I have found a i9000. I have tried to find the owner but cant as it has a pettern lock. I took it to the copshop and they gave me it back a fortnight later as no one went to claim it. As i would like to use the phone how would i remove the pattern lock. Without having to sit for days tryin to guess lol
sent from samsung gt-i5800 froyo
toppertighe said:
I have found a i9000. I have tried to find the owner but cant as it has a pettern lock. I took it to the copshop and they gave me it back a fortnight later as no one went to claim it. As i would like to use the phone how would i remove the pattern lock. Without having to sit for days tryin to guess lol
sent from samsung gt-i5800 froyo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take it to an outlet for whatever the network it is connected to. It will say at top right of lock screen and on the sim of course.
It has no sim card so i couldnt tell which network it is on. It is unlocked because its open to any sim. Iv tried different sims and they show the provider in the corner
sent from samsung gt-i5800 froyo
toppertighe said:
i would like to use the phone how would i remove the pattern lock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just root the phone/update firmware on it, which should allow you to factory reset it.
factory reset, through recovery will get rid of the lock pattern.
edit: I believe you don't need to flash anything. Power on device holding the Volume Up + Home + Power button
Thanks guys ill give it a try
sent from samsung gt-i5800 froyo
lucky you!!
you're in the right place... enjoy!
titijuli said:
lucky you!!
you're in the right place... enjoy!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not so sure about that. If it is reported lost or stolen then the IMEI will be blocked and all that it will be useful for is a MP3 player. Hence my advice to go to a network shop. Any one will help and check the phone is not blocked.
Tehpriest said:
Not so sure about that. If it is reported lost or stolen then the IMEI will be blocked and all that it will be useful for is a MP3 player. Hence my advice to go to a network shop. Any one will help and check the phone is not blocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if it shows network provider for different sims it ain't blocked
Tehpriest said:
Not so sure about that. If it is reported lost or stolen then the IMEI will be blocked and all that it will be useful for is a MP3 player. Hence my advice to go to a network shop. Any one will help and check the phone is not blocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you're right. that's why this is the right place, because of advices like yours
I feel sorry for the owner that lost the phone, and did not report the IMEI as being lost or stolen...
that'll be my very 2nd phone call if i lose my phone
the 1st phone call will be used to located the lost phone
Flash a new ROM But you can give it a factory reset (hold VOL UP + HOME + POWER buttons for a few seconds)
Offtopic:
I would find a SGS too
it's weird how many people "Find" SGS lately...
Honestly, on an etiquette POV, I wouldn't help anyone who "found" an SGS to unlock it... But rather help him find the owner.
thats what i was thinking...glad its not mine
I have spent nearly three weeks trying to find the owner. i handed it in to the police station but got it back two weeks later because it didnt get claimed. Which you would know if you read the earlier posts in the thread. If i lost my phone i would check the police to see if it had been handed in like most ppl who are bothered bout there phone. What does that tell you?
sent from rooted samsung gt-i5800 froyo
toppertighe said:
I have spent nearly three weeks trying to find the owner. i handed it in to the police station but got it back two weeks later because it didnt get claimed. Which you would know if you read the earlier posts in the thread. If i lost my phone i would check the police to see if it had been handed in like most ppl who are bothered bout there phone. What does that tell you?
sent from rooted samsung gt-i5800 froyo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, keep the peace, maybe a shot of police paperwork would help put peoples concerns to rest, just a peace keeping suggestion
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
I decided to take the phone back to copshop and left it there. Its not worth the hassle. They just said they will recycle it. Shame
Sent from my GT-I5800 using XDA App
Related
Hey my samsung vibrant that I just bought off of craigslist says Too many pattern attempts! and it says to unlock, sign in with your google account. I didn't steal this phone but I was wondering how I would get rid of this message.
