Blocking a Stolen Phone from Use

stickyfingers on 21/12/2017 - 20:23
Last edited 21/12/2017 - 21:10

Posting this on behalf of a friend:

I recently had my brand new phone stolen before I'd even gotten a chance to open the box and set it up.

A police report was filed but the police have been no use in retrieving the stolen phone, saying the thieves said they "already sold it".

As the phone was purchased outright from the Apple Store and they never got a chance to put their carrier's SIM in all the telcos won't block the IMEI, despite having the police reports, receipts etc.

The Apple Store & AppleCare say they're unable to help and when contacting the AMTA to see what I can do and received the following:

Whilst the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) administer the program, we cannot block IMEIs. IMEI blocking can only be actioned by an Australian network service provider.

IMEI blocking is governed by a set of Business Rules which clearly state the conditions under which an IMEI can be blocked. In accordance with these Business Rules, the IMEI of a lost or stolen handset can only be blocked when:

A customer has a current contractual relationship ( mobile service) with an Australian network service provider.
The lost/stolen handset must have a usage associated with the customer’s mobile service number.
Only the network service provider of the customer can block the IMEI.

Unfortunately, if you do not meet the above criteria, then you are ineligible to have your IMEI blocked.

Does anybody have any ideas on how to make sure these crooks don't get a free phone?

Mobile

Comments

  • CyberMurning on 21/12/2017 - 20:43
    +9

    brand new phone stolen before I'd even gotten a chance to open the box

    Details please… So intriguing

    • airzone on 22/12/2017 - 03:33

      bag snatch? dodgy postie? many ways.

      • stickyfingers on 22/12/2017 - 15:24

        You got it, it was a bag snatch.

    • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2017 - 06:49
      +1

      The thief must have stickyfingers

  • mysterytal on 21/12/2017 - 20:47

    Did the phone get replaced? If so then it doesn't really matter.

    It is possible to override IMEI blocking just by using it on a foreign network. IMEI blocking only applies to Australian networks.

  • thewinchester on 21/12/2017 - 21:16
    +2

    The advice you’ve received from both Apple and AMTA is correct.

    If your friend hasn’t setup the device and activated Find My iPhone with their Apple ID before it was stolen, then anyone can use the device.

    And because it was purchased outright and hadn’t yet been used with a carrier, their intended carrier won’t be able to block it in Australia.

    So, make a claim on any insurance they may have which could cover this event - but that’s the limit of the options they have access to.

    • smuggler on 21/12/2017 - 21:34
      +3

      Stuff Apple.

      Contact Vodafone/Optus/Telstra/Virgin etc. Ask them if the IMEI is in use.

      How did they steal it from you? THe first thing you should do when you buy a new phone is open it in the APple store and put it in your pocket. The box and accessories are worthless in comparison.

      • whooah1979 on 21/12/2017 - 23:33
        +7

        Contact Vodafone/Optus/Telstra/Virgin etc. Ask them if the IMEI is in use.

        no carrier should disclose this information if it violates the privacy act and their privacy policy.

        • smuggler on 22/12/2017 - 14:03

          no carrier should disclose this information if it violates the privacy act and their privacy policy.

          Nonsense. Are you saying that the telcos would side with their thief of a customer over someone who can provide a receipt for the device (with IMEI) and can get confirmation from Apple that the OP reported it stolen. It would be up to the Telcos to pursue it, but you could bring a small claims case against the TELCO for allowing someone to use a stolen phone with their network.

          The law is on the victim's side. Very rarely do they side with thieves.

        • whooah1979 on 22/12/2017 - 16:23

          @smuggler:

          Are you saying that the telcos would side with their thief of a customer over someone who can provide a receipt for the device (with IMEI)

          the carriers aren't siding with a particular party. the carriers are following the relevant acts when disclosing the imei data to either a law enforcement agency or a security agency.

          imei data is considered to be metadata.

          https://www.tio.com.au/publications/news/how-we-deal-with-me…
          What is metadata?

          Metadata is information about a communication: who sent and received the communication, when, for how long, from which location and how. Metadata does not include the content or substance of a communication.

