Database Users

NOTE TO ALL. DO not help theives.

These "pattern lockout please help" threads are the worst attempt at recovering stolen phones. Its obvious thw thieves create multiple accounts on xda, Then reply with things like "this is happening to me too" It supposed to build their credibility by creating small layers of trust. Its to make you think "Oh, well if multiple people are having an issue, maybe this is just another failure in the long list of problems."
I wouldnt be suprised if they start pm'ing people who attempt to help.
The bottom line is, this is a weak attempt to socially engineer you to break the law by helping them break the law. We all know that if you forget your pattern its easy enough to recover from it. My son locks my phone once a week from incorrect pattern entry. With my G1 it was married to one google account so i was forced to recover via gmail. Therefore if they are the true owners they will have no problem recovering.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Word.
Well said.

Need to sticky this.
I'd pay for an app that locks down the recovery and download mode with a password - can't remember your pass - tough ****.

Hey people, I forgot my....
oh... I guess I have to ask androidforums...

+1
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

HG! said:
Hey people, I forgot my....
oh... I guess I have to ask androidforums...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely agree though!!!

Bump. Sticky this.

I agree with the OP, theres alot of phones on ebay and craigslist of the locked android phones. I sent a message to an ebay seller and his response was the phone was as is, but fully working. Would not go into detail when I asked him was it user error or stolen. My initial Vibrant I bought was stolen and I had no security installed. That mistake wont happen again but Please dont help the theives.

what if the person is being honest, and they are really pattern locked out, and they don't know anything about android? LOL that would suck, but I agree, lets not help thieves.

Yeah pretty much a big f you. I am a legit owner who was locked out the day I got my phone. Gmail did not unlock it so I called tmo. They walked me through a master unlock which made things worse, as now all my gmail info was deleted. Thank goodness there were people willing to help and I was able to get my phone back up and running. Its people like you who really make it hard for someone to get the help they need here on xda.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

SamsungVibrant said:
what if the person is being honest, and they are really pattern locked out, and they don't know anything about android? LOL that would suck, but I agree, lets not help thieves.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it happens, but tough ****, we can't determine the real idiots from the thieves so it's best to help no one get past the unlock screen.
(although on stock vibrant there is a known issue that the pattern unlock does not go away even if you do the right thing)

While I do agree we shouldn't help thieves, we shouldn't make such a blanket statement. Just because you get locked out of your phone doesn't mean you stole it. I've had customers whose friends tried to unlock their phone and locked them out.
But I can see it now all the unhelpful vultures on here as soon as someone asks about being locked out of their phone. "ZOMG THIEVE CALL THE POLICE, TELL THE MODS, TRACK THEIR IP, THEIR WORSE THAN HITLER!!!!"

speoples20 said:
While I do agree we shouldn't help thieves, we shouldn't make such a blanket statement. Just because you get locked out of your phone doesn't mean you stole it. I've had customers whose friends tried to unlock their phone and locked them out.
But I can see it now all the unhelpful vultures on here as soon as someone asks about being locked out of their phone. "ZOMG THIEVE CALL THE POLICE, TELL THE MODS, TRACK THEIR IP, THEIR WORSE THAN HITLER!!!!"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i am not saying that if a customer brings their phone into my store i am not going to help then(i would get reprimanded for that) but online i have no way of knowing if they are telling the truth or not. when people bring their phone into the store you can usually tell if they are telling the truth or not, or you have a hundred tools at your disposal as a rep that will tell you whether or not they bought the phone and/or it is theirs

I am not suggesting there are not circumstances where everything goes wrong and you are unable to sign in using your gmail account to unlock. Wait... yes i am. If you are in this situation it is 100% your fault.
Take ownership of your phone and whats on it.
If it were so easy to circumvent 2 layers of secuirty on a locked android device... then why even have it on there.
Most if not all people looking to get around the pattern unlock are in possesion of a phone they dont own.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

or they are completely retarded like 90% of my customers, there are thousands of people out there that have an android device and have no clue what their gmail password is because the sales rep set all that up for them and made sure that when they walked out the door they would have no problems. at least once a week i get customers that come in and tell me that they locked themselves out of their phone and i know they did because A) i sold it to them and set it up B) a co-worker sold it to them and i set it up C) they are old. most people don't bother to remember passwords just like they don't remember phone numbers, because technology has the ability to remember stuff for us then why the hell should we have to use our brain at all?
i am not saying that we should walk people through how to get past it, i am just stating that some people really are that stupid and can't remember unlock patterns or passwords, or phone numbers or whatever else. frankly i think even i have locked myself out of my old G1 because i changed my pattern and then forgot what is was(i changed mine once a week) just because i changed the pattern doesn't mean i stole it, it means i'm an idiot
i have also seen phones that will not let you use the gmail credentials even though you can use those same credentials to log in via computer. just because someone is stupid does not make them a thief, although being a thief makes them stupid

