand it in to the Police. Even if your party guests cant remember losing a Tilt at your place, there's no doubt it does belong to someone and that someone will be missing it. Even if that someone has insurance which covers it, the phone will be locked if an attempt is made to use it (at least thats what they do here in the UK) so it's only worth will be as parts but even then they're not your parts to sell.
Put yourself in the shoes of the person who has 'lost' it. If it's an AT&T contract phone, the IMEI number will enable them to track down the rightful owner very quickly and even if the sticker/markings are defaced, that info is within the phones programming.
a gentleman said:
I found a Kaiser phone at my house after a party I had last weekend. It had a password on it but no sim card in it. I asked around and none of my friends/anyone we know are missing a kaiser, so I guess this one is up for grabs. I did some research on it and it seems to be a really excellent phone, a significant upgrade from my old, old razr, so since no one has claimed it I thought about keeping it.
My question is if I put my sim card into it, is there any way AT&T can track me down and accuse me of stealing it? If so, I may as well just sell it on ebay or craigslist rather than go through the hassle of defending myself over something that was left at my house.
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Hmm no offence but this sounds a bit dodgy...why would someone leave a phone which costs around 300 pounds and not try to find it? The first thing I'd do would be to trace back my activities on the day I lost my phone. So you would have me in your house the next day asking if you haven't found it.
True but if it's a kaiser oem and not an actual Tilt, AT&T might not have the info. Taking it to the police is good, also you can put an ad in the paper stating lost PDA but not give what it is to see if real owner calls.
Flying Kiwi said:
And this has what to do with GPS?
Seems strange to say the least - who goes around with a phone with the sim slot empty
.
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Exactly my friend.
Dodgy!!!
I actually found a Sidekick2 at my local Target a few months back just sitting on a shelf in an aisle I was shopping in. I took it up to customer service and turned it in the lady asked me how they would be able to find out who's it was I said call 611 T-Mobile will know.
n3rxs said:
I actually found a Sidekick2 at my local Target a few months back just sitting on a shelf in an aisle I was shopping in. I took it up to customer service and turned it in the lady asked me how they would be able to find out who's it was I said call 611 T-Mobile will know.
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Ok but it had a sim card right???
Esteel said:
You might want to consider something really radical, taking it to AT&T and let them track down the owner. If it has a SIM card they can determine who is the owner.
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I live in the United States. The nearest AT&T store is about 50 minutes one way away from my home, which translates to about $30 in gas to just to turn it in. I stated in the original post that it did not have a SIM in it.
-Arturo- said:
Hmm no offence but this sounds a bit dodgy...why would someone leave a phone which costs around 300 pounds and not try to find it? The first thing I'd do would be to trace back my activities on the day I lost my phone. So you would have me in your house the next day asking if you haven't found it.
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A bit dodgy? I suppose you're implying that you think I stole it. Let me reassure you I did not. It was Saturday night over a week ago, people were drinking, and there were friends of friends who came to the party that my roommates and I didn't know. In an age of dual SIM slots, separate work and personal phones, and college kids who share phones, is it impossible to believe that someone may have swapped the card out and then mistakenly forgot where they lost the phone? It has been over a week and there has been no word from anyone, nor has anyone shown up at my doorstep.
n3rxs said:
True but if it's a kaiser oem and not an actual Tilt, AT&T might not have the info. Taking it to the police is good, also you can put an ad in the paper stating lost PDA but not give what it is to see if real owner calls.
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It is an actual Tilt. Says AT&T on the top right corner. Once again let me stress that spending money to find the owner of this phone is out of the question. At the moment I am $28 short of the money I need to buy a ($158, used) book required to do my homework for college. My solution? I'm basically not eating while going into class super early to borrow a classmate's book to do my homework until I can afford to purchase my own.
As I said before, I live in the United States. If I turned it in to the police here, one of two things would happen:
1.) It would sit on a shelf indefinitely and the cops would snicker behind my back as I left.
2.) It would sit on a shelf until a cop decided it would be a nice upgrade for him.
Either way, if I turned it into the police the owner would not get it back. All I want to know is, if I used this as my own phone, would AT&T care/make a big enough deal out of it that it could cause me legal trouble?
We've got a great mystery on our hands.
Sherlock Holmes​
and
The SIMless Kaiser​
The missing SIM card is the greatest mystery. Who would leave their phone behind without the SIM card? Was the SIM door open when you found it? What state was it in? On or off? What applications were open? Does it have an AT&T ROM?
No justification to keep it or sell it from me.
a gentleman said:
I live in the United States. The nearest AT&T store is about 50 minutes one way away from my home, which translates to about $30 in gas to just to turn it in.
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Do you think there may be other options to notify a company that deals in communications technology apart from a personal visit?
I stated in the original post that it did not have a SIM in it.
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I stated in my post that it does have an IMEI number though and that does allow it's rightful owner to be traced (along with its serial number, any identifying marks/scratches or even fingerprints if it came down to it). Why have you not responded to my post? You asked for advise and I tried to help.
and then re the US Police
1.) It would sit on a shelf indefinitely and the cops would snicker behind my back as I left.
2.) It would sit on a shelf until a cop decided it would be a nice upgrade for him.
