Each of us has something valuable that we cherish, which we are terribly afraid of losing. The phone was one of those things. Yes, it's just a computer, but it stores a huge amount of information about us, about our friends, credit card information, passwords for important services, and the like. Therefore, in case of loss or theft of the gadget, it is necessary to act immediately, and each user must know how to block the phone if it is stolen.
When is blocking required? Possible consequences
To begin with, it is worthwhile to understand what consequences await a person if his phone falls into the wrong hands. Firstly, the easiest thing that criminals can do is to deplete your balance, get into debt, as a result of which your number will be blocked, and there may be problems with the operator. The situation is unlikely, but you should not take such a risk and give up trying to return the phone. Criminals can start extorting money from your friends and family by sending SMS with a request to transfer funds from your number, or even resort to threats. Do not be too lazy to contact especially gullible friends after the theft and warn about possible fraud.
In the case of a smartphone, thieves can bypass protection, if any, find compromising material (or any other data that they would like to protect) and threaten the owner of the gadget. Also, credit card details are often attached to the phones, which means that robbers can use them to pay for high-value goods or transfer to their own bank account.
What to do in case of theft or loss?
First of all, do not panic, as the problem is solvable, and quite simply. Before blocking the phone if it was stolen, you can try to negotiate (for example, send an SMS to your phone with a request to return it free of charge or for a fee). If the phone fell into the hands of an adequate person, then there is a chance that the device will be returned without any consequences. If there is no feedback, and the phone is already turned off, then you should use the services of a company that developed software for gadgets, or immediately run to the operator.
Search for a lost phone
Sometimes the lack of response means that the phone has not been found by anyone, perhaps it has fallen somewhere at a table in a cafe or is peacefully discharged in the bushes. Then a GPS positioning system can help out. You can find the device using special software or through a telecom operator.
Before you block the phone, if it is stolen, you should try to find it. The search can only be performed if the phone has not been turned off.
How to lock your phone if it's stolen: instructions for iPhone
One of the main advantages of modern smartphones is a high level of security and the possibility of remote control. To find or block your iOS phone, you need to use Find My iPhone. To do this, you need to enable location services ("Settings" > "Privacy" > "Geolocation"). After that, you should connect the device to iCloud.
If the above steps are completed, then you can start returning or locking your smartphone. For this you need:
- go to the iCloud.com website;
- enter your Apple ID account information;
- select the Find My iPhone app;
- Play a loud sound (if you have a rough idea of where the phone is, or found it using location services).
- Put the device into lost mode (the phone will be locked and the text message set by the owner will be displayed on the screen).
- Erase the data on the smartphone (if it is impossible to return or find the device, you can delete all information on it, even if it is turned off).
Getting access to a smartphone in the case of Apple phones is almost impossible, but this does not stop robbers, because even a gadget sold in parts can bring quite a high profit (enough for a couple of cheaper smartphones), so it is important to file a police report as soon as possible.
Locking Android Phones
In the case of Android, there are two ways at once: using official software and using third-party solutions.
In the first case, you need:
- use the Google site called Android Device Manager;
- enter your Google account information;
- accept the terms of use of the resource;
- find the stolen device in the list.
- Play a loud sound (the function will work even if the sound on the phone is turned off or the gadget is set to do not disturb mode).
- Find your phone using GPS, Wi-Fi and cellular networks. The website will use all possible resources to determine the location of the device, or at least its last location.
- It is possible to delete all data from the smartphone.
This method works with all gadgets that operate on a modern version of Android, and not just solutions from Google. If a Samsung phone is stolen, you already know how to block it, no research is required here.
Some users prefer to use third-party solutions, of which there are a great many in the Play Market app store. But there is one that can be installed and configured remotely. Its name is Plan B. The data obtained using this application can be forwarded to the police.
Windows phone lock
Microsoft engineers also did not deprive their users of the function of searching and blocking devices. The company's website has a link to the Microsoft Accounts resource, where you can get all the data about gadgets attached to your account. The website interface is quite simple. On the right is a map that will show the location of the user's gadgets. On the left there are three buttons for working with the device:
- The first one allows you to play a sound signal (it will be played regardless of whether the sound on the device is turned on or not).
- The second is responsible for blocking the gadget.
- The third allows you to remotely erase all data stored on your smartphone.
How to block a SIM card if your phone is stolen?
If the data on the phone does not really matter or you own an old push-button device, there is still a threat of illegal use of the SIM card. Therefore, the question arises of if the phone was stolen. To block it, you need to seek help from the mobile operator that provides you with communication services. The procedure is simple, it is performed almost instantly, and you will be given a new (identical to the old) card absolutely free of charge.
