Report your missing phone to your network provider
You should tell your network provider straight away if your phone is lost or stolen, so they can block it and stop anyone else using it.
The IMEI is a unique 15-digit serial number which you will need to get the phone blocked. You can get your IMEI number by keying *#06# into your handset or by looking behind your phone battery.
Fill out the request registration form for blocking the IMEI of lost/stolen phone, and attach the required documents. Click here to go to the form. After submitting the form, you will be given a Request ID. The same can be used for checking the status of your request and for unblocking the IMEI in future.
You must contact your mobile service providerto request an IMEI block. Once the block is implemented by your service provider, it will also block the IMEI of your phone on all networks, making it inoperable in Australia. Importantly, this protects you from paying for calls made by a thief.
How do I block my mobile device? You can block your mobile device so no one can use it even if they insert another SIM card from another carrier. To block your mobile device, you'll need your device's IMEI. For month-to-month services using a device you received from Telstra, we'll have your device's IMEI listed.
Mark as Lost
When you mark your device as lost, you remotely lock it with a passcode, keeping your information secure. This also disables Apple Pay on the missing device. And you can display a custom message with your contact information on the missing device.
Blacklisting works by blocking your phone's unique identifier (IMEI number). When a phone is blacklisted because it has been lost or stolen, it cannot make or receive calls or use data.
If you lose your phone, you can give the IMEI number to either your service provider or the police, and they can use it to track it down. Many times, it is mentioned in the invoice generated during phone purchase.
1.1 Each mobile handset has a unique identification number known as an International Mobile Equipment Identity number or more commonly an IMEI. With the IMEI being unique to the individual handset it provides police opportunities to identify and recover stolen property.
When you block a phone number or contact, they can still leave a voicemail, but you won't get a notification. Messages that are sent or received won't be delivered. Also, the contact won't receive a notification that the call or message was blocked.
If a phone is blacklisted, it means that the device was reported lost or stolen. The blacklist is a database of all the IMEI or ESN numbers that have been reported. If you have a device with a blacklisted number, your carrier may block services. In the worst-case scenario, the local authorities could seize your phone.
The answer to that is a simple yes! All phones, whether an iPhone or an android, can be tracked down without a sim card or network. Still, they will need to have a secure Wi-Fi connection to be accurate.
Phone thieves often go straight for your personal information after stealing your phone. They'll try to access banking and investment apps, social media and email accounts, photos, and passwords.
If it's covered by AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss, you can sign in with your Apple ID and file a claim for an iPhone replacement. Use the Find My app or go to iCloud.com/find to mark your iPhone as lost. Do not remove your device from your account until your claim has been fully approved.
Apple doesn't blacklist iPhones due to their policy of not handling stolen devices. It's up to phone carriers, such as AT&T or Verizon, to report stolen or lost phones. The iPhone's IMEI number (International Mobile Equipment Identity) allows phone carriers to identify the phone.
An iPhone can become blacklisted for any number of reasons, including if the previous owner has unsettled bills or if someone reported it as stolen or lost. A blacklisted device cannot get connected to any wireless carrier unless it becomes un-blacklisted.
An iPhone is marked blacklisted by its owner if iPhone is reported lost or stolen somehow. Outstanding bills or unpaid contract bills can be another reason for a phone to get blacklisted. If the bills of a phone are unpaid or have an outstanding balance, the phone is reported as a blacklisted phone.
But Apple's 'Find My' network makes it nearly impossible for a stolen device to be used by someone else. That's because the iPhone or any other Apple device is linked to a user's Apple ID and without access to this, the device is practically unusable for a thief.
Once lodged, a request to block or unblock an IMEI Number may take up to 24 hours to complete.
Phone Insurance Fraud
Carriers look out for the IMEI of the “lost, stolen, or broken” phone, and blacklist the address if it's found on their network. What's more, carriers might blacklist the original device right away, making it incompatible across all major service providers.
Can a phone be tracked if it's turned off? A phone that is turned off is difficult to track because it stops sending signals to cell towers. However, the service provider or internet provider can show the last location once it's switched back on.