NoDataFound said:
I am not suggesting there are not circumstances where everything goes wrong and you are unable to sign in using your gmail account to unlock. Wait... yes i am. If you are in this situation it is 100% your fault.
Take ownership of your phone and whats on it.
If it were so easy to circumvent 2 layers of secuirty on a locked android device... then why even have it on there.
Most if not all people looking to get around the pattern unlock are in possesion of a phone they dont own.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just because you have not run into a situation in which all systems failed does not mean it doesn't happen. Don't be do short sighted and pig headed that you under mind the purpose of help forums. I consider myself a semi intelligent person but somehow found myself completely locked out of my first vibrant. With the help of a few good people I was back up and running the next day. And this was on my day old stock vibrant. And yes the gmail auth failed even with the correct login info.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Apexsilverevo said:
Just because you have not run into a situation in which all systems failed does not mean it doesn't happen. Don't be do short sighted and pig headed that you under mind the purpose of help forums. I consider myself a semi intelligent person but somehow found myself completely locked out of my first vibrant. With the help of a few good people I was back up and running the next day. And this was on my day old stock vibrant. And yes the gmail auth failed even with the correct login info.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I pointed out already(and I'm agreeing with you) this is a known issue, and t-mo has said many times that they plan on a fix but I doubt it will be soon
Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide using XDA App

tubaking182 said:
or they are completely retarded like 90% of my customers, there are thousands of people out there that have an android device and have no clue what their gmail password is because the sales rep set all that up for them and made sure that when they walked out the door they would have no problems. at least once a week i get customers that come in and tell me that they locked themselves out of their phone and i know they did because A) i sold it to them and set it up B) a co-worker sold it to them and i set it up C) they are old. most people don't bother to remember passwords just like they don't remember phone numbers, because technology has the ability to remember stuff for us then why the hell should we have to use our brain at all?
i am not saying that we should walk people through how to get past it, i am just stating that some people really are that stupid and can't remember unlock patterns or passwords, or phone numbers or whatever else. frankly i think even i have locked myself out of my old G1 because i changed my pattern and then forgot what is was(i changed mine once a week) just because i changed the pattern doesn't mean i stole it, it means i'm an idiot
i have also seen phones that will not let you use the gmail credentials even though you can use those same credentials to log in via computer. just because someone is stupid does not make them a thief, although being a thief makes them stupid
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Overall you are correct. I deal with people all the time that dont know tech at all. The only thing I see wrong with your logic is that those type of people would not be on this forum. If the people bought the phone through a legit source they can go back to that store and get it unlocked or replaced.

tubaking182 said:
As I pointed out already(and I'm agreeing with you) this is a known issue, and t-mo has said many times that they plan on a fix but I doubt it will be soon
Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got to love the xda app lol, I meant to quote the post above. But appreciate your response
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Listen, there is a flaw with the fail safe of the patern lock. Its supposed to verify your google account info. It completely failed for me. First I was told I had to do it using 3G and not wi-fi. But neither worked. T mo actually replaced my phone because I got licked out
locked. They saw the error when I showed them I could log on with a computer but not with the phone which I had a receipt for.
Try it for yourself. Enter the wrong code until it asks for google verification.
Before you get your panties in a wad, why not see if there's a bug here after all.
Sent from my Samsung Vibrant using XDA App

[Q] Checking for intrusion

Hi guys,
just came back from a trip in Israel. At Tel Aviv airport the guys at security took and hold there my tablet for "security" reasons. When (if) my tablet will return to me, it would be possible to check if they looked and stole my data (emails, navigation history and so on)?
Thank u for your help

I have no idea if you can do that or not... sorry.
But thats messed up! Remind me to never go to Israel...