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and then
Either way, if I turned it into the police the owner would not get it back
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I think you've been watching to many episodes of The Simpsons. Cheif Wiggum isn't their roll model.
All I want to know is, if I used this as my own phone, would AT&T care/make a big enough deal out of it that it could cause me legal trouble?
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I've already answered that issue so what part of the phone being locked when someone attempts to use it isn't clear? I think you have already decided what you want to do and are now looking for justifications to support that. You're not going to get that from me.
Flying Kiwi said:
Do you think there may be other options to notify a company that deals in communications technology apart from a personal visit?
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Well, I decided to take your advice and call AT&T. The representative basically told me I have two options.
1.) Keep the phone.
2.) Pay to ship it to them.
He refused to answer any questions regarding legality of my use of it. At least I know now that AT&T doesn't care. It's another phone sale for them, after all.
Flying Kiwi said:
I stated in my post that it does have an IMEI number though and that does allow it's rightful owner to be traced (along with its serial number, any identifying marks/scratches or even fingerprints if it came down to it). Why have you not responded to my post? You asked for advise and I tried to help.
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AT&T apparently isn't interested in tracing the phone back to them. They didn't even ask me for the IMEI.
Flying Kiwi said:
and then re the US Police
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You're out of your element, limey. Talk to me when you live in a country whose federal prison system houses over 2,000,000 felons, instead of 70,000. The cops don't give a rat's rainbow ass about lost cell phones when there are real crimes being committed.
Flying Kiwi said:
I've already answered that issue so what part of the phone being locked when someone attempts to use it isn't clear? I think you have already decided what you want to do and are now looking for justifications to support that. You're not going to get that from me.
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You haven't answered a goddamn thing. I asked one simple question. Allow me to reiterate and explain. The police here need proper motivation to take something seriously. If I handed a phone in at the police station, they would likely laugh in my face. However, if some whiny moron comes in and reports a phone stolen and continues pressing the issue over and over with them, and then I turn up using it with my SIM card in it, I'm afraid they'll assume I'm guilty of stealing it when I am not. That is why I asked this ONE simple question that not a single person in this thread has answered. The circumstances of my acquisition are completely moot at this point. All I want is an opinion on whether or not my using this Kaiser could result in legal problems.
The only solutions I've been offered are ways to get the phone back to it's rightful owner. This is not the issue. This will not happen. I have already done everything in my power to try to get the phone back to who it belonged to (notice; PAST-TENSE).
Now allow me to once again make this perfectly clear. Does anyone have any experience with UNITED STATES police regarding their dedication to investigating reports of phone theft, and does my use of the phone in any way give them legal grounds to ASSUME that I am the thief and to cause me legal troubles when I did nothing wrong?
Edit: I just realized that you believe that AT&T locks the phone here. They do not. They do not enforce the blacklist, so should I put my SIM card in, I will be able to use it.
a gentleman said:
Well, I decided to take your advice and call AT&T. The representative basically told me I have two options.
1.) Keep the phone.
2.) Pay to ship it to them.
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So you're telling us they weren't interested in providing you with a freepost address or sending you a prepaid envelope to send it to them in?
He refused to answer any questions regarding legality of my use of it.
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Why, if he said you could keep it (your words not mine), what would be the point unless it could be used. Somethings not adding up here.
At least I know now that AT&T doesn't care. It's another phone sale for them, after all.
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What makes you come to that conclusion? You say you made one call, are you judging all of AT&T on that basis? What makes you think it's another phone sale for them, the person who 'lost' the phone may well be using another old phone until the contract expires or they may have bought a different phone elsewhere to use on the AT&T network.
AT&T apparently isn't interested in tracing the phone back to them. They didn't even ask me for the IMEI.
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Did they say they're not (apparently) interested in tracking the phone back to them or is it just that they cant tell you who the rightful owner is for data protection reasons - you're jumping to a conclusion there which I think is the wrong one. Did you even offer the IMEI to them? It's a pity we don't have the other persons account of how the phone conversation went because there are lots of things here that don't add up.
You're out of your element, limey.
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Do you think from my forum name that I may not be a 'limey' or does anyone currently residing in the UK automatically 'earn' that title?
The cops don't give a rat's rainbow ass about lost cell phones when there are real crimes being committed.
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Over here in limey land cellphone theft is commonly associated with other forms of crime as well so it'd be an unwise police officer who didn't take any interest in such an expensive phone turning up looking to go back to its rightful owner.
You haven't answered a goddamn thing.
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Not one thing eh or could it be my answers just aren't what you were hoping for?
I asked one simple question.
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I think it's reasonable for people to offer advise based on your question even though it may not directly answer all of your question, after all, most of us here aren't lawyers who are trained to provide legal advise.
If I handed a phone in at the police station, they would likely laugh in my face.
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I seriously doubt that. When I handed in a (quite valuable looking) phone I found left on a train seat to the train companies lost and found dept and reported it to the police a few months ago, there was no laughing in my face at all, not even a little bit. In fact all involved were grateful and from what I gathered in my follow-up, the person later came and claimed their phone back.
