FAKE Galaxy S5 - Safe to use?? Network Issues - Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hey guys, I have a Galaxy S5 that I'm 99% sure is fake. I have uploaded some screenshots of the system and hardware info. Can anyone tell if it's definitely fake? If so, would it be safe to use? I factory reset it to clear any apps or anything that might leak personal information but I don't know if that's enough. I was thinking that the manufacturers of fake phones could hide malicious code deep into the system that could potentially leak my personal information like my email address and password and other passwords I enter online.In the case that they do intend to get my personal info I have a VPN service I pay for, so would connecting to the VPN before doing anything online keep them from being able to get information or could they still have a keylogger that logs my keystrokes and what windows are up when I enter them? Are there any roms I could download for it? Also I tried to boot into download mode like my old S3 and it went to a mode that was all in Korean (or Chinese or whatever). So I mean I pretty much know it's fake :silly: Is there any reason I should be worried? I am also having network issues. I have tried many different APN settings (it's unlocked and I have T-Mobile) but I cannot get anything more than a very poor edge connection. Any ideas?
***As you can see it only has 1GB of internal memory lolololololol

jtl_777 said:
Hey guys, I have a Galaxy S5 that I'm 99% sure is fake. I have uploaded some screenshots of the system and hardware info. Can anyone tell if it's definitely fake? If so, would it be safe to use? I factory reset it to clear any apps or anything that might leak personal information but I don't know if that's enough. I was thinking that the manufacturers of fake phones could hide malicious code deep into the system that could potentially leak my personal information like my email address and password and other passwords I enter online.In the case that they do intend to get my personal info I have a VPN service I pay for, so would connecting to the VPN before doing anything online keep them from being able to get information or could they still have a keylogger that logs my keystrokes and what windows are up when I enter them? Are there any roms I could download for it? Also I tried to boot into download mode like my old S3 and it went to a mode that was all in Korean (or Chinese or whatever). So I mean I pretty much know it's fake :silly: Is there any reason I should be worried? I am also having network issues. I have tried many different APN settings (it's unlocked and I have T-Mobile) but I cannot get anything more than a very poor edge connection. Any ideas?
***As you can see it only has 1GB of internal memory lolololololol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can be sure for a 100% thats is fake. Yes you should be worried, if there is an issue with your device in the future you won`t have warranty and 0% afterservice, so you`re pretty much on your own and may have to buy another phone.
PS: Don`t flash anything fom the S5 forum or you`ll brick your phone.

jtl_777 said:
Hey guys, I have a Galaxy S5 that I'm 99% sure is fake. I have uploaded some screenshots of the system and hardware info. Can anyone tell if it's definitely fake? If so, would it be safe to use? I factory reset it to clear any apps or anything that might leak personal information but I don't know if that's enough. I was thinking that the manufacturers of fake phones could hide malicious code deep into the system that could potentially leak my personal information like my email address and password and other passwords I enter online.In the case that they do intend to get my personal info I have a VPN service I pay for, so would connecting to the VPN before doing anything online keep them from being able to get information or could they still have a keylogger that logs my keystrokes and what windows are up when I enter them? Are there any roms I could download for it? Also I tried to boot into download mode like my old S3 and it went to a mode that was all in Korean (or Chinese or whatever). So I mean I pretty much know it's fake :silly: Is there any reason I should be worried? I am also having network issues. I have tried many different APN settings (it's unlocked and I have T-Mobile) but I cannot get anything more than a very poor edge connection. Any ideas?
***As you can see it only has 1GB of internal memory lolololololol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Install Phone INFO ★Samsung★ app, open Menu > 'Refurbishment Check'. It will tell you exactly if your phone is genuine or a fake one.

gee2012 said:
You can be sure for a 100% thats is fake. Yes you should be worried, if there is an issue with your device in the future you won`t have warranty and 0% afterservice, so you`re pretty much on your own and may have to buy another phone.
PS: Don`t flash anything fom the S5 forum or you`ll brick your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not concerned with the warranty. I actually haven't bought it yet but my friend did and she didn't know it was fake. I would buy it for 50 bucks if I can get 4g to work so what would you guys say? I'm doing some investigating to see if it's safe to use with my gmail and other accounts. What would be the best way to ensure that my information doesn't get sent out? I rooted it last night and found a couple forums for fake samsung phone roms but some of the numbers didn't add up. Thanks for your help.