Thanks
nikmash232
you can't unless you know the google account currently tied to that phone, if all else fails you can always flash it but its gonna be kind of hard
How can I flash it? Thats the only option i have now anyways just wondering how because I can't exactly access anything on the phone. Is there anyway I can access the internal memory so I can put a Update.zip in there
never really tried to flash a secured-screen locked phone but im sure its possible
You would have to flash it using Odin, thats assuming you can get into download mode using the volume keys. Do a search to find Odin images and instructions. If your phone is hardware locked out of download and recovery mode you're SOL.
yeah i can get into recovery mode but havent tried download mode yet...i just saw the tutorial for odin and im downloading hte stuff for it now..university connection sucks.
nikmash232 said:
yeah i can get into recovery mode but havent tried download mode yet...i just saw the tutorial for odin and im downloading hte stuff for it now..university connection sucks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well if you can get to recovery just choose the delete data option or whichever it is and reboot and there should be no more lock, but if there is then you would have to use odin...
I would say tether your phone since it would be faster most likely, but you cant lol.
Genesis1791 said:
I would say tether your phone since it would be faster most likely, but you cant lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol i just really laughed at this
skater4690 said:
well if you can get to recovery just choose the delete data option or whichever it is and reboot and there should be no more lock, but if there is then you would have to use odin...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah i tried the delete data option didnt work out..i guess odin is my last option i hope it works or there goes $240 down the drain
nikmash232 said:
yeah i tried the delete data option didnt work out..i guess odin is my last option i hope it works or there goes $240 down the drain
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It works, I walked someone through the process before and it worked perfectly fine for him so don't worry and this phones practically impossible to brick so don't worry if Odin messes up on you the first time (happens often).
nikmash232 said:
yeah i tried the delete data option didnt work out..i guess odin is my last option i hope it works or there goes $240 down the drain
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok i have one question... why would you spend $240 on a phone with a password? did you not play with it to see if it worked before you bought it? and odin should work theres no lock on dl mode and heres a tip turn the phone off have the usb plugged into the computer hold the volume buttons then plug the phone in and it should put you strait into dl mode. idk if its volume down or both volume buttons but that should work for you perfectly it does for me everytime
although i only just got my phone 2 days ago myself, i can say, if you flash via odin, it'll fix everything lol
i had a problem with a pink keyboard mod i couldn't get rid of without flashing, it was annoyingly bright
and man, if you're getting this phone for $240, i wouldn't care if it has the password on it, that's a damm good deal, i paid 350 for mine x-x
anyway, on topic, I couldn't find the original OEM firmware to flash, but i saw there was a leaked firmware on the vibrant forums, and I can say that it works perfectly fine, just use the thread that has the download link to the "All in one" package, that includes odin and the instructions are on the thread.
really simple, and takes 5mins, and congratz on a sexy new phone
I have the same problem with my Samsung Vibrant. Were you able to fix it?
Great... another thread helping both those who steal and those who buy stolen Vibrants.
skater4690 said:
well if you can get to recovery just choose the delete data option or whichever it is and reboot and there should be no more lock, but if there is then you would have to use odin...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, this thread is pretty stupid.
Locks are only an issue for hardware locked devices, and hardly any exist anymore...
Just factory reset the damn thing from the recovery menu and enjoy you phone.
The person you got the phone from probably stole it or found it, anyways, and that's probably why it was sold.
Chalup said:
Great... another thread helping both those who steal and those who buy stolen Vibrants.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless you can prove it, keep your mouth shut.
If he brought the phone, even if it was stolen, he deserves to use it - IMO.
N8ter said:
Unless you can prove it, keep your mouth shut.
If he brought the phone, even if it was stolen, he deserves to use it - IMO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will have to say that the first thought that crossed my mind is that the legitimate owner would not be selling a pattern locked phone. And the law typically doesn't support the view that you deserve to keep stolen goods if you purchased them unknowingly.
I'm not making accusations and not trying to pick a fight. Just putting in my 2 cents on the situational ethics here...
ZX3ZX4 said:
I will have to say that the first thought that crossed my mind is that the legitimate owner would not be selling a pattern locked phone. And the law typically doesn't support the view that you deserve to keep stolen goods if you purchased them unknowingly.
I'm not making accusations and not trying to pick a fight. Just putting in my 2 cents on the situational ethics here...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Custom ROM developers violate Copyrights and IP laws all the time here, and people like you have no issues with it. So much for ethics.
No sane person will throw a phone away just because they mistakenly purchased a stolen device.