However, if some whiny moron comes in and reports a phone stolen and continues pressing the issue over and over with them, and then I turn up using it with my SIM card in it, I'm afraid they'll assume I'm guilty of stealing it when I am not.
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Even though you say YOU didn't steal it, how do you know it's not stolen (by someone else)? I wouldn't give you much of a chance if a case went to court for you having possession of a stolen item and you claimed well I didn't steal it and I'd done everything I reasonably can to try and sort it, without having at least handed it into the Police. Is that the sort of legal advise you wanted or is does that conflict to much with your plan to keep the phone or sell it for gain? As for keeping it, you are right I wasn't aware AT&T don't lock phones reported missing but I am aware networks can tell roughly where a given phone is while being used. If you want me to hold your hand and say there'll be no problems if you keep it or sell it, I'm unwilling to offer that. The fact you repeatedly don't seem willing to accept advise that is offered makes me think this is some kind of leg pulling excercise - if it is, congratulations, you've succeded in pulling my leg.
Flying Kiwi said:
So you're telling us they weren't interested in providing you with a freepost address or sending you a prepaid envelope to send it to them in?
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Yes.
Flying Kiwi said:
Why, if he said you could keep it (your words not mine), what would be the point unless it could be used. Somethings not adding up here.
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Perhaps it had something to do with the "This call may be monitored for quality assurance" recording before he picked up?
Flying Kiwi said:
What makes you come to that conclusion? You say you made one call, are you judging all of AT&T on that basis? What makes you think it's another phone sale for them, the person who 'lost' the phone may well be using another old phone until the contract expires or they may have bought a different phone elsewhere to use on the AT&T network.
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I could tell based on the tone of the representative's voice. He couldn't have cared less whether or not the person got their phone back or even if they bought their next phone from AT&T. However, since their former phone was an AT&T product, it is more likely than not that their next will be as well.
Flying Kiwi said:
Did they say they're not (apparently) interested in tracking the phone back to them or is it just that they cant tell you who the rightful owner is for data protection reasons - you're jumping to a conclusion there which I think is the wrong one. Did you even offer the IMEI to them? It's a pity we don't have the other persons account of how the phone conversation went because there are lots of things here that don't add up.
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See above.
Flying Kiwi said:
Do you think from my forum name that I may not be a 'limey' or does anyone currently residing in the UK automatically 'earn' that title?
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Automatically earned.
Flying Kiwi said:
Over here in limey land cellphone theft is commonly associated with other forms of crime as well so it'd be an unwise police officer who didn't take any interest in such an expensive phone turning up looking to go back to its rightful owner.
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Your naivety is actually beginning to amuse me.
Flying Kiwi said:
Not one thing eh or could it be my answers just aren't what you were hoping for?
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Please read before you type. I only asked one question. What you offered was conjecture and nonsense.
Flying Kiwi said:
1.) I think it's reasonable for people to offer advise based on your question even though it may not directly answer all of your question, after all, 2.) most of us here aren't lawyers who are trained to provide legal advise.
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1.) Redundant. Not interested.
2.) Wasn't asking for professional legal advice. Was asking for opinions based on past experiences.
Flying Kiwi said:
I seriously doubt that. When I handed in a (quite valuable looking) phone I found left on a train seat to the train companies lost and found dept and reported it to the police a few months ago, there was no laughing in my face at all, not even a little bit. In fact all involved were grateful and from what I gathered in my follow-up, the person later came and claimed their phone back.
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Haha, once again your naivety amuses me. In America, if you were on fire, most people wouldn't piss on you to put it out (that's a figure of speech, if you couldn't tell. Try to think about what it means.), and would step over your corpse if it meant the slightest personal benefit.
Flying Kiwi said:
Even though you say YOU didn't steal it, how do you know it's not stolen (by someone else)? I wouldn't give you much of a chance if a case went to court for you having possession of a stolen item and you claimed well I didn't steal it and I'd done everything I reasonably can to try and sort it, without having at least handed it into the Police. Is that the sort of legal advise you wanted or is does that conflict to much with your plan to keep the phone or sell it for gain? As for keeping it, you are right I wasn't aware AT&T don't lock phones reported missing but I am aware networks can tell roughly where a given phone is while being used. If you want me to hold your hand and say there'll be no problems if you keep it or sell it, I'm unwilling to offer that. The fact you repeatedly don't seem willing to accept advise that is offered makes me think this is some kind of leg pulling excercise - if it is, congratulations, you've succeded in pulling my leg.
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Your English composition is falling apart. In regard to this part of your ridiculous post, I believe I will take your previous advice in that you are clearly quite unqualified to answer any questions regarding the legality of such a subject. Once again I find myself questioning whether you comprehended, or even read my last post. I am not asking for advice. I am asking for opinions and personal experiences that may shed some light on the question I asked.
a gentleman said:
Does anyone have any experience with UNITED STATES police regarding their dedication to investigating reports of phone theft, and does my use of the phone in any way give them legal grounds to ASSUME that I am the thief and to cause me legal troubles when I did nothing wrong?
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Cmon, don't get so upset. You should have known many would frown upon this so let people give their opnion and don't get so upset.