If it is fake then you shouldn't use it. Your information and passwords may leak and there's a possibility that the device may explode.
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Related

Need help... note was stolen.

hey guys, a buddy of mine just had his note stolen. it is a wifi only device and i need to know if there is a way to locate it... i dont have any information of the device available other than a text+ phone number that the device is using. please shoot me a PM if you have any ideas, i have a few people working on it right now but need all and any ideas or input. please send PMs
thanks in advance
All notes have antitheft application built in it, atleast mine has, you need to register the same if you do you can track the phone from Samsung tracker website, it should be able to give you its location and also should be able to lock it, dont know whether it will happen with a wifi version as there is no imei number you can check
samir_a said:
All notes have antitheft application built in it, atleast mine has, you need to register the same if you do you can track the phone from Samsung tracker website, it should be able to give you its location and also should be able to lock it, dont know whether it will happen with a wifi version as there is no imei number you can check
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you... very useful... contacting somebody i know at google right now as well.
But... if you did not activate the utrack function (and if you did, you should know), then it will not work.
Found it.. Thanks for the input guys
Before saying it doesnt work (if you will) mind this:
1. It has to be switched on obviously
2. You need to have a working internet connection, meaning if he removes/switches simcard (you may recieve a notification about simcard change) and turn off WiFi, you're toast
3. Its possible he made a factory reset.. If so you're also toast
Personally Im using rooted N8000 and Avast Anti-theft.
Cheers cobraboy for letting us know, most people just leave threads open ended. How did you find it? Be interesting for others to know....
His saving grace was that it was connected to my buddy's WiFi...there were 4 people at the house when it turned up missing...
I got on his main computer at his house, pulled up a list of all the mac IDs connected to their WiFi, identified all 10 devices in the house individually, phones, computers, etc...
His tab should have come up on that list if it was there - it did not. So I confronted the person who I was pretty sure was the only one that would have taken it and told him I knew he had taken it - he came with our other friend..
Showed them all that it was physically missing and not in range of the home network... Even tho it was previously connected... Then told him I was going to call the cops over there if somebody didn't fess up so this was his chance to come clean (as my friends and I don't ****ing steal from each other... Durr) and he admitted to putting it outside while we were all upstairs, then texting another friend of his to come by the house and snagging it.
Got it back. And somebody might have had a bloody nose when all was said and done. Low lifes.
glad you got a result!
i would have emptied there pockets and took anything of value while i was at the nose breaking ceremony
alls well the ends well good you got the note back now activate the tracker
I have had great experience with the Cerberus anti theft app :good:
cobraboy85 said:
His saving grace was that it was connected to my buddy's WiFi...there were 4 people at the house when it turned up missing...
I got on his main computer at his house, pulled up a list of all the mac IDs connected to their WiFi, identified all 10 devices in the house individually, phones, computers, etc...
His tab should have come up on that list if it was there - it did not. So I confronted the person who I was pretty sure was the only one that would have taken it and told him I knew he had taken it - he came with our other friend..
Showed them all that it was physically missing and not in range of the home network... Even tho it was previously connected... Then told him I was going to call the cops over there if somebody didn't fess up so this was his chance to come clean (as my friends and I don't ****ing steal from each other... Durr) and he admitted to putting it outside while we were all upstairs, then texting another friend of his to come by the house and snagging it.
Got it back. And somebody might have had a bloody nose when all was said and done. Low lifes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
u should had called the police
Glad you got it back. Pretty smart idea!
Sent from my GT-N8010 using XDA Premium HD app
You can also write a Tasker code for this kind of stuff. My TF101 used to take a snapshot of the front and back cameras, turn on WIFI, located by GPS and WIFI, then sync the photos and location data to a dropbox. I didn't do more coding because it was inconvenient and I ended up with shots of me taking a ****.. but, you know, if someone wanted to, he could easily turn that into a profile based on location (ie. maybe it won't take snapshots if you're on a recognized wifi or something).
How do you turn on the anti theft......would be interesting to hear from users of N8000, N8010, and N8013 to see IF the process is different for each.
Also, it would be nice to read of users preferred app......
Riki1kenobi said:
How do you turn on the anti theft......would be interesting to hear from users of N8000, N8010, and N8013 to see IF the process is different for each.
Also, it would be nice to read of users preferred app......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here...what is this app thats supposedly built into our note? I have 8013 wifi version. How do we activate this tracker app?
I have the geek squad app from best buy, it will track lock wipe . make noise and take pic
demandarin said:
Same here...what is this app thats supposedly built into our note? I have 8013 wifi version. How do we activate this tracker app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's called Samsung Dive and it's pretty cool beyond just lost device tracking. You (N8000) owners can use it to forward calls and MMS to another device, ring the device (like if you lost it in the house), and, if it's stolen or lost, remote wipe and lock it so it can't be used.
You sign in to the Dive website with your Samsung account. My account's in the UK so I don't how it works in the U.S. I didn't do anything to get my device(s) to appear in Dive other than use my Samsung account when I first set them up.
http://www.samsungdive.com/DiveMain.do
To get Dive to work you have to enable it on your device. It's under Settings>Security>Remote controls if it's available on your particular Note. This is from my N2 but the 10.1's the same.
Just registered with Samsung Dive. N8013, signed in and it automatically recognized the Note. Pretty slick

