How to Lock a Stolen Mobile
A stolen cell phone or smart phone can cause high anxiety, even panic, because it can lead to serious unauthorized charges and identity theft. Unfortunately, cell phone insurance giant Asurion estimates that 60 million Americans lose their mobile phones each year, many to theft. As a precaution, set a passcode or PIN on your device today and note the device's IMEI number. Also download or subscribe to an anti-theft tracking program. Should your mobile phone get stolen, act quickly with your service provider and your available technology to suspend service, locate the device, block its use and prevent access to stored data.
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Instructions
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Work with Your Phone Service Provider
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Call your phone service provider immediately to report the loss and suspend service.
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If live support is not immediately available, access your account on the service provider's website to see if you can suspend service yourself online. Follow up with a phone call to your service provider in any event.
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Ask whether your carrier can block your phone from being used even with a new SIM card. Provide your phone's International Mobile Equipment Identifier, or IMEI number, if requested.
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Request a written or emailed confirmation from your carrier that your service has been suspended and blocked.
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File a police report. Provide the police case number to your service or insurance provider, if requested.
Work with Available Software
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Register your phone with online services such as TrackIMEI.com or Stolen-Property.com, to track your phone's usage or circulation from anywhere in the world. Regularly check your account online for any attempted usage.
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Log in to your account at your phone tracking program's website. Follow the instructions and use the tools provided to locate your phone.
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Once the phone is located, follow the program's specific instructions to remotely block your mobile phone and wipe it clean of information. Some programs also enable you to make your phone sound an alarm.
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Tips & Warnings
To get your IMEI number, dial *#606# on your phone. Note the number that appears and save it along with your mobile phone's serial number.
Anti-theft tracking and blocking software may be available at no cost as part of your phone's insurance, such as Mobile Recovery for Verizon phones with Total Equipment Coverage.
Tracking software is not foolproof. Avoid storing or consider encrypting sensitive data on your mobile phone.
Back up your device regularly so it can be restored easily on a replacement device.
Some service providers will not block you phone using the IMEI number. A tech-savvy thief could override it, or a wrong IMEI number could disable someone else's device.
Tracking technology only works if your phone is powered on.
A thief using your phone on airplane mode may not use your phone service but still have access to data stored on your device.
Most sound anti-theft software programs are not free. Some smart phone tracking programs are only available through paid subscriptions.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit mobile security image by Christopher Hall from Fotolia.com