And IMO, do the right thing and be "a gentleman"
good luck whatever direction you happen to choose.
a gentleman said:
In America, if you were on fire, most people wouldn't piss on you to put it out (that's a figure of speech, if you couldn't tell. Try to think about what it means.), and would step over your corpse if it meant the slightest personal benefit.
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Ha! It sounds proposterous, but it's pretty true...I had a good chuckle on this one.
Dude...wether or not you can use the phone is irrelevant cause the law is pretty clear on how you need to treat lost and found property...if caught using it you are as guilty as if you stole it yourself (going by the strict letter of the law)....so the question you need to ask yourself is wether its worth the trouble....the other thing you need to figure out is why would someone leave a phone without a SIM at your house and not claim it...is there a possibility that the phone itself is hot...(previously stolen and conveniently discarded at your place) my advice : too many variables and if's and maybe's just not worth the trouble ....
EDIT :- And yes its possible to track the phone through the IMEI number in the event the original user wants to do it...
Greetings good people of the xda-developers forum!
After a little reading around I figure this is the most apropriate forum to post this thread in, correct me if I'm wrong.
Earlier this year I lost my phone in a cab after a night out, the driver decided to keep my phone instead of turning it in (usually if you leave something in a taxi in this region, you'll have it back with a little humiliation from the taxi-central the day after, not this time though).
A couple months after loosing it, I got a "emergency message" from my lost phone, and it went on and off for a little while untill yesterday when it apparently was taken into use! I have an "invisible" tracking app installed that will survive factory resets and gives me the opportunity to take pictures, record sound and some more.
Anyway, the phone has moved a couple countries away since it was initially lost, so I've lost hope of reclaiming it. My plan now is to give an honest shot at making my phone the most annoying device the new owner has ever had!
I come to this forum now, looking for inspiration/ideas and warning where warnings are due!
Is there anything I really shouldn't do, that could come back and bite me?
What would you do if you were in my situation?
Any good ideas of how to bother this guy?
So far I've only really come up with the idea of wiping his data from time to time..
I appreciate any ideas or warnings!
Thanks!
vengeful said:
Greetings good people of the xda-developers forum!
After a little reading around I figure this is the most apropriate forum to post this thread in, correct me if I'm wrong.
Earlier this year I lost my phone in a cab after a night out, the driver decided to keep my phone instead of turning it in (usually if you leave something in a taxi in this region, you'll have it back with a little humiliation from the taxi-central the day after, not this time though).
A couple months after loosing it, I got a "emergency message" from my lost phone, and it went on and off for a little while untill yesterday when it apparently was taken into use! I have an "invisible" tracking app installed that will survive factory resets and gives me the opportunity to take pictures, record sound and some more.
Anyway, the phone has moved a couple countries away since it was initially lost, so I've lost hope of reclaiming it. My plan now is to give an honest shot at making my phone the most annoying device the new owner has ever had!
I come to this forum now, looking for inspiration/ideas and warning where warnings are due!
Is there anything I really shouldn't do, that could come back and bite me?
What would you do if you were in my situation?
Any good ideas of how to bother this guy?
So far I've only really come up with the idea of wiping his data from time to time..
I appreciate any ideas or warnings!
Thanks!
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it will not back bite you if have retail invoice of that phone do whatever you want
Isn't it possible, even with sim card phones, to call your carrier, report it stolen, and have it basically bricked so Noone can use it again. I know they can with like sprint and Verizon phones that don't take sim cards. But I've heard of it happening with sim devices too. I would just try calling your carrier.
If that don't work. I'd leave it alone. The person who has your phone now probably isn't the person who took it. Which is why it was sold out of the country. And that person most likely doesn't deserve all that crap
Contemplating getting the S5....
SaintCity86 said:
Isn't it possible, even with sim card phones, to call your carrier, report it stolen, and have it basically bricked so Noone can use it again. I know they can with like sprint and Verizon phones that don't take sim cards. But I've heard of it happening with sim devices too. I would just try calling your carrier.
If that don't work. I'd leave it alone. The person who has your phone now probably isn't the person who took it. Which is why it was sold out of the country. And that person most likely doesn't deserve all that crap
Contemplating getting the S5....
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That's the nasty part of stealing a phone. The Carrier will lock the "ESN" (Electronic Serial Number) so all they need to do is flash it over to another carrier... I.E. if you have a GSN type phone from say AT&T you can flash the software over to T-Mobile who doesn't give a flying flip about a stolen ESN (As a example) I personally have T-Mobile... They did try to make a law making req the manufacture to add a "Kill Switch" allowing the consumer to render the phone useless how ever that did not pass... SO Basically some one steals your phone that's it nothing you can do but buy another phone or hack into it like the OP..
TO OP: I'd go Impractical Jokers Style. Ease drop on him and play really dirty sounds (Porn sounds... moans/grunts etc) then Fry the phone... **** that guy he had to know it was stolen and if he didn't he's a fool... Check your ESN's People!
abhishek 9650 said:
it will not back bite you if have retail invoice of that phone do whatever you want
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For the record, I do have the invoice.
SaintCity86 said:
Isn't it possible, even with sim card phones, to call your carrier, report it stolen, and have it basically bricked so Noone can use it again. I know they can with like sprint and Verizon phones that don't take sim cards. But I've heard of it happening with sim devices too. I would just try calling your carrier.