[Q] Verizon apps + Root + Move to TMo

I upgraded my unrooted Galaxy S5 to lollipop and it was bad, slow, freezing a lot. I disabled many Verizon-bloatware apps and lollipop is now a buttery smooth beautiful thing!
What pros & cons would rooting a phone generally give me for an average user's experience?
Most importantly, I'm looking to take & convert this S5 phone (and my daughter's Galaxy S3) to T-Mobile this weekend and want to make it all T-Mobile ready. Any insight, thoughts, suggestions, especially if I wanted to root or factory reset my phone but keep app data (such as Kung Fu Pets )?
I've been told by friends and cell providers these phones are already unlocked and can easily switch networks, no worries of voice or data settings on my part, TMo's WiFi calling will work as if I bought the phone from TMo, etc.
Thanks all!
KCSamerica said:
I upgraded my unrooted Galaxy S5 to lollipop and it was bad, slow, freezing a lot. I disabled many Verizon-bloatware apps and lollipop is now a buttery smooth beautiful thing!
What pros & cons would rooting a phone generally give me for an average user's experience?
Most importantly, I'm looking to take & convert this S5 phone (and my daughter's Galaxy S3) to T-Mobile this weekend and want to make it all T-Mobile ready. Any insight, thoughts, suggestions, especially if I wanted to root or factory reset my phone but keep app data (such as Kung Fu Pets )?
I've been told by friends and cell providers these phones are already unlocked and can easily switch networks, no worries of voice or data settings on my part, TMo's WiFi calling will work as if I bought the phone from TMo, etc.
Thanks all!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is my opinion only, with that being said for the average user there is no advantage to being rooted. The average user is not interested in flashing new roms or freezing apps beyond what Verizon allows. The average user wants to turn on their phone and go on their merry way. If something goes wrong they want to call Verizon and have they fix it for them. They would never touch Odin.
With that being said, because your in this forum your more than the average user. If you wan to freeze or uninstall more Verizon/Samsung bloat you need to be rooted.
As for moving to a different carrier I'll let some one who has done that chime in.
jrv331 said:
This is my opinion only, with that being said for the average user there is no advantage to being rooted. The average user is not interested in flashing new roms or freezing apps beyond what Verizon allows. The average user wants to turn on their phone and go on their merry way. If something goes wrong they want to call Verizon and have they fix it for them. They would never touch Odin.
With that being said, because your in this forum your more than the average user. If you wan to freeze or uninstall more Verizon/Samsung bloat you need to be rooted.
As for moving to a different carrier I'll let some one who has done that chime in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! It won't be a Verizon phone for long, so I guess with rooting it and installing a known stable release be a good idea to get rid of Verizon's bloatware (and maybe some of Samsung's) while keeping a good, hard-working phone? I noticed a big difference disabling what I'm allowed to with Verizon's apps and maybe that's enough, I don't know - any place to research which Verizon and/or Samsung apps are safe to disable (if rooting it & installing a stable release doesn't already remove them)?
Oh, also, is there where I'll go to get future updates since I'll no longer be part of Verizon, and T-Mobile will probably not update my phone since I didn't buy it from them?
Thanks again!
Through a couple phone calls, T-Mobile reassured me both my S3 and S5 would work just fine, everything just the same except I'll have to make sure the phone is unlocked. They also said on both calls that their WiFi calling would most definitely work. Verizon, though a half dozen calls, gave me a different "unlock" story each time. So much for trying to be prepared...
Neither the S3 or the S5 work as expected. The S3 uses the far inferior network speeds and takes about 3 minutes just to send a pic text, and that's only if we're using Hangouts - stock Messages or Verizon's Messages+ don't work on the S3. The S5, I get a lot of "Data (Network) connection lost", setting the time errors, I can't access my voicemail or change my voicemail phone number (not sure if that is a new issue).
So with all this in mind:
1) is the S3 using an inferior data speed network due to hardware limitations or settings I can change?
2) would rooting my S3 and S5 alleviate a lot or all of these issues?
3) any way to get TMo WiFi calling to work on a Verizon phone? Would rooting it allow me to install a TMo version Android?
4) how do I go about updating Android on these phones now that they're off Verizon and not officially TMo phones?
5) any suggestions to fix any or all of these other issues?
KCSamerica said:
Through a couple phone calls, T-Mobile reassured me both my S3 and S5 would work just fine, everything just the same except I'll have to make sure the phone is unlocked. They also said on both calls that their WiFi calling would most definitely work. Verizon, though a half dozen calls, gave me a different "unlock" story each time. So much for trying to be prepared...
Neither the S3 or the S5 work as expected. The S3 uses the far inferior network speeds and takes about 3 minutes just to send a pic text, and that's only if we're using Hangouts - stock Messages or Verizon's Messages+ don't work on the S3. The S5, I get a lot of "Data (Network) connection lost", setting the time errors, I can't access my voicemail or change my voicemail phone number (not sure if that is a new issue).
So with all this in mind:
1) is the S3 using an inferior data speed network due to hardware limitations or settings I can change?
2) would rooting my S3 and S5 alleviate a lot or all of these issues?
3) any way to get TMo WiFi calling to work on a Verizon phone? Would rooting it allow me to install a TMo version Android?
4) how do I go about updating Android on these phones now that they're off Verizon and not officially TMo phones?
5) any suggestions to fix any or all of these other issues?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) probably, but I haven't checked the specs.