People who don't their stolen phones to be usable can do themselves a favor and go to a CDMA carrier.
The community is here to help, not judge, and the pattern lock bug can happen to any legit owner, so the information garnered from this thread can help those people as well. Don't pollute it.
/end
N8ter said:
Unless you can prove it, keep your mouth shut.
If he brought the phone, even if it was stolen, he deserves to use it - IMO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"keep your mouth shut"? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Wow this forum really is becoming a cesspool of vermin. Idiots. Thieves. And idiots defending the thieves.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
hey guys,
I have a basically new vibrant (no scratches or scuffs) that is stuck in the phone-!-pc screen after using odin to flash a new firmware. I'm kinda new at this and am tired of trying to figure out how to get it working.
I'm willing to sell it for low price.. if there's anyone interested hit me up at [email protected]
Thanks
Ryan
EDIT: Sold. mods you can delete this thread
ryanolson7 said:
hey guys,
I have a basically new vibrant (no scratches or scuffs) that is stuck in the phone-!-pc screen after using odin to flash a new firmware. I'm kinda new at this and am tired of trying to figure out how to get it working.
I'm willing to sell it for low price.. if there's anyone interested hit me up at [email protected]
Thanks
Ryan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pull out the battery.
Wait 30 seconds.
Put USB cable in.
Hold both volume buttons.
Put battery in while holding both volume buttons.
Your in download mode.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
you can also pull battery, put battery back in. hold vol+/vol- while plugging in USB, that might work too.
I'll take it off your hands for $100
i dont blame you, but remember the vibrant is almost unbrickable. if you cann see pc screen or charging status icon your good. keep trying then sell it for max profit
Ill send you 110.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Sell it full price dude people r gonna try to scam u but u can fix this in 5 minutes.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
well you dont need to pull a battery either... you just hold the up down volume toggle along with the power but and when the screen goes black immediately remove your finger from the power button while still holding up down volume toggle. this will place u back into download mode. don't sell your phone because of frustration. you cant brick this phone.
120 right now. Me me me!
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
And how is that a scam? Person offers deal, person accepts deal. Sounds more like capitalism to me....
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
$121.00 . We're going by Price is Right rules, right?
monstah_rain said:
$121.00 . We're going by Price is Right rules, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
**suspense**
**can't take it anymore**
$150!!!!! And that's my final offer!
sent my payment
Hey Ryan - thanks for selling the phone to me for $130.
You received my PayPal payment and I am still waiting to receive tracking information.
Under normal circumstances, a message like this would be more appropriate to send through private channels, but I have tried emailing you for three days and calling you back at your google voice number without success. You were very easy to get a hold of before I paid, but seem to have vanished the moment I requested tracking information.
I hope you are not up to something sneaky. I assume with your online presence on twitter, in your blog, and elsewhere, that you're not trying to deceive me, and that you've simply decided to take a break from the internet and from your phone for a few days.
Hmm, except your twitter account was updated just hours ago?
Further googling shows you're actually an Android Developer. Therefore, you probably pretty much know this phone is permanently bricked, but when we talked you came across as though you weren't familiar with procedures for recovering from a soft brick. I find that difficult to believe given your Android experience.
Send me my brick, or send me a refund.
I bought a bricked phone, yes, but right now I feel like my brain is bricked for buying it.
Due diligence folks, due diligence.
I'm on my third one. Just call tmobile tell them your not sure what happened. It's a known issue and if it's in good physical condition they will send you a new one.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Pancake345 said:
I'm on my third one. Just call tmobile tell them your not sure what happened. It's a known issue and if it's in good physical condition they will send you a new one.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You missed something here man the OP sold the phone to the person above you and is acting like he's going burn him by not giving him the phone he promised to sell. Sad hope OP does what's right.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Pancake345 said:
I'm on my third one. Just call tmobile tell them your not sure what happened. It's a known issue and if it's in good physical condition they will send you a new one.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have to buy it from tmobile to get this privilege?
tonie972 said:
Do you have to buy it from tmobile to get this privilege?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't mention that you didn't but from tmo. As long as it show you are using a vibrant on there system they will give the replacement.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Don't give up cuz I was in the same position. Plus the best way to learned is from your mistakes. YouTube & Google good tools to learn. YouTube give you visualization & Google the reading understanding part. I believe you can fix your phone no need to sale it. One thing you need to be patient if not you are not going to learn. Without being patient is important in doing all this learning about Android OS. Modifying, rooting & flash customs roms.