If that don't work. I'd leave it alone. The person who has your phone now probably isn't the person who took it. Which is why it was sold out of the country. And that person most likely doesn't deserve all that crap
Contemplating getting the S5....
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It is indeed possible, but not flawless. There is supposed to be some automation to it in the country the phone was initially lost, but either this automation failed or it's sucess is the reason it left that country. Problem is though, the idea is that they block the IMEI from the networks, but some countries are not part of this agreement/system.
I think the guy who is currently in posession of the phone knows perfectly well how it was acquired. Judging from pictures taken through the phone, the taxi-driver and the current holder of the phone may very well be related. Also, the phone had it's language changed to Arabic by the taxi-driver, this has not been changed by the new user (not that it prooves anything). There is also the fact that the SIM inserted in the phone in the country I lost it in, followed the phone over to the current country, where it was replaced by what appears to be a prepaid SIM. I don't think this phone was up for sale anywhere, I think the taxidriver sold or gave it away to some family member coming to visit.
As mentioned, I have no hope of having it returned. I'm not gonna push this too far, but I do feel like putting a dent in his joy over his shadily acquired device.
Drooling a little over the HTC One M8
Tangodown78 said:
That's the nasty part of stealing a phone. The Carrier will lock the "ESN" (Electronic Serial Number) so all they need to do is flash it over to another carrier... I.E. if you have a GSN type phone from say AT&T you can flash the software over to T-Mobile who doesn't give a flying flip about a stolen ESN (As a example) I personally have T-Mobile... They did try to make a law making req the manufacture to add a "Kill Switch" allowing the consumer to render the phone useless how ever that did not pass... SO Basically some one steals your phone that's it nothing you can do but buy another phone or hack into it like the OP..
TO OP: I'd go Impractical Jokers Style. Ease drop on him and play really dirty sounds (Porn sounds... moans/grunts etc) then Fry the phone... **** that guy he had to know it was stolen and if he didn't he's a fool... Check your ESN's People!
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As far as I've understood, in the European countries that are part of this agreement any locked IMEI number will be locked out of all mobile networks, this can only be worked around by changing the IMEI number or shipping the phone off to some country that is not part of this agreement. In the country my phone was lost the police send a notification to the networks when they recieve a lost/stolen report. Not sure if it went through in my case.
My list of options are limited to what my tracking software allows me to do, sadly (or happily, depending how you look at it) my programming skills are not by far sufficient for me to go beyond what the software offers, allthough I reckon someone with the right knowledge could use the tracking software as a backdoor into the device?
Wow. I'll be honest, I never thought them tracking apps would ever give you anything useful, but if your able to basically see every picture they take, take pictures yourself...I think that's crazy... wipe the phone....
What exactly can you do with yours? Read texts sent and received on the phone? Does it gps track its location on demand? Even if the gps is disabled in the device itself?
You said the one you have stays on the device even after restores and factory resets? What's the name of the app?
As for the locked esns.... If an American cell company like tmo locks one up, is that gonna stick over any of the carriers in the US? Basically, all 4 of them?
Cuz I know before, as long as you had a sim card, it didn't matter, you just swapped it for a new one.
Contemplating getting the S5....
Wish they did that here... though the explanation was for the poster above me... Id use what ever i could to screw with him... what ever happens good luck messing with the dirt bag
Sent from my LG-D959 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
I would also like to know this app
Go the South Park route. Some cartoon parodies of Mohammed should be effective. Then again, if they are in a Muslim country they could get in a lot of trouble if they have certain content on their device.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app
yea... Mocking Mohammad not general a good idea... it will get you killed. I wouldn't want that on any one's conscience
Tangodown78 said:
yea... Mocking Mohammad not general a good idea... it will get you killed. I wouldn't want that on any one's conscience
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No different than mocking L. Ron Hubbard or Jesus. All of them are con men and are fair game. Don't believe the hype.
I am very spiritual, believe in a higher power, but I will never bow down to some schmuck just because I am told to.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app
c5satellite2 said:
No different than mocking L. Ron Hubbard or Jesus. All of them are con men and are fair game. Don't believe the hype.
I am very spiritual, believe in a higher power, but I will never bow down to some schmuck just because I am told to.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app
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Bro, dafuq, don't insult other members of xda. Calling religious icons schmucks will insult some people. THIS IS NO PLACE TO HAVE A RELIGIOUS WAR. So stfu and leave the thread back to it's topic. Thank you.
I'm using Cerberus. I had the same app installed without root access/without placing it in system/apps on another phone I lost a couple months earlier, in which case it gave me absolutely nothing. This one however, installed in system/apps with root access, appears to be "immortal".
I reckon they will have a comprehensive list of what you can do with the app on their homepage.
I don't know anything about how things are done in the US.
I'm not gonna do religious insults. I wan't to annoy him, not make him want my head on a stick.