2) probably not. The APN in your phone needs to be changed to the right settings for your mobile carrier. It's under Settings/More Networks/Mobile Networks. You should be able to google the settings for TMo.
3) The APN may resolve the issue, if the phone allows for it.
4) If you root, you can do it. You may be able to get OTAs with the new sim, but I can't for Consumer Cellular.
5)Again, the APN will solve a lot of issues. The voicemail number needs to be changed to your carrier's voicemail number under Phone Settings.
5)
Rapunzl said:
1) probably, but I haven't checked the specs.
2) probably not. The APN in your phone needs to be changed to the right settings for your mobile carrier. It's under Settings/More Networks/Mobile Networks. You should be able to google the settings for TMo.
3) The APN may resolve the issue, if the phone allows for it.
4) If you root, you can do it. You may be able to get OTAs with the new sim, but I can't for Consumer Cellular.
5)Again, the APN will solve a lot of issues. The voicemail number needs to be changed to your carrier's voicemail number under Phone Settings.
5)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) probably hardware limitations or probably settings I can change?
2 & 3) the APN was already set by the TMo in-store rep, and google search confirms it's the correct setting.
5) voicemail number just won't change! Ug, I've google searched this issue too, no luck, and it seems many Android 5.0 users have this issue unless they factory reset - an option I'm hoping to avoid for a last resort.
I have noticed by disabling Verizon apps, much is working better, but I'm wondering if Verizon made these apps imperative for the system to run properly...?
KCSamerica said:
1) probably hardware limitations or probably settings I can change?
2 & 3) the APN was already set by the TMo in-store rep, and google search confirms it's the correct setting.
5) voicemail number just won't change! Ug, I've google searched this issue too, no luck, and it seems many Android 5.0 users have this issue unless they factory reset - an option I'm hoping to avoid for a last resort.
I have noticed by disabling Verizon apps, much is working better, but I'm wondering if Verizon made these apps imperative for the system to run properly...?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you disable the apps? If you used TiBU, there have been discussion of issues in some threads.
Rapunzl said:
How did you disable the apps? If you used TiBU, there have been discussion of issues in some threads.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used the Android's built-in disable feature (since it won't let me uninstall it).
KCSamerica said:
I used the Android's built-in disable feature (since it won't let me uninstall it).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only thing I can think of then, is that one or more of the disabled features are required to make things work properly. I would unfreeze the apps and then freeze them, one-by-one to find out which are causing the issues. Other than that, Kies may be able to repair the install if you don't have luck with unfreezing the apps.
Rapunzl said:
The only thing I can think of then, is that one or more of the disabled features are required to make things work properly. I would unfreeze the apps and then freeze them, one-by-one to find out which are causing the issues. Other than that, Kies may be able to repair the install if you don't have luck with unfreezing the apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Easiest step is to try the enable/disable apps as you suggested. Have you, or anyone out there, tried loading another's stock software onto a phone before doing a factory reset?
See this page: http://www.andromods.com/download-files/tmobile-galaxy-s5-stock-firmware-sm-g900t.html
It gives me the impression all S5's are the same hardware. If that's true, then why can't I install TMo's stock software in the recovery partition, then do a factory reset? (Another worse case scenario, but possibly more of a thorough cure)
KCSamerica said:
Easiest step is to try the enable/disable apps as you suggested. Have you, or anyone out there, tried loading another's stock software onto a phone before doing a factory reset?
See this page: http://www.andromods.com/download-files/tmobile-galaxy-s5-stock-firmware-sm-g900t.html
It gives me the impression all S5's are the same hardware. If that's true, then why can't I install TMo's stock software in the recovery partition, then do a factory reset? (Another worse case scenario, but possibly more of a thorough cure)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you read toward the end of that post, it says:
Before download check your model number and software version, head to Settings -> About. Confirm that you get the correct firmware that match with the model number of your device, and never use a firmware that isn’t built for your S5, downgrade is also not recommended.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've also seen a thread talking about doing this for a TMo user on the Verizon S5, but I'm on Consumer Cellular, so I'm not sure if it would really work. Even if it does, I'm not sure if that would solve your issues, and I hear you're risking bricking your phone attempting it.
Not sure if I already mentioned, but sadly a couple T-Mobile reps assured me everything would work great. Not. A factory reset did help a lot, but I keep getting these oddities that TMo is now saying I just have to live with, now that my trial period is over. So any ideas and help would be great!
"Data network unavailable" often appears after a phone call and lasts for a few seconds or longer. In that time, I can't get Maps to find anything, among other issues. This error appears at random times otherwise, but most consistently after a phone call.
"SIM error" happens periodically. I'm not sure the pattern yet, but maybe after a couple phone calls in a row, or call swapping. The only way to fix this is to reboot the phone.
The top status bar bounces between "H+" and "3G". I haven't found a pattern as to when or why, but often can't do much with the phone until it settles down, if it settles down.
Everything I've read and originally heard lead me to believe this S5 should work much better than it is, as if some APN or data setting is wrong. I've triple checked and they seem to be set properly, but I don't know anymore...