          The metadata stored for phone calls may include the:

          phone numbers called or messaged using SMS
          date, time and duration of calls and SMS
          unique IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number of the device used, and
          location of the nearest cell tower when a call or SMS was sent or received.

          the disclosure of metadata is restricted to a select few under strict conditions. joe blow with a tax invoice isn't one of them.
          https://www.ag.gov.au/NationalSecurity/DataRetention/Pages/F…

          Who can access the data?

          Section 110A of the TIA Act states that only the following criminal law-enforcement agencies can apply for access retained data:

          Australian Federal Police
          a police force of a state
          Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity
          Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
          subject to subsection (1A), the Immigration and Border Protection Department
          Australian Securities and Investments Commission
          Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
          Independent Commission Against Corruption
          Police Integrity Commission
          Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission
          Crime and Corruption Commission
          Corruption and Crime Commission
          Independent Commissioner Against Corruption
          or an authority or body for which a declaration is in force.

        • whooah1979 on 22/12/2017 - 16:35

          @smuggler:

          The law is on the victim's side. Very rarely do they side with thieves.

          protecting the integrity of the data retention and the privacy of the public is more important than catching thieves.

        • smuggler on 22/12/2017 - 16:44

          @whooah1979:

          So finding out who the owner of a phone should not be allowed.

          Yeah, nah. What's the point in keeping metadata if we're not going to use it.

        • whooah1979 on 22/12/2017 - 17:20

          @smuggler:

          So finding out who the owner of a phone should not be allowed.

          metadata isn't meant to be used to catch thieves unless they're connected to serious crimes, terrorism, etc.

          Yeah, nah. What's the point in keeping metadata if we're not going to use it.

          https://www.ag.gov.au/dataretention#about

          Data is used in almost every serious criminal or national security investigation, including murder, counter-terrorism, counter-espionage, sexual assault and kidnapping cases. Agencies use data to:

          quickly rule innocent people out from suspicion and further investigation
          identify suspects and networks of criminal associates
          support applications for warrants to use more complex and intrusive tools, such as interception
          support prosecutions as evidence.

    • CyberMurning on 22/12/2017 - 07:52

      Thanks for the info I will steal brand new wrapped phones only from now! Newbie thief here need guidance

      Kidding!

      • stickyfingers on 22/12/2017 - 15:29

        I’m actually quite surprised myself at how little can be done to get a brand new phone back or at least render it useless.

        PSA: if you buy a new phone, open it up in store and stick Find my iPhone on.

  • WattoWatson123 on 21/12/2017 - 22:34
    +1

    That's actually ridiculous, when my local Telstra Partner shop was broken in to and they had suffered a sizeable loss, they were able to get the IMEI both traced and blocked so it couldn't be used and notified if ever tried to use (which was their downfall).
    Who ever you spoke to sound like they are trying to palm that off as a tough shit sorta thing.

  • dailynotsomail on 22/12/2017 - 06:56

    on behalf of a friend???

    one makes me think he has purchased a new stolen phone ie. from warehouse (inside job) now wants to know if he can use it without anyone door knocking him to please explain!

    just sayin!!

    • stickyfingers on 22/12/2017 - 15:27

      We’re trying to block the phone so the thieves don’t get to use it and don’t get any sort of reward for what they’ve done.

  • thatonethere on 22/12/2017 - 07:56
    -1

    Apple could block the apple serial number from being registered with icloud.

    Also if you have an invoice with the imei and serial on it you can de register the device with whomever has it nows icloud account. We do this at work when people leave but dont unregister their apple devices. Takes a few weeks. However as they physically have the device they can re register it i guess.

    • thewinchester on 22/12/2017 - 09:20
      +1

      What you’re claiming to describe with iCloud, being to block registration of the device, can’t be done.

      What you’re actually describing is what happens when the owner of a device calls Apple, because someone has setup Find My iPhone on a device, but it can’t be removed because they’ve forgotten the password to their Apple ID, and it can’t be reset (https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT201441).

      At best, whomever has possession of the device won’t be able to have Find My iPhone removed in the event they ever are unable to reset or regain access to the Apple ID and Password used for this service. In that scenario, the device becomes a paperweight.

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