Yesterday a sound recording convinced me he was in a crowded area, so I couldn't resist the urge to sound the alarm. Which is played at max volume. The picture taken of him when he touched the screen to stop it was not optimal, but it did have a feeling of desperation to it
App is still active today
Ok. I bought a nexus 6 with the new devive protection. I can not do anything to it now. i can not contact the seller (local deal). What's my option now? sell it back with warning it's lock with an account?
haixingau said:
Ok. I bought a nexus 6 with the new devive protection. I can not do anything to it now. i can not contact the seller (local deal). What's my option now? sell it back with warning it's lock with an account?
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Click to collapse
So you bought a nexus 6 from a local seller without checking the device first to see if it was still under contract or stolen?
Call the police and ask them if it has been reported stolen? Contact Google and let the account owner know you have his phone.
Sent from my Benzo'd Google N6 on VZ
humm
My intention was to used it oversea. So there really no need to check for blacklisted. I was not aware of the new device protection. That why
DebianDog said:
Call the police and ask them if it has been reported stolen? Contact Google and let the account owner know you have his phone.
Sent from my Benzo'd Google N6 on VZ
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How do i contact Google? I don't mind giving the owner his phone back. But I bought it for 150$, how I do I know the owner will give me back my money.
haixingau said:
How do i contact Google? I don't mind giving the owner his phone back. But I bought it for 150$, how I do I know the owner will give me back my money.
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The owner isn't the person who sold it to you, so unless the guys is feeling generous, you are probably out $150. But if you keep it you will be keeping stolen property (likely, as I don't know it was actually stolen). It is a bad situation for you, sorry!
You paid $150 for a 600 or 700 dollar phone and didn't think anything was wrong? LOL
Well you could open up a ticket Google you would have to get on the internet and look I don't know.
I suppose the owner could give you your hundred fifty dollars back as a finders fee but if it is stolen you are in possession of stolen property. I don't know the laws where you live but, I assure you it's not good where I live.
Sent from my Benzo'd Google N6 on VZ
Let me get this straight, you purchased a phone without making sure it would work first? Hopefully you learned from this.
There is a very high probability that the device has been stolen. There is an equally high probability that you are now in possession of stolen property.
You are now morally obligated to report this to the proper authorities regardless of where the intended use of phone may be. Overseas or otherwise.
No one here will help you to try to bypass the security features that are specifically designed for this very purpose.
Do the right thing.
Is there even a way to bypass the new security features without taking apart the device? I was under the impression it was similar to Apple's. Making the device useless for anyone but the original owner or a repair shop.
Depressed Man said:
Is there even a way to bypass the new security features without taking apart the device? I was under the impression it was similar to Apple's. Making the device useless for anyone but the original owner or a repair shop.
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Click to collapse
Let's see, you want to magically bypass a new security feature made specifically for a situation like this?
Original owner locks his phone to his account, phone gets lost or stolen, and someone sells it to you .... now you want into the phone....
Um ... Nope.
OP - Did he show you the phone working? My guess is not as well because it wasn't theirs to sell.
You do have our collective pity, however you only have the option of getting hold of the seller, whom IMHO isn't the owner. Or if that slight chance exists, then he goes in and removes his account (which should have been done in the first place before selling - another indication their bogus)
Depressed Man said:
Is there even a way to bypass the new security features without taking apart the device? I was under the impression it was similar to Apple's. Making the device useless for anyone but the original owner or a repair shop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even everyday repair shops can't do anything
rootSU said:
Even everyday repair shops can't do anything
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That's great! Hopefully Android smartphone thefts will drop as quickly as iPhone thefts.
Thank you for your opinions. I'll take that in for consideration.
Evolution_Freak said:
Let me get this straight, you purchased a phone without making sure it would work first? Hopefully you learned from this.
There is a very high probability that the device has been stolen. There is an equally high probability that you are now in possession of stolen property.
You are now morally obligated to report this to the proper authorities regardless of where the intended use of phone may be. Overseas or otherwise.
No one here will help you to try to bypass the security features that are specifically designed for this very purpose.
Do the right thing.
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Click to collapse
Thank you for your opinions. I'll take that in for consideration. Morally ....hummm....that's depends on good days or bad days... sometimes it's get lost and had to be found again.... I have lost the moral thingy ....somebody found it on the street ....go sell it to another person....i guess it's now another person moral have to obligated to return my moral to me....sigh...
haixingau said:
Thank you for your opinions. I'll take that in for consideration. Morally ....hummm....that's depends on good days or bad days... sometimes it's get lost and had to be found again.... I have lost the moral thingy ....somebody found it on the street ....go sell it to another person....i guess it's now another person moral have to obligated to return my moral to me....sigh...
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Click to collapse
Enjoy your 150 dollar paperweight.
haixingau said:
Thank you for your opinions. I'll take that in for consideration. Morally ....hummm....that's depends on good days or bad days... sometimes it's get lost and had to be found again.... I have lost the moral thingy ....somebody found it on the street ....go sell it to another person....i guess it's now another person moral have to obligated to return my moral to me....sigh...
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Click to collapse
Your personal morality aside, you won't find anyone here to help you. The phone is functioning as it should once it is lost or stolen. To otherwise bypass is against the EULA, as well as criminal in certain parts of this world.
Just. Wow. You are in possession of stolen property from the looks of it. This is a crime in most places around the world!