Before blocking the Beeline number, if the phone was stolen, you need to take with you the passport for which the SIM card was registered, then go to the nearest communication salon. The same applies to other operators. For additional details, please contact the staff of the company providing communication services. After blocking the number, you must contact law enforcement agencies with documents for the phone and the IMEI code in order to start a theft case.
Instead of a conclusion
Now, knowing how to block a stolen phone via the Internet or with the help of an operator, it is clear that the loss of a gadget is not such a big tragedy. First, it's a chipset, not the meaning of life. Secondly, your data is securely protected by online services.
In the end, the gadget can be returned by contacting the police, where, upon presentation of all documents, they will definitely start searching and try to return the phone to its rightful owner.
In life sometimes there are troubles. One of them may be the case when someone steals someone else's phone for profit. It happens that, due to the state of the device, it is impossible to get a lot of money - the phone may turn out to be old, broken or inexpensive initially. But the former owner of the device is upset, if only because someone gets into possession of all personal files and data. Agree, it's annoying.
In order to prevent such a course of development of the situation, you just need to block your phone. In this article, we will talk about how to block the phone if it is stolen, as well as what actions should be taken next.
Distinguish between the concepts - phone and SIM card
At the very beginning, I would like to distinguish between two concepts, and they need to be distinguished: this is the phone itself (physical device) and the SIM card that is installed in it. In order to prevent attackers from seeing your private correspondence, photos and other data, it is enough that your smartphone has a security key (password). If you have a device based on the Android or iOS operating system, then without resetting all settings, thieves will not be able to access your files. Therefore, if they perform such a reset, all information left by you on the device will be deleted. Even without a full phone lock.
The function of such a lock is different: it consists in preventing scammers from selling your phone. Read on to learn how this is done.
As for the SIM card, it is blocked so that fraudsters cannot make calls from your number and vice versa - no one called the number. They also block the card if they make a copy with the operator (as victims of mobile theft often do). Those who want to deactivate the card ask how to block the number. We will talk about this in the next chapter.
Card blocking
Making your SIM card stop working is very simple. It is enough to call the operator and ask to deactivate your number. To confirm the action, you will need the following information: 3-4 numbers that were most often called, information about the account status, as well as information about the last replenishment of the balance. It is not necessary to name every penny - it is important to just show that you are oriented, at least approximately. This is the entire instruction on how to block a phone number. The operator will accept the application and disconnect the card from the network.
On this occasion, it is worth noting the following: as a rule, attackers independently remove the card as quickly as possible from the stolen device. We will explain the reason for this a little further. At this stage, you have understood how to block a number, it is completely simple. This action will not affect the phone, but the card itself will be made a useless piece of plastic.
Blocking by IMEI
As for deactivating the device, the procedure here is about the same. In the same way as blocking a phone number, you can ask to turn off the device itself. True, this requires more information than just the most popular numbers, balance and replenishment. It is important to know the secret 15-digit code that is used to identify each mobile phone. It's called IMEI. By reporting this value to the operator, you can render your device unusable.
Some carriers provide instructions on how to lock your phone. MTS, for example, reports that this procedure must be done as quickly as possible - before the thief has time to remove the SIM card from the device. If you do not have time, then it will be more difficult to establish where the phone is.
In order for everything to happen as it should, it is necessary to promptly, immediately after the theft, contact the operator again and, having dictated the IMEI, ask to block the device. If you have time, the phone will stop functioning even when the SIM card is later removed from it.
What is IMEI and how to find it?
However, if you are wondering how to lock your phone if it is stolen, it is important to clarify one point about this 15-digit code. You can find it in two ways. The first is *06#, which will display the code assigned to your device on the screen. It works on any device models. The second way is the original box in which the mobile device was sold. You can also find the IMEI there.
Ideally, the victim of the scam should contact the operator and provide them with the code as soon as possible after the theft. Accordingly, for this she needs to have IMEI at hand. And who among us carries this 15-digit number with us? Many are not even aware of its existence.
Contacting the police
Knowing how to lock your phone if it's stolen is only half the battle. In fact, the task of any owner is not just to make what was stolen useless, but also to return the thing. For this, you need to contact the nearest police station, where you will receive a statement about the incident. Law enforcement officers will have to write down the IMEI number for further searches for the device and at the same time they will take from you a description of the person you suspect, perhaps they will find out some more additional information.
The procedure for contacting the police is actually more important than searching for information on how to block a lost phone. Therefore, both of these actions must be completed as quickly as possible.