Me... sometimes I want to take my hair off cuz it gets to be but I remember to be patient.
Lucky you that he sold the phone to you.
falafelfro said:
Hey Ryan - thanks for selling the phone to me for $130.
You received my PayPal payment and I am still waiting to receive tracking information.
Under normal circumstances, a message like this would be more appropriate to send through private channels, but I have tried emailing you for three days and calling you back at your google voice number without success. You were very easy to get a hold of before I paid, but seem to have vanished the moment I requested tracking information.
I hope you are not up to something sneaky. I assume with your online presence on twitter, in your blog, and elsewhere, that you're not trying to deceive me, and that you've simply decided to take a break from the internet and from your phone for a few days.
Hmm, except your twitter account was updated just hours ago?
Further googling shows you're actually an Android Developer. Therefore, you probably pretty much know this phone is permanently bricked, but when we talked you came across as though you weren't familiar with procedures for recovering from a soft brick. I find that difficult to believe given your Android experience.
Send me my brick, or send me a refund.
I bought a bricked phone, yes, but right now I feel like my brain is bricked for buying it.
Due diligence folks, due diligence.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what you get for trying to rip him the **** off.
While there r so many threads here telling they lost their sexy phone , well i just got one . found laying on side of the road ( it is nice leather case so phone is in same condition )
Having evil ideas about the phone.
So tell me guys what to do.......
Btw i have already one
vikas776 said:
While there r so many threads here telling they lost their sexy phone , well i just got one . found laying on side of the road ( it is nice leather case so phone is in same condition )
Having evil ideas about the phone.
So tell me guys what to do.......
Btw i have already one
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try and trace the owner or hand it in would be a good start.
Trace the owner, and if you cannot find them, hand it in to the nearest police station to where you found it.
Alternatively contact the carrier who can trace the sim number or mobile number of the phone and find the owner.
keep it, if you drop yours you have a spare one ,
unless the owner calls the phone. than you can give it back >.>
If you dont hand it in you will probably find the IMEI gets blocked by the carrier when it gets reported missing, so wont be of much use as a phone anyway.
Hand it in, if it was your phone I am sure you would wish for the same.
shouldn't be too hard to trace the owner, so do it.
If you can turn WiFi and gps on and leave the phone powered on (Samsung dive) else turn it in.
Step 1: Check the call log and call one of the numbers the person dials often. That's sure to be a friend/family member of the person.
Step 2: Tell them you found the phone and let them put you in touch with the owner.
Step 3: Return the phone to its rightful owner.
Step 4: Enjoy the boost in Karma.
The owner uses Samsung Dive and is tracking you right now. It's a guy, he's 6'4," 250lbs, and read this thread on XDA. Now what are you going to do
I don't understand the question. Is that just me?
There's only 1 thing to do, and that's ring someone (as suggested above) and return it to its rightful owner.
Edit: Alternatively, check the email address of the owner and get in touch with them that way.
BarryH_GEG said:
The owner uses Samsung Dive and is tracking you right now. It's a guy, he's 6'4," 250lbs, and read this thread on XDA. Now what are you going to do
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
give me the phone and ill deal with this guy
What ever you do, never hand it to the police. it will end with them. This should be the last option If all the others don't work. Better it ends with the rightful owner as first option or you as last but one option.
What would you do if you found 5000 dollars on the floor? Hand it to the police? If you can't trace it, they can't.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
a67543210 said:
What ever you do, never hand it to the police. it will end with them. This should be the last option If all the others don't work. Better it ends with the rightful owner as first option or you as last but one option.
What would you do if you found 5000 dollars on the floor? Hand it to the police? If you can't trace it, they can't.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i agree..
Handing it over to the cops should be your last option.
if u do anything but hand it in or try to find the owner you are a common thief.....why even ask the question,
Not really...