Not sure there is any way to check if they copied your files or not but if its not too late you can check the battery usage over the time period they had possession of your property to see whether or not they were using your device for any considerable amount of time that would be required to copy a large chunk of data.
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App

Afraid they stole your kiddie-p...?
Just kidding. There is no way to check it. Did you make a backup?
My guess is that they love your shiny toy so much that its never coming back... hope you have insurance and some sort of proof that they confiscated it. Good luck.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

Good reason to use the screen lock thingy with the passwrod or the multi-movement drag open to unlock thing (system settings)

panda.bear said:
Not sure there is any way to check if they copied your files or not but if its not too late you can check the battery usage over the time period they had possession of your property to see whether or not they were using your device for any considerable amount of time that would be required to copy a large chunk of data.
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How can I do it?

Fluffbutt said:
Good reason to use the screen lock thingy with the passwrod or the multi-movement drag open to unlock thing (system settings)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use the drag code, but I think it's not too difficult to overcome it

the drag code is difficult to get rid of... since after few try... got a timed lock.
so unless they know your email and password... I don't think they can open it...
But of course we are speaking about guys not really "computer" wise
and... what kind of "sensitive" information you want hide?
it's really weird that they could take the tablet like this... good luck

sanaell said:
the drag code is difficult to get rid of... since after few try... got a timed lock.
so unless they know your email and password... I don't think they can open it...
But of course we are speaking about guys not really "computer" wise
and... what kind of "sensitive" information you want hide?
it's really weird that they could take the tablet like this... good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've nothing to hide but wathever belongs to me is "sensitive" for me! I think nobody can like that other peoples gain access to own data!!

sanaell said:
the drag code is difficult to get rid of... since after few try... got a timed lock.
so unless they know your email and password... I don't think they can open it...
But of course we are speaking about guys not really "computer" wise
and... what kind of "sensitive" information you want hide?
it's really weird that they could take the tablet like this... good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bear in mind, all countries have laws that state they can ORDER you to provide the password. Refuse and some (middle east) WILL lock you up.
A lawyer mate of mine says you have the right to be present when they activate, open, or search you equipment. If they refuse, then you also can refuse the password.
Again, that's mainly western countries..

Best way to keep Hebs, Yank jack-booted thugs or anyone else out would be to encrypt the tablet and have a very long non-word password.

we're going offtopic, I only would to know if there was a way to track tablet's use....

That's a first, been many time abroad including Israel and never been told anything about my electronics. And I normally have a few with me. Only once was I told to turn my pocket PC to prove it worked. Best of luck hope you get it back!
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App

It is turned back. It is now on Milan airport and tomorrow it would be between my hand
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

[Q] Re-enabling a Nexus7 that was "remotely disabled" by Google?

So I have kind of an interesting situation. A few weeks ago, I ordered a new Nexus7 8gb for a gift direct from the Google Play store, and shipped via UPS. On the day it was delivered, UPS's tracking showed "Delivered to the front door" however it never made it there. So I called Google Play Support and they had me reply to an e-mail with the words "I consent" to allow them to refund the charge and "remotely disable the device" to make it "unusable as a phone or as a computing device for any purpose".
So I did that and they promptly refunded me, and I placed a new order, which ended up being delivered with no problems. However, yesterday my neighbor knocked on my door with the original shipment in hand, apparently it had been delivered next door, and they were away at the time so they hadn't seen the package until then. Out of curiosity I booted up the tablet fully expecting it to be bricked once I connected it to wifi or at most after I had attached my google account or tried to do anything on the Play Store app. However, it has so far worked flawlessly with no visible restrictions, I even updated all the apps and performed a system update with no issues.
Just to be on the safe, and more honest, side though I sent Google a follow-up e-mail to let them know what happened and that the device had not been disabled. They responded just to say that it "can be disabled at any time from now" and to make sure anything I had on there is backed up.
So my question(s) to you guys are, first has anyone had any experience with this, aka Google remotely disabling the device, and know what actually happens to it? And second, since it appears Google has no desire to collect the hardware back from me, is there any way to bring it back to life after that the disabling action has happened, via a hard-wipe and using custom ROMs ect, or will it be essentially a $200 paperweight?
Thanks!