Search for the criminal
The police (or rather, the district office) will accept your statement about the theft, after which it will be developed in the so-called "K" department. This is where your information will be sent to. The specialists of this unit receive orders exclusively from the police, so you should not try to contact them directly.
Law enforcement officers will contact mobile operators and look for where the device with the number you specified in the application was registered. As soon as the signal from it is “detected”, a task force will be sent there, which will find out how this or that person got this device.
Remember: the operator can find out the location of the device only after appropriate requests from the police. He has no right to do this on his own initiative. Therefore, you need to demand that your thing be returned to you not from him, but from the police.
Device protection software
Finally, if you use a smartphone, in addition to the question of how to lock your phone if it is stolen, you can also ask yourself how to manage your device yourself. In this regard, an interesting solution was proposed by Apple by supplying phones with AppleID.
For Android, there are some third-party apps that can take a photo from a stolen phone and send it online, send messages to the screen, and so on. For simple phones, of course, such solutions will not work.
We store a lot of personal information in smartphones and tablets, so losing a device is not always the worst thing, it is often important that our personal data does not fall into the wrong hands. In this article, we will tell you how to block an Android device.
How to block an Android device
Google has taken care of such an important issue as finding lost devices on Android, and has provided all users with a tool with which you can both block an Android device or completely erase all data from it, and. But not everything is so simple.
There are a number of conditions that must be met to block the gadget:
- Device must be turned on
- Internet connection must be established
- The device must be synced with a Google account
- Location must be allowed
- The device search function must be enabled in the phone settings
If you are lucky and all these conditions are met, then you can use the “Find my device” function from a PC or other Android device to block your smartphone.
How to lock an Android device from a PC
First you need to go to the site of the service Find device and log into the same account that is synchronized with the lost gadget. This will load a page divided into two areas. The right pane will display a map and the location of your gadget, and the left pane will display the device name, its battery charge level, and a list of actions that you can perform with it remotely:
- call
- block
- Erase data
Click "Block"- access to the device will be closed, you can also display a message for the person who found your device and a phone number to contact you.
How to lock an Android device from another smartphone
You will need to install the Find My Device app from the Play Market. If you are trying to lock your smartphone from someone else's device, log in as a guest and log in. After that, a window will open in which you will see the location of the device on the map, you can enable ringing on it, block or delete all information from it, as in the case of searching for a device from a PC.
How to block access to your Google account
If you have lost your smartphone or suspect that your account may have been hacked, you can disable your account on your device from another smartphone or PC by going to your Google settings. For this:
- Open the Google Settings app
- Go to the "Security and Login" section
- Select "Recently Used Devices"
- Select the desired device
- Click "Remove Access"
These actions will block access to all Google services on the selected device and protect your account from unwanted interference. Unlike the requirements for remotely blocking the entire device, there are no such strict conditions for restricting access to an account, since the account is blocked not on the smartphone itself, but on the Google server.
Programs for locking a smartphone
Third-party developers have also provided their solutions with which you can block access to a lost Android smartphone. The advantage of such applications lies in additional functions, for example, blocking the device via SMS, which allows you to block your smartphone even if it is not connected to the Internet, automatically photographing an intruder when you try to enter a password, and so on.
This company is very popular among users, it seriously competes with Apple, and even the problems with the latest model Galaxy Note 7 did not discourage people from buying these phones. If your gadget was stolen or lost, there are several ways to find your lost Samsung. You can use Samsung or Android tools to find your device.
How to find a Samsung phone
The creators of mobile phones and the developers of the operating system for them are trying to protect their owners from theft as much as possible. Searching for a Samsung phone can be done using several functions, provided that it is still turned on. For example, the company itself has developed a special service for all Samsung owners, which works through an account on the company's website.
Another level of protection is an account on the Google website, which is the developer of the Android system. This is another option for finding a device if you have lost your cell phone. If the mobile is turned off, then you should seek help from law enforcement agencies. The police can make a request to the telecom operator to search for the gadget. The company is obliged to help in the event of theft.
Find Samsung by account
This is the first thing you need to know if you are interested in how to find Samsung on your own. This is the company's internal device discovery service that works through a Samsung account. All users should enter the Samsung account through the settings. If you are going through the procedure for the first time, then you need to complete a simple registration. Further, the remote control function of the device will turn on automatically. Through a computer from your account, you can:
- block the device;
- turn on the signal at full volume;
- show on the map the last determined location of the gadget;
- completely delete all contents from memory (it will not be possible to restore after).