OrionCarl said:
if u do anything but hand it in or try to find the owner you are a common thief.....why even ask the question,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont think you can call the guy a thief, he found the phone, did not steal it from anybody.
Now morally, thats a different matter.
I would try and trace the rightfull owner and return his phone.
ATB
OrionCarl said:
if u do anything but hand it in or try to find the owner you are a common thief.....why even ask the question,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
el.motar said:
I dont think you can call the guy a thief, he found the phone, did not steal it from anybody.
Now morally, thats a different matter.
I would try and trace the rightfull owner and return his phone.
ATB
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with OrionCarl in this case. Just because you find something doesn't mean it doesn't belong to someone else. Keeping it when you know that it does is the equivalent of stealing it.
Cool story bro!
if you can access the phone check for a HOME number, alternatively check the phones own number and contact the provider and report it...
soraxd said:
pshhhh 1. change that imei and use it as a spare
2. sell it overseas where it wont be imei locked
3. sell it to mee!! i want to buy this phone for someone, and i wont use it as a phone, only as a wifi toy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
or sell it back to the person who lost it....
hello there, i bought a new galaxy s4 and it got stolen today...
im really upset and i need your help.
i still have the box and i think that the serial is still on it.
can i track the serial and hopelly find it?
i remeber that if i could enter the iphone imei into an website it would tell me what network is he connected to.
my sim is closed and i bought it contract free so its unlocked.
i live in israel and the police is not so helpful...
can i do something? please i need this help.
Thanks in advance!
Did you try to track it with Samsung Dive (you need to have a Samsung account and enabled this feature)?
http://findmymobile.samsung.com/login.do
asafhaim147 said:
hello there, i bought a new galaxy s4 and it got stolen today...
im really upset and i need your help.
i still have the box and i think that the serial is still on it.
can i track the serial and hopelly find it?
i remeber that if i could enter the iphone imei into an website it would tell me what network is he connected to.
my sim is closed and i bought it contract free so its unlocked.
i live in israel and the police is not so helpful...
can i do something? please i need this help.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you entered Samsung account to the phone and setup ' Find my mobile ' Thing in settings?
LegendJo said:
Have you entered Samsung account to the phone and setup ' Find my mobile ' Thing in settings?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i guess i did because its working but the man took out my sim card and the phone is off... im going to catch him when he will connect to the wifi.
maybe tomorrow... never lose hope!
maybe other options?
Human always smarter than machine. Samsung got a disadvantage which is included built in recovery. He can just simply boot in and factory reset everything. Or just remove all accounts that in your s4. Let's pray for the stealer is stupid.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
asafhaim147 said:
i guess i did because its working but the man took out my sim card and the phone is off... im going to catch him when he will connect to the wifi.
maybe tomorrow... never lose hope!
maybe other options?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will be lucky if the thief has not factory reset the phone. Especially if you set pin to unlock, he will surely factory reset the phone.
Sent from my GT-I9500
asafhaim147 said:
i guess i did because its working but the man took out my sim card and the phone is off... im going to catch him when he will connect to the wifi.
maybe tomorrow... never lose hope!
maybe other options?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hope you find it
If you find it (or get another mobile) install Cerberus . In can be set to hidden and is able to send a message if SIM is removed :good:
Mittaa said:
Hope you find it
If you find it (or get another mobile) install In can be set to hidden and is able to send a message if SIM is removed :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
he was online for a couple of minutes but i couldnt track him... did he get a message that i tried?
anyway he looked stupid because i think i saw him but im not sure.
in israel there is a new thing that called Arsim (ערסים) you can google that.
if it was him then hes more stupid than my dog, that loves to bang his head in windows and chairs.
more option people?
thank you all for trying! makes me fell a little better.
asafhaim147 said:
he was online for a couple of minutes but i couldnt track him... did he get a message that i tried?
anyway he looked stupid because i think i saw him but im not sure.
in israel there is a new thing that called Arsim (ערסים) you can google that.
if it was him then hes more stupid than my dog, that loves to bang his head in windows and chairs.
more option people?
thank you all for trying! makes me fell a little better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I this there is a notification telling that device "is found" ... but you can't prevent anybody from flashing a new firmware.