I think, tho maybe wrong but when they send out the "kill" signal it goes out for limited time so that if the item is not switched on during that period then when it is switched on it could/should be fine.
I may be wrong but past experience with a found iphone would suggest this to be the case.
As for the last bit I would as assume that once killed only google can breathe life back into it.
Transmitted from either Nexus7 - Tab2 - GT-N7000 - i9100

alferret said:
I think, tho maybe wrong but when they send out the "kill" signal it goes out for limited time so that if the item is not switched on during that period then when it is switched on it could/should be fine.
I may be wrong but past experience with a found iphone would suggest this to be the case.
As for the last bit I would as assume that once killed only google can breathe life back into it.
Transmitted from either Nexus7 - Tab2 - GT-N7000 - i9100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah ok, well if thats the case maybe I should just power it off and wait awhile before attempting to use it, if theres a chance I would be able to avoid their "kill signal" altogether.
I just assumed at the very least they would blacklist the tablet's IMEI/serial immediately, so that even if the device itself wasn't bricked it wouldn't be unable to utilize any of google's services.

Flash a custom ROM and recovery asap I say.

Good on you for being honest and telling Google about what happened. Good karma goes a long way! I'm more surprised though they didn't request you send it back to them.

styckx said:
Good on you for being honest and telling Google about what happened. Good karma goes a long way! I'm more surprised though they didn't request you send it back to them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I was surprised too when they didn't respond back with instructions to send it back to them or at least have UPS come pick it up, since it was UPS who was really the one at fault.
It just seems like a waste to me that a shiny new Nexus 7 will now most likely just become trash, which is what led me to ask here if there was anything I could do to save it from an early grave.

Spare parts (screen and battery)
Sent from my LG-P500 using xda premium

Am I the only one who thinks this is wrong?
Sent from my HTC One XL using Tapatalk 2

I will give you a hundred bucks for it. I don't mind the risk involved since you contacted Google to see if they wanted it back. PM me.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium

superchilpil said:
Am I the only one who thinks this is wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure how its wrong if I notified them that I recovered the device, and all they said was "it will be disabled soon" and made no mention or request to have it sent back to them? Its apparent they don't want or need it back (I'm guessing the costs they'd incur in return shipping, handling, repackaging it, ect. would make it not really worth it for them to try to resell.), so is it wrong I'm trying to get some use out of it?
Also I believe I read that they file a claim with UPS in these instances, so most likely receive some type of reimbursement from UPS to at least mitigate the loss, which is probably another reason they haven't asked me to send it back. *shrug*
@shibbybypass - regarding your offer I'm not sure what I'm gonna do with it yet, probably going to just let it sit awhile and see what happens. But I will keep your offer in mind.

superchilpil said:
Am I the only one who thinks this is wrong?
Sent from my HTC One XL using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you are
He contacted the vendor, they did not request the unit back. Nothing wrong here.
Now if he didn't contact google, and was trying to get around the kill signal; that's another story. But unless you are calling the OP a liar.. nothing to see here.

Dude what is the status of the device now ???
Is it still working, I have a friend with the same case
But his device still on and google said its scheduled to be disabled

Wow! It's amazing how much control the corporations have over our devices. I have heard about this "kill switch" but did not believe it.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Soldier-3Point0 said:
Wow! It's amazing how much control the corporations have over our devices. I have heard about this "kill switch" but did not believe it.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think there are apps that give us something like that if the device is lost or stolen.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium

We owned computer / networking business in the mid 80s to mid 90s.. what happens is the seller files a claim with ups. they are compensated for there loss. UPS Does not care about the item at that point . UNLESS Google files to ups item has been found. Then ups will ask for it But only Sometimes.Obviously google is not taking this second step.. Im sure this happens more then you would think. UPS Looses alot of packages. they just handle so many more its not so well known..
As far as them killing or locking the device.. Its only for google WALLET And the wallet nfc function. If you unlock lock then re-unlock the device it will have a new nfc id .
Here is how i know the above sentence..
First i bought a 8 gb nexus 7 from play store. (8 was out of stock ). It had bad screen lift. I called google and they said i could it order a 16 then gat a rma for the 8 when the 16 comes.. So the day i got the 16 gb . before i took it out of the box. I called google got the rma for 8 gb. Got the email telling me to disable wallet. I did so.. after i opened the 16 setting it up the screen cracked under (another story i will not get into here) I called google to explain what happened . they told me to send it back and to keep the 8 until i got a replacement for the 16. While setting the 8 gb tablet back up google wallet would NOT Work..
i called google back . they told me to unlock it again . lock it back. Remove it from my wallet account.. Then i could unlock it again and set it up...
this i done. and it worked fine. So it makes me think they do NOT RENDER THE DEVICE DISABLED Only the wallet features..
sorry for. such a long story ..
since you asked them if they wanted it back and they did not . i would say your fine with keeping it.. Keep the emails documenting you contacting them.
Good Luck