Find Samsung phone via satellite online
When the device is stolen, it becomes more difficult to find Samsung. Attackers often turn off the device, remove the SIM card so that it is not possible to set the position of the device on the map using the card number. In such cases, the only way out is to seek help from the police. You must write an application and indicate the IMEI number of the device.
It should be rewritten in advance, the required 15 digits are under the battery. It can also be seen often on the box from the phone. With this unique serial number, at the request of law enforcement agencies, the mobile provider can try to track even the switched off cell phone. The system will show the last determined location of the device on the map. Further searches are carried out by the police, who will then return the device. If he was found at the address of the victim, he faces a fine for false appeal.
Find Samsung by Google Account
There is another way to find Samsung by Google account. Anyone who uses Android phones can link their Google account to their mobile phone. To do this, you need an account in this system. Then you should log in to it from your cell. Go to the gadget settings, select the Account section, click the Google inscription there and enter the data from your account. After that, remote control is automatically activated on all devices with Android version 5 and higher. Anyone with a younger OS should go to the "Administration" section and activate this feature.
If your mobile phone was stolen or lost, then via the Internet from the Google service you can remotely control the device. The main condition is that it must still be enabled. Through this method, you can choose the following actions on the cell:
- block the device
- make a signal sound at full volume;
- set a message with a request to return for a reward;
- show the location on the map;
- erase all data from the device.
Video: search for Samsung through the site
In this article, we will consider the situation when you lost or your phone was stolen and how to find it by IMEI, as well as what settings you need to make in the phone itself immediately after purchase.
If the phone was lost (stolen), there are several ways to return it, including using the IMEI identification number. However, the latter is not always effective, below it will be detailed why. We will also take a closer look at how else you can calculate the location of the device and try to return it yourself.
What is IMEI, how to find a phone with it
IMEI is a device identification unique number that is assigned to it at the factory. You can find out the IMEI of your device in several ways:
Please note that dual SIM phones will also have two codes.
To find the device by IMEI, you need to contact the police, write a statement. Please note that you will need not only to know the identification number of the device, but to have all the documents for it, a sales receipt, a box.
Before doing this, you should call your operator and ask to block the SIM card. Some operators, if there is a statement to law enforcement agencies, can track the phone or completely block it, depriving the attacker of the opportunity to use it even when changing the SIM card.
If you have not blocked the phone, then the police can make appropriate requests to the cellular company. Those, in turn, check if your phone is online, when and where it contacted the base station. So the cellular operator can calculate at which stations your phone has recently “lit up”.
Why is it impossible to find a phone by IMEI on your own
It is impossible to find a smartphone by IMEI on your own, since only the cellular operator has access to the switching center of stations, that is, to all stations. Therefore, all applications that allegedly provide the service of finding a phone by IMEI are fraudulent.
Another thing is information services that provide access to their own IMEI database of lost or stolen phones. If you register the identification number of your stolen device in one of them, there is a small chance that for a fee you will receive it back. One of these services is LoSToleN.
Using the standard Android remote control feature
For modern devices running Android, it became possible to remotely control the phone. Its activation allows:
- block the device and delete all information from it,
- determine the location of the phone.
You can use remote control if the function that opens access to geodata has been activated in advance. You also need to add a Google account to it and log in with your ID.
Remote control is configured in the following way:
You can check if the location feature is working at android.com/devicemanager. After logging into your account, you should find your device.
Otherwise, check again if the remote control function is active on the phone and if access to location data is open.
Lost Android app
This program offers more functionality for remote control of the machine. To start using it, you need to install the utility client from Google Play, after which the Personal Notes application will be installed on your smartphone. Further:
- Activate the program and give it device administrator access.
- Sign up using your Google account.
After that, the following functions will become available to you:
- turning on the sound, display and vibration on the stolen phone;
- search for the device on the map, and if the GPS on the phone is turned off, the user himself will be able to activate it remotely;
- device blocking over the Internet;
- sending messages demanding the return of the device;
- viewing and saving pictures, contacts;
- when replacing a SIM card on the device, the owner receives a notification.
Special service for Samsung phone owners
Samsung devices have their own form of location and number verification. To do this, register in the Find My Lost Phone service. You need to be prepared for the fact that checking the device during registration can take up to several days. Entering this service, you need to enter your IMEI, after which the location of the device will be displayed on the map.
How to find a stolen iPhone or iPad
To be able to find your lost or stolen Apple device, turn on Find My iPhone beforehand. To do this, in the settings of the device, you must go to the "iCloud" section and activate the corresponding switch.