On your box there should be an IMEI number (or on your receipt) and IMEI is a bit more difficult to change so maybe you have a chance to trace it in some other way.
What about plan b from the play store?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
Mittaa said:
Hope you find it
If you find it (or get another mobile) install Cerberus . In can be set to hidden and is able to send a message if SIM is removed :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can set sim change alerts in the standard s4 settings aswell. I only found out the other day and it can be set to text a friend or family member.
Hope you manage yo yrack and get the phone back, too many low lifes in the world needing to steal someone elses hard earned money/phone etc. Is there no way of having the imei blacklisted? Keep that as a last resort if it can be done, as far as I know soon as its blacklisted you wont be able to track it at all
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
Bradden1 said:
What about plan b from the play store?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Plan B only works with 2.0 - 2.3 versions of Android
Mittaa said:
Plan B only works with 2.0 - 2.3 versions of Android
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks..I didn't know that
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
You can have the imei blacklisted so the phone will essentially be useless. You arent getting it back anyway. Might as wll keep the thief from having it.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app
Skipjacks said:
You can have the imei blacklisted so the phone will essentially be useless. You arent getting it back anyway. Might as wll keep the thief from having it.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah but he'll still have a very powerful gaming machine.
lambstone said:
Yeah but he'll still have a very powerful gaming machine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
... and a bad taste in his mouth
Mittaa said:
... and a bad taste in his mouth
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to mention seething disappointment.
Sent from your phone. You should be careful where you leave that thing.
this is where the Avast anti theft comes into play. It comes back even after a reset. I have tried it on my galasy S3 and it works.... but too late for the Op... hope fully you catch the thief...
nm8 said:
this is where the Avast anti theft comes into play. It comes back even after a reset. I have tried it on my galasy S3 and it works.... but too late for the Op... hope fully you catch the thief...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
first of all, he stole it from my bag.
second of all, if he flashes a new firmware or disconnect from my samsung account ( or even a factory reset )
can i know it? or it will just stay offline for ever?
asafhaim147 said:
first of all, he stole it from my bag.
second of all, if he flashes a new firmware or disconnect from my samsung account ( or even a factory reset )
can i know it? or it will just stay offline for ever?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If he just reset (factory reset), wipe data or flash a new firmware, IMEI may survive.
So IMEI tracking is your last chance.
I don't know this company http://www.trackimei.com/ but maybe worth a try?
Some other info HERE ... and HERE
BTW I could imagine that he sell it to some innocent person ... knowing it's a bit to hot to keep for him self
Dear community,
Recently I found a Samsung Galaxy S5 on a football pitch, while playing. I'm living in the middle of nowhere, so i decided to wait for somebody to call it. There were no contacts or something like that, only 2 pictures of some strange stuff:laugh: Now I've waited for 2 weeks, and nobody has called the phone or anything. Now I decided to keep the phone. I factory resetted the phone and deleted all data and cache, it's completely empty now. My question is, can the phone be tracked by using findmyphone even though I've resetted it, or do I have to install a new Rom on it?
Sorry for my English btw
Cheers
ErKo_Ace said:
Dear community,
Recently I found a Samsung Galaxy S5 on a football pitch, while playing. I'm living in the middle of nowhere, so i decided to wait for somebody to call it. There were no contacts or something like that, only 2 pictures of some strange stuff:laugh: Now I've waited for 2 weeks, and nobody has called the phone or anything. Now I decided to keep the phone. I factory resetted the phone and deleted all data and cache, it's completely empty now. My question is, can the phone be tracked by using findmyphone even though I've resetted it, or do I have to install a new Rom on it?
Sorry for my English btw
Cheers
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At this point I don't think phone can be trackable, if you waited for 2 weeks that was enough time for them to tracking it down if phone was set up for some kind of tracking app. Have you checked the ESN/IMEI? may be reported as lost now
Would be interesting what strange stuff was on the pictures. Was the phone part of a crime? Were it nude photos?
We will never know because you just deleted everything.
Depending on what was on the phone I would have brought it to the police or to a shop of the carrier used (if found with sim card). They could have found the owner within minutes or at least a few hours.
