How to Track a Lost Mobile Phone
Until mobile phones are small enough to wear as a wristwatch or a ring, they're easy to lose. Often, we find them in familiar places, such as in our purses or on our kitchen tables, and there's no cause for alarm. But, because mobile phones are exactly what they're called--mobile--it's easy to lose them in transit or in remote locations. Even then, it's still possible to track a lost mobile phone.
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Instructions
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Call your mobile phone. If you hear it ring, you know to search your immediate area for the phone. Or, someone responsible, such as an employee at the business where you left your phone, may answer, and you can easily make arrangements to pick it up.
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Use your cell phone Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking feature. You need to have this feature already setup on your mobile phone to use it. If you didn't purchase this feature, contact customer service for your phone carrier (this phone number is on the carrier website, typically under Customer Service or Support), and request GPS assistance for finding your lost phone. Depending on your circumstances, customer service either turns off service to the phone until it's found, suggests you contact the police (if you believe someone stole the phone) or, in critical cases, conducts GPS tracking to locate the phone.
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Text a brief message to your phone saying you lost this phone, there's reward money for its return and to contact you (provide another phone number).
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Pinpoint possible locations where you last used your phone. Did you call someone, send or read a text message or answer a call while at a coffee shop, gas station or school? Make a list of those places, and then call or visit each location in person. Ask to speak to a manager or person in charge, describe the phone you lost, and inquire if it was found.
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File a police report. If you believe the phone was stolen, contact your local police department, and inquire how to fill out a stolen property report (some departments have online forms, whereas others might request you visit the station in person). Depending on department policies, you might be asked to provide documentation for the phone, such as phone bill statements or purchase records. If the circumstances of your case are critical, law enforcement may attempt GPS tracking to locate the phone and apprehend the thief.
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Tips & Warnings
Be proactive and purchase a GPS feature for your mobile phone. Most carriers offer this service for a monthly fee that lets you track your phone and, for an additional fee per phone, any others registered in your name. You can also purchase a third-party vendor GPS tracking service, such as AccuTracking (www.accutracking.com).
If your mobile phone is stolen, all its data is available to the thief. To protect your privacy, set a password that locks your mobile phone, so others can't access its data.