And, no, this has nothing to do with "morality" but everything to do with ILLEGALITY! You're in ILLEGAL possession of someone else's STOLEN property. Return it to them immediately!
haha this thread is golden.. you bought a $700 phone for $150 and didn't think to question a single thing. priceless.
Does anyone else here work in the technical support or any cellular related fields whether it's retail or customer service? Some people are really freaking ignorant of the technology or absolutely stubborn when it comes to how phones and service works. I am tired of people demanding a new phone when every little thing happens. Does a car dealership replace your current car with a new one when it's under warranty? No they fix the problem with the car. It's not my fault you moved and you don't have coverage at your new house. When you got your phone we gave you a grace period to try it out and determine if coverage is good enough where you live. Moving doesn't give you a new grace period. You're not under contact anymore so if you want to leave us...pay off your device and go. I'll even help you unlock it once you've paid it off. Backups, backups...holy sh*t freaking backup your data people. When an application wreaks havoc or you got ad bots or whether something software related fails you might as well be prepared to hard reset your phone. No, you're not getting a warranty replacement without doing that step first. You're gonna have to transfer your data either way so back your sh*t up. It's not my responsibility to ensure your pictures and contacts don't get lost. Take some responsibility for your data and educate yourself on how to save it. Warranty is not an upgrade path either. Don't ask for a different color or model. That one year by the manufacturer is for the exact model. We (the carrier) are nice enough to take care of the warranty on behalf of the manufacturer. You think Samsung or Asus will send you an upgraded or different device? Take it up with them. Don't whine and cry because you can't scam warranty and insurance for an upgrade. You want a new phone then pay off the one you have or buy it at full price.
Anyways just had to vent. Working in technical support is actually a lot of fun and I really enjoy educating and teaching customers how to use their devices and explore the world a smartphone has to offer. However the amount of rampant stupidity and unreal requests are absolutely absurd.
Tell me about it. Every. Single. Bloody. Day.
I truly, truly believe there should be a driving license for using a smartphone. The amount of people who have no idea how the device, the one that they entrust their entire lives to, actually works is damn near astronomical.
"My WiFi doesn't work. What did you do to it?!?! *insert expletives filled capslock rant about fraud and scammers*" To a provider that doesn't supply landlines, only mobile. About 80% of the people apparently don't know the difference between WiFi and Mobile Data.
Had this gem last week: Someone opened the charger flap on the S5, and the thing broke off. He bend down to pick it off the floor, and dropped the phone instead. Screen cracked, phone dead. Now that customer is demanding that the provider covers the repair costs of the dropped phone. He claims it wasn't his fault that the phone dropped, it was the fault of that broken off flap, and so it should fall under warranty.
"How do I view the photo I just took?" Why are you even using a smartphone?
This also happens about three times a day:
"My phone doesn't work." No other information, just that.
"Sir, which brand and model is your phone?"
"It's an iPhone."
"Which one?"
"An S4."
"Uh, sir, an iPhone 4S or a Samsung Galaxy S4?"
"Aren't they all the same?"
And then there's these people:
"I have a bill here for 300 quid of additional, out-of-package costs. I was calling a friend and forgot to end the call. You should've ended it for me. I'm not paying that."
Oh, and the amount of people referring to 4G as G4.... -.-
On the other side of that coin, I hate talking to the CS reps of ANY technology company.
"I need you to reprovision my data because your system thinks I have an iPhone and it's messing with my data"
"Sir, may I ask have you restarted your phone?"
and I have to go thru like 12 different times telling him to please do what I asked in the first place.
Or I walk into a T-Mobile store and the rep is telling me I can't use a verizon phone on the network, because it's verizon.
"But the phone comes unlocked, just give me a SIM card"
"Verizon is CDMA blah blah"
And I get to argue with the guy for an hour about how things actually work.
Or even worse when I try to get a warranty replacement device. No I don't want to restart my phone or factory reset it, or put in my Google Account login information again, or try a new SIM card, or anything like that.
The device is broken, I know about phones, just replace it and let's get on with it!
So trust me it's very frustrating for us consumers too...
Yep, definitely frustrating for consumers.
I have a phone that runs on unknown network bands, can I test a sim (i would pay the $2 if required)?
Nope, you are already on the best network.
But yours has different frequency bands
*Blank stare* Umm your already on the best network for reception
*Walk out knowing I could do the job better*
Sent from my fake galaxy note 4, now revived from the dead, again!
You do realize that the shop assistants are hired for their sales skills, not their knowledge of the product, I hope? All they receive is Sales training, not product information nor technical training.
Most of them couldn't tell an iPhone apart from a Samsung if their lives depended on it. Going to those monkeys with a tech question is like asking a 5 year old about String Theory. It's pointless.
You might as well walk into IKEA's storage section with a question about network frequencies. You're statistically more likely to find people with tech knowledge there than behind the counter in a provider shop. :laugh:
ShadowLea said:
You do realize that the shop assistants are hired for their service skills, not their knowledge of the product, I hope? All they receive is Sales training, not product information nor technical training.
Most of them couldn't tell an iPhone apart from a Samsung if their lives depended on it. Going to those monkeys with a tech question is like asking a 5 year old about String Theory. It's pointless.