Despite that every phone has a so called IMEI number which can be tracked down independent from the sim used. You can change that number if you know how but there is a high risk of hard bricking the phone. And in fact I hope you hard brick it because you just deleted someones phone without trying to find the owner.
Have a nice day.
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So you're trying to prevent the real owner of the phone from tracking/finding his own phone?
Guys, it's been 2 weeks since he found the phone, he said he didn't get any calls, is not like he found the phone this morning and couple hours later he did a reset. If he is telling the truth
haulero said:
Guys, it's been 2 weeks since he found the phone, he said he didn't get any calls, is not like he found the phone this morning and couple hours later he did a reset. If he is telling the truth
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2 weeks don't make a difference. This is not right. He could still try to find the owner. And at least not try to prevent being tracked. Too sad that you support such behaviour.
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ktp1976 said:
2 weeks don't make a difference. This is not right. He could still try to find the owner. And at least not try to prevent being tracked. Too sad that you support such behaviour.
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Yeah... if the owner wanted his phone back, why didn't he look for it? 2 weeks not even a call!
Depending on where you live like in UK the network could sim block it if the owner decided to by calling their provider meaning it couldn't work on any network, so if you ever decide to sell it just remember there's always that risk.
I smell some fishy fishy business. How plausible is it for OP to find a phone with no contact/log/message list whatsoever?
I mean, not even a single text message?
Then OP would like to modify the phone to prevent it from ever being recovered. Sorry buddy, you won't find assistance here.
Classic symptoms of a "I illegitimately acquired a phone, and do not wish to return it!"
The phone is trackable through IMEI. Your local telecom commission has the power to block usage from the phone rendering it useless to you.
Well, if it has a Sim card in it, it should display what carrier network it's on...take it to them or the police. Doesn't sound like you tried very hard to find the owner or you stole it.
Sent from my AT&T Samsung Galaxy S5.
Well you did a factory reset so i guess you had the intention to keep the phone.
Finders keepers???
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haulero said:
Guys, it's been 2 weeks since he found the phone, he said he didn't get any calls, is not like he found the phone this morning and couple hours later he did a reset. If he is telling the truth
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two weeks....Two months or 2 years won't matter...he isn't the real owner of the phone...and trying to blocking it from being tracked by original owner is the part that I have a beef with....He needs to turn it in tot he local police station and they will decide to give it back to him after a while that it's been unclaimed. He doesn't have the legal or moral authority to decide when he's gonna magically turn into the owner of the phone.
devoidx said:
two weeks....Two months or 2 years won't matter...he isn't the real owner of the phone...and trying to blocking it from being tracked by original owner is the part that I have a beef with....He needs to turn it in tot he local police station and they will decide to give it back to him after a while that it's been unclaimed. He doesn't have the legal or moral authority to decide when he's gonna magically turn into the owner of the phone.
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And what is the police going to do? nothing. They are busy resolving REAL crime not trying to find the owner of a lost cell phone, whom by the way may not even filed a lost report
haulero said:
And what is the police going to do? nothing. They are busy resolving REAL crime not trying to find the owner of a lost cell phone, whom by the way may not even filed a lost report
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As someone said he could open it up check the sim and contact the network carrier.
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I don't care what police is going to do ...point is this is not his phone to own and use
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devoidx said:
I don't care what police is going to do ...point is this is not his phone to own and use
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Yeah... because in the real world you find a phone and you waste time and effort to try to find the owner, when the owner doesn't even care.
Around 80% of my contacts doesn't memorize their own number, moreso memorize other people's number which are already saved in their contact list. If he doesn't make a backup (gmail or not) he won't have any way to contact his own number. He can probably return the phone and sim to the carrier and they will contact the owner.
I'm saying that there is no real effort on his side and he clearly has intention not to return he phone. If there's a will, there's a way.
Report it as found at the local police and at the provider and wait if the owner will claim it.
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I have to agree... doesnt matter how long its been. It matters what you've done to find the owner. The most obvious thing would be to get the number/carrier off the phone and take it to one of their stores as they can easily look up the number and know who it belongs to