How to safeguard IMEI for N910G

Hello All,
I need to safeguard my phone's IMEI and the device id. How can I do it?
Or is it that there is no way to do it which is sad :crying:
You can only back that information up, if you are rooted.
If you are not rooted, flashing a complete stock firmware has a chance to restore it. Or you can use Kies to recover it.
JagDave said:
You can only back that information up, if you are rooted.
If you are not rooted, flashing a complete stock firmware has a chance to restore it. Or you can use Kies to recover it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, does it mean I just cannot safeguard my IMEI by any chance? I just need to safeguard it and make sure that no one else can access my phone's data by any means. Just need some serious help with this
Funny Sykes said:
So, does it mean I just cannot safeguard my IMEI by any chance? I just need to safeguard it and make sure that no one else can access my phone's data by any means. Just need some serious help with this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're just overly paranoid. Just use your phone without worrying a bit. Nobody is gonna steal your data as you are no VIP holding something valuable to be targeted by hackers. Also having your IMEI exposed to the public won't cause your data any harm. It's just your phone's identity. It's the same as your name being available publicly also where no one can steal info from your brain just by using your name.
Riyal said:
You're just overly paranoid. Just use your phone without worrying a bit. Nobody is gonna steal your data as you are no VIP holding something valuable to be targeted by hackers. Also having your IMEI exposed to the public won't cause your data any harm. It's just your phone's identity. It's the same as your name being available publicly also where no one can steal info from your brain just by using your name.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totally get what you are trying to say, but in a way, yes I am kind of a VIP who needs tyo safeguard this phone from hackers. I cannot really tell you what happened, but I hope if you can tell me if there is a legit way to safeguard my IMEI from hackers. I also deactivated my facebook account so that they won't know my friends name.
Please help me out with this
By safeguarding your IMEI you'll be able to restore it. I'm not sure if you know what an IMEI is but to put in in simple words, every single phone made has a unique code, an IMEI, you can swap SIM cards, change phone number, use different facebook accounts but your Note 4 will always have the same IMEI, if you get another Note 4, your IMEI will change, as it's associated with the device.
Unless you root your phone you won't be able to backup your IMEI, this has a lot of sense because most of the people don't even know what an IMEI is, they'll will never lose it because they'd never change FW or flash a new ROM.
If someone "hacks" your IMEI they won't be able to access your data, hell they won't even be able to call using your phone (unless it's CDMA), If you're afraid of someone "hacking" you, I'd be trying to protect my social network accounts and my phone number, none of those are associated to your IMEI directly. Tell your friend not to worry about his IMEI, he needs to use two way authentication for social networks, he needs to be careful who he messages with, and who he calls.
Ok then if you are really a VIP needing this then I would safely assume you have connections. So in order to do so then the 1st thing I would do is contact your network provider and obscure all phone identity requests from your IMEI.
2nd is to not install applications that has permission to read your phone's info.
3rd is obviously not to post your IMEI publicly.
Doing these 3 things would surely secure your IMEI from any hackers.