Stolen N4 - Who blocks IMEI?

Hi folks.
I feel stupid (and angry) as hell right now. The worst part is that I can't even explain how it happened. I'm the most careful person in the world with my phone, and haven't lost a smartphone in, like, a decade, but I believe I have just had my N4 stolen from me. I had it, then I put it in my pocket, stood up for 10 minutes, then it was gone, and, of course, immediately switched off. All my careful planning is null and void; once it's stolen / off, there's very little that pintail, plan b, lookout etc can do. (?)
Anyway, I just need to know where and how I get the IMEI blocked? It was bought directly from Google, not via a carrier. Does anyone know?
Thanks. I'm off to dust off my credit card, and try to replace my baby

I would think talking to your carrier would be a good idea since they have access to block imei's. Even if they can't they are best able to point you in the right direction.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

GSM phones don't have IMEIs, do they? I thought you pop a new sim card in and it's usable again.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

Call Google, they can block the IMEI and remotely shut it down, I think I also seen that you can file a lost/stolen report with them. You mfight get a replacement, too.

chrisrozon said:
GSM phones don't have IMEIs, do they? I thought you pop a new sim card in and it's usable again.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YES THEY DO.
......... :laugh:
I'm afraid you can't block your phone from every carrier in the world OP. You should of flashed Cerberus as a system app onto your phone.

Thanks all for your replies.
chrisrozon said:
GSM phones don't have IMEIs, do they? I
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Silly billy
wilsonlam97 said:
You should of flashed Cerberus as a system app onto your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers, I'll check that one out for next time :/
Infekxion said:
Call Google, they can block the IMEI and remotely shut it down,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So far, I've filled in a form I found for order related queries, but that's the best I could find. If anyone has any help for phone numbers/URLs/emails, I'd be really grateful. I'm still searching.
Infekxion said:
You mfight get a replacement, too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ha! That would be nice, but I won't hold my breath!

If you use a mastercard and you bought it within 90 days, they'll replace it if stolen.
http://www.mastercard.us/card-benefits.html

Rakeesh_j said:
If you use a mastercard and you bought it within 90 days, they'll replace it if stolen.
http://www.mastercard.us/card-benefits.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Badass. But just tell Google. They can block it from T-Mobile and AT&T. I think straight talk too. Emails take along while but they do get back to you. I would put flyers up near where it was stolen that say the phone has been deactivated and will not work on any carrier. If it is returned to you there will be no questions asked ( maybe even lie about a reward) see what happens. You can say my number is on the lock screen or call this number in the contacts. Maybe they will just return it to lost and found or something. Could be it died and you just left it somewhere and someone picked it up to give it to lost and found?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

Censura_Umbra said:
I would put flyers up near where it was stolen that say the phone has been deactivated and will not work on any carrier. If it is returned to you there will be no questions asked ( maybe even lie about a reward) see what happens.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How much of a fake reward would be required for a thief to return a phone? $100 bucks? Not worth incriminating myself. $200 bucks? Then my BS detector goes off because you are approaching the price of purchasing a new one.
I like your optimism but too bad the world doesn't work like that.