You might as well walk into IKEA's storage section with a question about network frequencies. You're statistically more likely to find people with tech knowledge there than behind the counter in a provider shop. :laugh:
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This is the B&M guys, the "service technicians" on the phone, the "specialists" on the phone, the guys in chats etc.
I have never had someone who knew enough about networks, bands, actual device specs etc, talk to me from any portion of any phone company.
And I've been on every phone network...
orangekid said:
This is the B&M guys, the "service technicians" on the phone, the "specialists" on the phone, the guys in chats etc.
I have never had someone who knew enough about networks, bands, actual device specs etc, talk to me from any portion of any phone company.
And I've been on every phone network...
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Click to collapse
From what I know in the EU, you never actually get to speak to the Tech guys when you call in. It's still only a Customer Contact employee. They contact the Tech department on an internal line, but the tech lads never speak to customers. Don't know if the US system is different (probably not).
Oh I've met my fair share of the technologically handicapped in the shops, too. One shining example is the idiot who told me, in 2013, that I shouldn't use Android because it was still a Beta version, and thus I would be at risk of viruses. :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:
ShadowLea said:
Oh I've met my fair share of the technologically handicapped in the shops, too. One shining example is the idiot who told me, in 2013, that I shouldn't use Android because it was still a Beta version, and thus I would be at risk of viruses. :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:
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Unfortuneately they hate Windows Phone to, which is a shame because aside from apps, it is the second best operating system (beats IOS by a mile)
Someone in my family had her Galaxy S9 stolen. She reported it to Verizon and they had the EMEI blacklisted with all carriers.
But how permanently attached is the EMEI number, can't you just wipe it/hack it?
How sophisticated does a thief have to be to circumvent it and make it work on a carrier again?
FYI: I am not asking anything about how to "get around a blacklisted EMEI" number nor do I want to hear about a single way of doing so.
I simply wanted to ask if blacklisting the EMEI is very effective against a phone thief?
We had a brand new S9 stolen, and reported it to Verizon, but they are just general customer service. So their claim that it can't be used by anyone in the US doesn't really mean much to me
halfhumble said:
Someone in my family had her Galaxy S9 stolen. She reported it to Verizon and they had the EMEI blacklisted with all carriers.
But how permanently attached is the EMEI number, can't you just wipe it/hack it?
How sophisticated does a thief have to be to circumvent it and make it work on a carrier again?
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Click to collapse
It can be done. We don't necessarily allow discussion of how to do it here for obvious reasons, but the guy would have to be fairly competent on a computer to go in and do that.
More than likely he'll sell it really cheap to someone or a shady outfit that does know how to do it.
orangekid said:
It can be done. We don't necessarily allow discussion of how to do it here for obvious reasons, but the guy would have to be fairly competent on a computer to go in and do that.
More than likely he'll sell it really cheap to someone or a shady outfit that does know how to do it.
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Click to collapse
Okay, that's what I figured, I thought there must be a way.
halfhumble said:
Okay, that's what I figured, I thought there must be a way.
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Click to collapse
Unfortunately yes. That is one thing iOS has over Android, I don't think it's possible to reprgoram an IMEI on an iPhone, so once it iCloud locks it really is a brick.
I still prefer Android though because of other pros.
orangekid said:
Unfortunately yes. That is one thing iOS has over Android, I don't think it's possible to reprgoram an IMEI on an iPhone, so once it iCloud locks it really is a brick.
I still prefer Android though because of other pros.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting, didn't know that. Android manufactures should follow suit to reduce phone thefts.
Maybe it would have been better to NOT blacklist the EMEI when it's stolen, so that the thief or buyer activates it. Then report it like a month later to track who has it at the time.
If it's been sold, the police could work backwards from the for sale listing or emails with the buyer (Craigslist for example). Kinda elaborate though.....
halfhumble said:
Interesting, didn't know that. Android manufactures should follow suit to reduce phone thefts.
Maybe it would have been better to NOT blacklist the EMEI when it's stolen, so that the thief or buyer activates it. Then report it like a month later to track who has it at the time.
If it's been sold, the police could work backwards from the for sale listing or emails with the buyer (Craigslist for example). Kinda elaborate though.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah well it's not on the manufacturers really, I think it's just a limitation of AOSP and the way android works. Even KNOX can't prevent it or even working around FRP (which I had to do not too long ago for a legitimate forgotten password).
But yeah I think those types of thefts are probably too low importance for the cyber crime division to go thru those types of hoops. The only real possibility would have been to try to track the phone when turned back on, or put one of those invisible self installing tracker type apps in the SD card.
End of the day if you lose or phone or it gets stolen, you're pretty much SOL.
orangekid said:
Yeah well it's not on the manufacturers really, I think it's just a limitation of AOSP and the way android works. Even KNOX can't prevent it or even working around FRP (which I had to do not too long ago for a legitimate forgotten password).
But yeah I think those types of thefts are probably too low importance for the cyber crime division to go thru those types of hoops. The only real possibility would have been to try to track the phone when turned back on, or put one of those invisible self installing tracker type apps in the SD card.
End of the day if you lose or phone or it gets stolen, you're pretty much SOL.
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Click to collapse
"self installing tracker type apps in the SD card." Didn't know that existed. Will look into that.