Help... Lost/Stolen 6p

So I was down in Cancun, Mexico and my phone is either lost or stolen...
Its got fingerprint and pin code.... unfortunately, I can not track it as I didnt get local sim with data and its been put into Airplane and Battery Save mode... I tried to locate it in hopes someone crack the pin and turned on Wifi so I can track it but not.
So my question is, the only way for someone to use my phone now is to go into fastboot and erase everything. Since the phone is still tagged in my google account...
Will I know if someone who flash the phone back to stock?
Will Android Device Manager be smart enough to detect this?
Will I ever get my phone back?
I can get the IMEI number in a few days after I get home, it should be printed on the box, If its needed...
I know this is a long shot but hopefully somoene can shed some light and tell me what can be done...
I knew I should have bought Cerberus...
gd6noob said:
So I was down in Cancun, Mexico and my phone is either lost or stolen...
Its got fingerprint and pin code.... unfortunately, I can not track it as I didnt get local sim with data and its been put into Airplane and Battery Save mode... I tried to locate it in hopes someone crack the pin and turned on Wifi so I can track it but not.
So my question is, the only way for someone to use my phone now is to go into fastboot and erase everything. Since the phone is still tagged in my google account...
Will I know if someone who flash the phone back to stock?
Will Android Device Manager be smart enough to detect this?
Will I ever get my phone back?
I can get the IMEI number in a few days after I get home, it should be printed on the box, If its needed...
I know this is a long shot but hopefully somoene can shed some light and tell me what can be done...
I knew I should have bought Cerberus...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would not be much difficult for someone to reset your device. If for god's sake it's not stolen, and an honest person has found it,and somehow disabled Airplane mode and enabled WIFI/Data, you can use Android Device Manager to lock your device, and send a recovery message displaying your phone number so that he/she can contact you. Also prefer adding that you would reward that person with something in return.
But with my experience the above method is less likely to work, since you never know what kind of person has found it or stolen it.
The best thing you should do now is register a complaint in the Police for your lost/stolen device, and provide them with details like the IMEI. I have had this situation in the past, and recovered my phone with the help of Police itself.
you are referring to the local police where I lost the phone or back in my home?
gd6noob said:
you are referring to the local police where I lost the phone or back in my home?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me Not police but Hotel in Cancun (been there many times), and maybe your Carrier at home to block...
I have called my carrier and placed a block on it...
I was just wondering, if the phone was flash back to stock, will google someone see the device IMEI being connect to google server or something and maybe let me know?
gd6noob said:
you are referring to the local police where I lost the phone or back in my home?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
gd6noob said:
I have called my carrier and placed a block on it...
I was just wondering, if the phone was flash back to stock, will google someone see the device IMEI being connect to google server or something and maybe let me know?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Local police, I guess. I am not aware of the rules & regulations that apply there.
It is the best way. If someone boots the phone with your SIM card, or a different one, they will instantly know.
It is possible to track the phone using the IMEI as well but depends on the local laws.
Notify both the police and your service provider, and give them your IMEI number. Cellular carriers have the ability to blacklist IMEI numbers. They can also track them using a cell tower triangulation method if the phone is somehow unlocked & moved out of Flight Mode. Basically, the carrier narrows down the location of your cell phone by measuring the angles to it from nearby cell tower antennas.
Another stroke of luck could be some apps on play store. Just log into play.google.com using a laptop/ PC and send an app to your lost phone so it can be located. Apps like ‘plan B’ can be remotely installed to your android phone at anytime the phone gets switched on and get connected to the internet.
Check if there are any IMEI tracking companies where you are right now or back home. This is purely down to the laws of the land. You can google this. Lots of websites have an online tracking system.
Hope you get your phone back. All the best
is there anyone for me to get the IMEI number while im out here? I can get the number when I get home.. but I would like to get this done all here while Im down here...
gd6noob said:
is there anyone for me to get the IMEI number while im out here? I can get the number when I get home.. but I would like to get this done all here while Im down here...
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Did you buy it online? Most online resellers provide you an invoice copy within their website, or even mail it to you. You will be able to take note of the IMEI number from the invoice itslef.
DJBhardwaj said:
Did you buy it online? Most online resellers provide you an invoice copy within their website, or even mail it to you. You will be able to take note of the IMEI number from the invoice itslef.
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no point.. carriers in Mexico wont do this unless its their own brand phone.. lol.. so that sucks...
gd6noob said:
no point.. carriers in Mexico wont do this unless its their own brand phone.. lol.. so that sucks...
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Good luck then, my friend.
I moved on...
Was deciding between the iPhone 6s+ or the Samsung S7 Edge...
I was leaning on the iphone because of the fact that the security is great.. once its lock to an itunes account, no one can use it unless it gets unlink from either the owner or at the store with the owner present... I hate the fact that it doesnt support SD card and the prices are crazy... 128gb cost $1500CAD...
Just picked up the S7 Edge.. 32gb+128gb SD Card... traded a dead sprint phone with $125 credit... so it came in just over $1000CAD...
gd6noob said:
I moved on...
Was deciding between the iPhone 6s+ or the Samsung S7 Edge...
I was leaning on the iphone because of the fact that the security is great.. once its lock to an itunes account, no one can use it unless it gets unlink from either the owner or at the store with the owner present... I hate the fact that it doesnt support SD card and the prices are crazy... 128gb cost $1500CAD...
Just picked up the S7 Edge.. 32gb+128gb SD Card... traded a dead sprint phone with $125 credit... so it came in just over $1000CAD...
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Click to collapse
Nice to know that you stuck with Android itself. Good luck with the new device. :good:
Make no mistake. Even IOS security is not complete. There was a store that was just recently raided by the cops that made its money off of selling stolen iPhones. All it takes is forcing the phone to reset itself.
There will never be a complete secure devices. Just like any electronic devices. There will always be holes.
And to explorer some of the comments from earlier. Yes the police can track a device but it requires a warrant that is for far more then a lost phone.
As for IMEI blocking. That only works on one carrier.
Also the first thing that is done when a phones is stolen is the sim card is removed. Then it is factory reset or refreshed. And no Google doesn't care if the IMEI is activated under a new sim and number. No point in keeping track of that sort of thing.

Sprint phone T-Mobile network root, new T-mobile sim, and still...