Rakeesh_j said:
If you use a mastercard and you bought it within 90 days, they'll replace it if stolen.
http://www.mastercard.us/card-benefits.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for this post. my nexus 4 was also stolen a few weeks back. I didn't even think to contact my card company to see if they would replace it. According to the website, looks like they will :laugh:
And to think I was actually debating buying another N4 because my Galaxy Nexus is starting to act stupid

Sorry about your loss..
But according to your description of the incident... Someone stole it from your pocket after you stood up? How?? Or am I reading the op wrong
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

Crisisx1 said:
Sorry about your loss..
But according to your description of the incident... Someone stole it from your pocket after you stood up? How?? Or am I reading the op wrong
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah I don't get that one from the OP either lol. mine was stolen from my car along with my wallet

Rakeesh_j said:
If you use a mastercard and you bought it within 90 days, they'll replace it if stolen.
http://www.mastercard.us/card-benefits.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is really good info, thanks. Sadly, it doesn't apply to me.
Censura_Umbra said:
Could be it died and you just left it somewhere and someone picked it up to give it to lost and found?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Crisisx1 said:
But according to your description of the incident... Someone stole it from your pocket after you stood up? How?? Or am I reading the op wrong
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There was literally ten or fifteen minutes between me sitting at the table in the bar using my phone, and it being switched off when I asked my girlfriend to call it. I guess I was pickpocketed when I went outside for a smoke. Sucks, but this is what credit is for, I guess. I'd only just paid off my card
I just want to block that SoB from using it. I'm still no nearer to finding the right contact at Google.

If they didn't wipe your phone, go to Google Play on the web and install Plan B to your phone. It will tell you where it is.

DanielNTX said:
If they didn't wipe your phone, go to Google Play on the web and install Plan B to your phone. It will tell you where it is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone was stolen and switched off within ten to fifteen minutes of the last time I had it in my hand. Pretty tough to install Plan B in those circumstances I have various apps for locating it, as well as a number of Tasker scripts to locate, erase, etc. but they are all pretty much worthless the minute the thief has switched off the phone.
--
I have tracked down the phone number for US Google Device Support , which I have called and they appear to have it in hand, although they have had to escalate my call to a specialist as they were not sure if they could block the IMEI.
Thanks all for taking the time to reply. My new phone has been ordered and should be here in a few days. Everything's backed up to Dropbox, so I'm only down a bit of money and some inconvenience. It could be worse.

CheshA said:
This is really good info, thanks. Sadly, it doesn't apply to me.
There was literally ten or fifteen minutes between me sitting at the table in the bar using my phone, and it being switched off when I asked my girlfriend to call it. I guess I was pickpocketed when I went outside for a smoke. Sucks, but this is what credit is for, I guess. I'd only just paid off my card
I just want to block that SoB from using it. I'm still no nearer to finding the right contact at Google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must wear some really big/loose pants for someone to pick pot a pretty big phone from your pocket... Or you were really drunk
Good luck bro.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

CheshA said:
The phone was stolen and switched off within ten to fifteen minutes of the last time I had it in my hand. Pretty tough to install Plan B in those circumstances I have various apps for locating it, as well as a number of Tasker scripts to locate, erase, etc. but they are all pretty much worthless the minute the thief has switched off the phone.
--
I have tracked down the phone number for US Google Device Support , which I have called and they appear to have it in hand, although they have had to escalate my call to a specialist as they were not sure if they could block the IMEI.
Thanks all for taking the time to reply. My new phone has been ordered and should be here in a few days. Everything's backed up to Dropbox, so I'm only down a bit of money and some inconvenience. It could be worse.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, at least you weren't hurt in the incident. It sucks to have your stuff stolen (I had a phone stolen about 2 years ago in a mugging) but at the end of the day we move on and don't let it get us down. I've found that I'm now much more cautious with my electronics in public, which I guess is a good thing.

Hello there, sorry to hear about your situation. I actually JUST lost my Nexus 4 this past weekend as well. Were you able to get a resolution from the Google team regarding the block on the IMEI? I've tried searching around for more info but haven't been able to find much. What ended up happening if you don't mind me asking?

[Q] Found Phone, what now?

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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Sent from my GT-i9100G using XDA Free mobile app

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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Sent from my GT-i9100G using XDA Free mobile app

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.
Sent from my GT-i9100G using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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???
Sent from my SM-G900I using XDA Free mobile app

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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As someone said he could open it up check the sim and contact the network carrier.
Sent from my SM-G900I using XDA Free mobile app

I don't care what police is going to do ...point is this is not his phone to own and use
Sent from my SM-G900T using XDA Free mobile app

devoidx said:
I don't care what police is going to do ...point is this is not his phone to own and use
Sent from my SM-G900T using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

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