Advice on a lost Android phone

Lxmas tree on 13/11/2015 - 01:44
Last edited 13/11/2015 - 01:44

Hi everybody, I would love to have your advice about anything I should do with a lost phone.

Wife has lost her third phone this year. While her first two phones were lost during our holiday overseas and it was very limited what we could do to locate the phones (and photos in them as well), this time she lost her phone in a shopping mall few days ago but she only realized it when we were home.

Wife did not turn on the google location and GPS signal. I tried to call the number but no one answered. I checked the Amaysim and it has not been used after we realized the loss. Second day of the loss, the number could not be reached. I did not know if it was because the phone ran out of battery or a guy picked it up and turned it off.

Since there are some valuable family photos in the phone, I would like to try my best to get it back. If not possible, is there anything I can do to protect our privacy? I have the IMEI number and the number is on Amaysim prepaid service. Hope mates can give me some advice on it.

Thanks.

Mobile

Comments

  • ozhunter on 13/11/2015 - 01:50
    +1

    https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6160500?hl=en&ref…

    Not sure if you can find it, but you may be able to lock/erase it. Did you ask at the info desk in case anyone handed it in?

    It being the 3rd device this year, hopefully you back up your stuff frequently.

    • xmas tree on 17/11/2015 - 16:20

      I have asked the info desk but no luck. :(

  • isthisreally_me on 13/11/2015 - 08:19

    Call provider to block the IMEI but most people know about that these days and likely phone will be sent overseas to another region where the IMEI block wont be in place.

    • xmas tree on 17/11/2015 - 16:20

      Can I block the IMEI even the number is just on Amaysim prepaid?

  • eatwell365 on 13/11/2015 - 09:12

    Check under her car seat or in the boot.

    • xmas tree on 17/11/2015 - 16:22

      Thanks for your suggestion. Checked but it's not there.

  • eatwell365 on 13/11/2015 - 09:13

    I put my number on a sticker in the back of wife's phone and covered with the phone case.

    • Cheeper on 13/11/2015 - 11:33
      +1

      Take a photo of a piece of paper with your contact details on it. People will usually look through the pics trying to find some trace to the owner. Some do this with their digital cameras.

      I found a phone once and just called the most called # on their list and they arranged the pickup by the owner.

      • eatwell365 on 13/11/2015 - 14:31
        +1

        In other place, can't guarantee. In Australia, most "Australian at heart" would try to find the owner if possible.

        • xmas tree on 17/11/2015 - 16:22

          I hope that would be the case.

      • xmas tree on 17/11/2015 - 16:25

        How good are you. I just hope it is picked by someone so I sent a SMS with my phone number asking for a call back. But there is no news after few days. It seems that I have to wave the white flag.

  • eatwell365 on 13/11/2015 - 09:15
    +1

    Have you called shopping mall / Westfield?

    • xmas tree on 17/11/2015 - 16:26

      I have called but the shopping mall says there is no phone found in the last month. Really frustrated.

  • hellbound on 13/11/2015 - 09:43

    Sounds like she needs one of these!
    http://www.wearvybe.com/

    To find/remote wipe the phone:
    https://www.google.com.au/android/devicemanager
    Though if it's been a few days the battery has probably already run down.

    • xmas tree on 17/11/2015 - 16:31

      That's what wife needs! You made a good suggestion.

      As wife did not turn on the GPS, devicemanager cannot locate the phone. All I can do is to lock it only.

  • ESEMCE on 13/11/2015 - 09:52
    +1

    Wife did not turn on the google location and GPS signal.

    Your wife has lost 3 phones in 12 months!
    It's time you took the lead and set up security like this for her.. The real danger here is identity theft, losing a few photos is nothing compared to that!

    You'll obviously need to change the Google account password and any email/banking passwords that are likely to be stored on the phone.

    Next phone - you need to turn on auto backup so that next time she loses a phone, you don't lose any photos etc.
    I'd also be encrypting the phone and forcing her to use a strong unlock password or PIN (not a pattern or just a swipe to unlock).

    It's happened 3 times in a single year, so it's likely to happen again in the coming year.

    Maybe look at getting her a smartwatch/band with some sort of vibrating alert when the phone goes out of range?

    • xmas tree on 17/11/2015 - 16:37

      True, identity theft is my major concern. (although wife still blaming for the lost photos…) I have changed her google password. Hope it is enough to protect her privacy. As wife loses her phones so frequently, I have forced her not to install any banking apps on her phone. Otherwise she would have just chosen "always remember me" and the loss can be much more serious. It looks like a stylish smart watch is what I should be after for her xmas present. Any suggestion, ozbargain mates?

      • ESEMCE on 17/11/2015 - 16:44

        I've bought my wife (yet to receive) a Ulefone uWatch.. from Gearbest for $US24.
        Want it for the notifications more than anything.
        Seemed to tick all the boxes
        cheap
        decent quality construction
        useful (if not pretty screen)
        While being one of the thinnest and smallest faced smartwatches available and without the ugly appearance that many of them seem to have.

  • [Deactivated] on 13/11/2015 - 10:09
    +2

    Wife has lost her third phone this year

    Maybe she doesn't like the phones

    • xmas tree on 17/11/2015 - 16:43
      -1

      Wife loves phones, especially new phones. Every times she loses her phone, she gets a new, upgraded phone. She is now settled with her new S6 edge+. I heard my Note 2 yelling for unfairness.

      • ESEMCE on 17/11/2015 - 16:45
        +1

        You have way too much money if you're buying Flagship phones for someone who is almost guaranteed to lose it within 6 months!

  • thepigs on 13/11/2015 - 10:17
    +2

    get her ten $9 cruises

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