I'm so very hesitant to even try to root my phone or do anything with it because I just don't understand Android and I don't honestly have the time to learn it right now. And I mean that literally I have so much going on with trying to teach myself auto repair and keep myself from getting towed so my dog and I will not lose our home. But it seems to me that when I took it to T-Mobile and they switched out my sim there was an improvement but whether it's not being able to make a receive calls or not being able to access mobile data and now it just being so unbelievably slow but technically functioning correctly, I still can't believe that it won't benefit from a root or flashing a universal ROM. But I just don't understand Android and my illness doesn't make it any easier to understand or handle. I can't get rid of the Sprint apps and I cannot use T-Mobile's app and I assume that's because it didn't actually flash the firmware. When my a13 screen broke, I swapped it Sim into this S7 which I was fortunate to have access to and it sort of worked but I didn't have mobile data at that time so I have to take it to T-Mobile and have them help me figure it out we changed access points and long story short I simply cannot load a T-Mobile app even now. This is obviously the results of some sort of conflict within the firmware software whatever I don't know I don't have the ability to comprehend it. But it is unlocked I see the OEM unlock option it even says it's unlocked I see T-Mobile network... You know a picture is worth a thousand words can anybody help me make this phone fully functional? It's just a few more days I'll get a benefit check and I'm getting a new phone but I guess I've become slightly spoiled because I can't handle 2 minutes to load an app in my chaotic life. But I can figure it out I believe if somebody just points me in the right direction. But I always get that one detail wrong when I try to figure it out myself.
I apologize for any rules that I might have broken because I can't seem to not break a rule when I post on forums even after reading and watching videos on forum etiquette guidelines.
Darylzane said:
I apologize for any rules that I might have broken because I can't seem to not break a rule when I post on forums even after reading and watching videos on forum etiquette guidelines.
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Take it easy on yourself. As long as you follow the Forum Rules and Forum Etiquette linked in my signature, you should be OK. If you make a mistake, we will let you know, and if it's a genuine mistake that you don't repeat, you'll be fine.
I would like to point out that your posts are pretty hard to understand. While we can certainly empathize with what you're going through, not everything needs to be shared online, and it's hard to understand your question when there's a lot of other information to sift through. This is why we have Rule 3:
3. Post using a clear and descriptive subject and message.
You're most likely to receive a helpful answer to your question, if you use a short subject title that describes your problem and a message that explains in detail, what your problem is and what you've done to try solving it.
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So to make sure I understand what you're asking...You're trying to use your phone on the T-Mobile network, but it shows Disconnected under Mobile Network and you're unable to make calls or use data, correct?
Unlocking the bootloader shouldn't affect this, nor should the ROM if you're using the factory Galaxy S7 firmware.
When exactly did this stop working, and did you do anything to the phone that may have been related to this problem?
V0latyle said:
Take it easy on yourself. As long as you follow the Forum Rules and Forum Etiquette linked in my signature, you should be OK. If you make a mistake, we will let you know, and if it's a genuine mistake that you don't repeat, you'll be fine.
I would like to point out that your posts are pretty hard to understand. While we can certainly empathize with what you're going through, not everything needs to be shared online, and it's hard to understand your question when there's a lot of other information to sift through. This is why we have Rule 3:
So to make sure I understand what you're asking...You're trying to use your phone on the T-Mobile network, but it shows Disconnected under Mobile Network and you're unable to make calls or use data, correct?
Unlocking the bootloader shouldn't affect this, nor should the ROM if you're using the factory Galaxy S7 firmware.
When exactly did this stop working, and did you do anything to the phone that may have been related to this problem?
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Okay, thank you. I realized I had not done a factory reset, and so I did. As expected, I now cannot use mobile data, make or receive calls. Ive only ever entered recovery mode. Never had stock firmware. And when I factory reset, as I'm entering recovery aqa plop l mb drew it looked like it was updating firmware only to be followed by the little android guy looking like he's dead with "no command" or something to thateffect. .I'm on public. The S7 is a Sprint phone, I'm on the Magenta Max plan at T-Mobile. I still have the new SIM that the rep put in at a T-Mobile store, and while I can't use data or calls, it is performing as I would expect of a phone this old. And I still have sprint apps, of course, T-Mobiles app won't stop crashing. And I just need to know a few things. It's the CSC codes I don't quite understand. If I found y exact phones model firmware on Updato where it says to make certain you download the correct firmware... will this not just reinstall Sprint Firmware. The way I interpret all the warnings is if you download g930u or g930t and flash it, you will brick the phone.
So I want to be certain, is XAA, universal?
And I'm continuing writing this reply after getting back home, I did T-Mobile's access point again and now I have the ability to text and receive texts I can go online without Wi-Fi but I cannot make calls. Modem issue correct? I just don't understand how that works with cellular. And I have this funny feeling that nobody at any T-Mobile store will know anything as much as you people do. So once again thank you so freaking much.
One more thing this means by the phrasing of it that it's not unlocked but I can unlock it right? Or is it such an old phone that its somehow is just a flick of a switch and it's unlocked?
