how to trace your stolen gsm cell phone

[speedsatya]

guys ,
just came to know that when u press "*#06#"..u get the serial number of your GSM cell phone ...if at all the cell gets stolen ...this serial number will help you locate the cell phone even if teh sim is changed ...
dunno how true is this...

anybody having any clue??????
and this applies to gsm cell phones of any make.

[Steeroid]

This is useful only if all operators co-operate to combat cellphone theft. Unfortunately, this isnt happening in India today. Your only chance is if the thief uses the same network as you do - then it may be possible to track him down - IF and only if your network is willing to help you.

This is possible because eveyr call record contains the serial number of the handset used, IF AVAILBLE. With many of the earlier phones it was possible to change or even erase the serial number, so if the thief has sold it to a reseller that person may have overwritten or erased your serial number.

[navin]

The existing networks are so understaffed i dont think you are going to get their cooperation with this.

[sbasak]

This is in reality not of much use. Thousands of mobiles phone get stolen in Europe and they are then carried to Asia/Africa. Even if they don't work in Europe once their IMEI is blocked, they will work fine elsewhere. And more often than not, the hackers alter the phones' IMEI numbers (illegal, but who cares?)

[nitrous]

The IMEI number can always be changed and this is what 'professional' cellphone thieves do. The stolen mobiles which land on 'used mobiles' dealer for half their value is immediately assigned with a new IMEI number and is sold.Nothing can be done. :(

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by sbasak

This is in reality not of much use. Thousands of mobiles phone get stolen in Europe and they are then carried to Asia/Africa. Even if they don't work in Europe once their IMEI is blocked, they will work fine elsewhere. And more often than not, the hackers alter the phones' IMEI numbers (illegal, but who cares?)

IMEI tracing is useful, if done within a few hours of the phone being stolen.

Most of the phones that go to Asia/Africa from Europe are in reality not stolen, but reported stolen by distributors. The subsidised handsets from operators then get shipped out to other countries where their SIM locks are taken off and IMEI's erased or overwritten.

Mind you, the newer handsets have IMEIs that are more secure and hence cant be erased or overwritten as easily as the older ones have been. This is on account of pressure from the GSM operators on handset vendors to increase security.

[khanak]

i got my o2 from alfa which is unofficial.i cant install any ROM upgrades on it due to the IMEI number which helped the company to identify grey market pieces and not provide any support to thse pieces

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by khanak

i got my o2 from alfa which is unofficial.i cant install any ROM upgrades on it due to the IMEI number which helped the company to identify grey market pieces and not provide any support to thse pieces

Muhuhuhuaaaa!

Go to www.xda-developers.com - you dont need no manufacturer support to upgrade XDAs. This site has been providing better support, tools and solutions than any manufacturer. Upgrade, downgrade, change roms, swap roms do what you want with your pocket pc phone.

Enjoy!

[adit1329]

you can trace the cell phone through the IMI number provided the cops and the network providers co operate jointly.

however, the cops are indifferent and the network providers are not very helpful..for example if you have a prankster troubling you, the network provider will not help you unless you get an FIR which is a pain...

also, if you buy your phone in the grey market, the imi number is useless

best would be to insure your phone against theft, only then you can rest assured