Darylzane said:
Okay, thank you. I realized I had not done a factory reset, and so I did.
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Why did you think you needed to? When did you do this?
Darylzane said:
As expected, I now cannot use mobile data, make or receive calls. Ive only ever entered recovery mode.
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Meaning the device won't boot into Android anymore?
Darylzane said:
Never had stock firmware.
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What do you mean by this?
Darylzane said:
And when I factory reset, as I'm entering recovery it looked like it was updating firmware only to be followed by the little android guy looking like he's dead with "no command" or something to thateffect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not familiar enough with Samsung devices to know whether it should bring up the menu automatically or
Darylzane said:
aqa plop l mb drew
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Click to collapse
....What?
Darylzane said:
.I'm on public. The S7 is a Sprint phone, I'm on the Magenta Max plan at T-Mobile. I still have the new SIM that the rep put in at a T-Mobile store, and while I can't use data or calls, it is performing as I would expect of a phone this old.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, so you used this phone on Sprint and brought it over to T-Mobile? Sprint and TMobile are totally different networks, Sprint is (was) CDMA and TMobile is GSM. The two are not compatible. If your S7 is a Sprint specific variant (G930P) I don't think you can use it on TMobile and will have to get a new phone.
Darylzane said:
And I still have sprint apps, of course, T-Mobiles app won't stop crashing. And I just need to know a few things. It's the CSC codes I don't quite understand. If I found y exact phones model firmware on Updato where it says to make certain you download the correct firmware... will this not just reinstall Sprint Firmware. The way I interpret all the warnings is if you download g930u or g930t and flash it, you will brick the phone.
So I want to be certain, is XAA, universal?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are a few CSCs, but they honestly don't matter. Just use any North American one. The CSC isn't the same as your device model. You shouldn't use G930U on anything but a G930U.
Darylzane said:
And I'm continuing writing this reply after getting back home, I did T-Mobile's access point again and now I have the ability to text and receive texts I can go online without Wi-Fi but I cannot make calls. Modem issue correct? I just don't understand how that works with cellular. And I have this funny feeling that nobody at any T-Mobile store will know anything as much as you people do. So once again thank you so freaking much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cell phones use digital radios. The modem is the chipset that handles all the wireless communication. Like I said before, it's possible that your G930P isn't compatible with the TMobile network.
My suggestion: Call T-Mobile. If they gave you the SIM knowing what phone you were going to use, they should help you get it working. It sounds to me like a network provisioning issue, and that's not something anyone here will be able to help with.
i reformatted because it was my fathers, i had **** on there i didnt need to access, see or have cluttering. and a fresh start never hurts any tech in 99% of cases in my experience. it boot just fine. but it was once again a purely sprint phone. i knew it would be, but i think i was only able to make calls because the new T-Mobile SIM was affected by the reset to Sprint variation of the stock firmware. stock is fresh from Samsung with no bloatware. no alterations, there is factory reset, and factory reset from an originally unlocked no carrier ever assigned firmware. correct me if anything is wrong there. but i do think i just need to go to tmobile again to get my phone call function back. but does this mean i can never remove the the sprint startup logo, bloatware (with is any sprint app in my mind thus not stock) And never will be able to use a t-mobile app? if my phone is version 8 oreo, the baseband or pda is the same, as is everything except the fact that my model is a 930P and not 930T then the 930T will potentially break it?
additional questions, in recovery with no bootloader what is apply update from SD or ADB, is that anything firmware related if i do another factory reset and can ODIN or the firmware itself be loaded on my sd and flash itself?
im on a laptop and thats something im more familiar with by comparison. but custom desktops are my forte. a desktop you modify all you want and you can generally very easily fix a mistake. laptops, a tiny mistake and its taken me 6 months to just today think i can save it and save myself a 1000s buck likely. im learning the true definition of proprietary gree.... ahem software and hardware. I cant install and NVIDIA 1660ti graphics driver from NVIDIA directly and unless Lenovo modifies it i lose my display and cannot see what i need to fix. this concept is my question in regards to g930p to g930 u or XAA versions. of 8.0 oreo with everything matching except nowhere on my phone is the CSC code of SPR for sprint.
lastly, my theory is that i thought tmobile bought sprint, if they did, it makes sense T-Mobile wants to slap somthing on a product or software as a big HAHA because of how customer service quality has plummeted worldwide to appalling levels. its disgusting. but ill stop there or ill write a novel on that.
regardless i thank you all for your help. i will live till i get my social security check, but i need to bring an extra two battery banks. my NOCO CAR JUMPSTARTER died trying to keep it alive for a 2 hour long appointment. todays apps just demand too much and too many apps are secretly recording, tracking, advertising and hell in all likelyhood nefariously intended functions. just think of McAfee virus, damn near impossible to get rid of and used to be harder, costs a fortune, slows your rig and a hacker still sent a power surge into my pc killing that 3K PC desktop. smart but careless cause he somehow left screenshots of the DDOS program he used when accessing my OneDrive.
i like information, sorry to blather on, most is useless probably but hopefully you find a diamond in all that rambling.

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