Spy protection: what to do if you lost your phone or it was stolen

How to find a phone by IMEI

Each mobile device has a unique number - IMEI code. The following data is encoded in this number order:

• model;
• origin of the device;
• serial number.

The code is usually glued under the battery. You don't have to take your phone apart to recognize it. To view IMEI, the combination *#6# is provided, which is entered on the device. The code is also written on the box and on the warranty card for the phone.

As soon as the device is authorized by the user, the IMEI cipher is broadcast on the telecommunications network. By dialing numbers, the mobile operator can detect the location of the phone.

How much does a block cost?

If a subscriber has lost an MTS SIM card and wants to block it, connecting the block will be free for him. During the first 14 days of using the service, no fee will be charged (including the subscription fee for the tariff and the cost of additional options connected to the number). On the fifteenth day and further, 1 ruble per day will be charged for blocking the number.

Expert opinion

Evgeniy Belyaev

Legal consultant, financial expert

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Important! If the SIM card you lost was serviced at a corporate rate, blocking it will cost you 34 rubles. Other terms and conditions of the service will be the same as described above.

How to find an iOS phone

In the case of mobile devices based on iOS, the actions are similar to those with Android. What to do if you lose your iPhone? The procedure is as follows:

1. Sign in to iCloud on your PC or other device.
2. Verify yourself in the system.
3. Click the Find Phone button.

The smartphone will be detected only if geolocation detection is activated.

If you are sure that your iPhone has been stolen, then block it. For this purpose, a special function “Pumping mode” is provided. The iPhone will immediately lock and require a PIN code. You can call the device and clear the memory remotely.

Block?

The user has a question, regardless of which network he is connected to - Megafon or MTS: I lost my phone - how to block the SIM card? This is the first thing that comes to mind. There's no need to rush. If calls are made from it, this will make it easier for police officers to investigate. Blocking is advisable if there is a large amount of money in the account or if a tariff with a postpaid payment system was used. The fastest way to block is to call the technical support operator or use the command *111*157#.

How to find a lost phone by phone number

You can find a smartphone by phone number: Pixabay
To use Google services, you need to remember the password for the account that is activated on your mobile device. It happens that a person has forgotten the secret data from his account, and geolocation search is disabled on his smartphone.

How to find a lost phone in this case? Search by phone number.

Try calling first. Perhaps the person who found a smartphone on the street will answer the phone. If no one answers the phone, leave a message with information about the return policy.

But you shouldn’t wait for an answer, you need to act. After an unsuccessful call, contact your mobile operator for help. Fill out an application and provide documents that confirm that the mobile device is your property. The operator will search for a switched-on phone on the network.

It's a good idea to insure yourself for the future

It is important to know if you have lost your phone, how to find it. MTS or another company will be able to help, but the more important question is: how to prevent loss?

• You need to carry your phone in the same protected place, then there is a greater chance of noticing it is missing.
• When you are in transport, at the market or in another place with a large crowd of people, it is better to keep your hand on your mobile phone so that it does not accidentally fall out.
• When purchasing, you can take a closer look at models in bright colors. If lost, it is easier to find it in the grass or on the asphalt, and at home among things it will be easier to see it.
• It’s a good idea to print a note in small print asking you to call a contact number and the reward amount. Place it inside the case in case of loss. If the finder wants to change the SIM card, it will be impossible not to notice this text.
• You can hang a mini keychain on your mobile phone that responds to a whistle or clap.
• The “Unlost” gadget has proven itself quite well. You need to buy it, install it and connect the program to your smartphone. If the connection is lost, the key fob will sound a signal. If you need to find your phone at home, when you press the key fob it will beep.
• Instead of a keychain, you can use a lanyard for your hand or neck; even if the gadget falls out of your hands, it will remain hanging. This will prevent loss and damage to the case.
• It is necessary to install a tracking program on your computer and phone in advance. While the program is turned on, there is a chance to find a mobile phone.
• It’s a good idea to write your name or print a photo on the case. This can be done at a mobile phone repair shop. It is difficult to find a buyer for such a phone, so it is more profitable to return it to the owner for a fee.

Trouble can happen to anyone, and if someone has lost their phone, how to find it? MTS will help even if the SIM card is blocked. The company provides 2 ways:

1. Contact any MTS store in the region of purchase.
2. Order a SIM card through the website.

It will take three to seven days to produce the card. Only the recovery option through a communication salon will be free.

To successfully find your phone in the future, it would be correct to enable the Find My Device function. To do this, go to “Settings” - “Security and location” - “Find device” - “Remote device search” - “Remote lock and reset”. In some models, the function is enabled with one tick. This method only works if the mobile phone is turned on. If it's turned off, nothing will work.

I would like to believe in the best, that is, that no one will need advice on finding a gadget.

How to find a lost phone through third-party applications

There are many services that will help when a person has lost their phone. Using apps, you can sync your device to determine its location if necessary.

Lost Android

The application is installed via Google Play. When you install it, the utility icon will change to a notepad image. This is the developers’ idea so that attackers don’t suspect anything.

Once you're in the software environment, the first thing to do is set up the application. Give it administrator rights to block or destroy all information if necessary.

Automatic blocking of MTS SIM card

Sometimes the number is blocked automatically by the mobile operator. This happens if the subscriber does not use the SIM card for a long period of time. Namely: a negative balance is maintained and the personal account is not replenished; No calls are made from this number; no paid services are used. In this case, it is no longer possible to remove the automatic blocking from the SIM card. If necessary, you can issue a new number.

No one is immune from theft or loss of a cell phone. And the first thing you should do in such a situation is to block the number. MTS provides its clients with several ways to do this in the shortest possible period of time. Of these, you just need to choose the one that is most suitable in this particular situation. Blocking a SIM card will not take much time. However, it will save you from possible troubles and unexpected expenses. The decision to block a number during departure is made by a person independently. MTS only provides this opportunity for the convenience of its customers. You can cancel the blocking at any time and continue using the SIM card. It is better to check the information on the cost of this service on the official website of the cellular operator.

6Disable accounts

To protect your personal data, it is advisable to disconnect your smartphone from cloud services, instant messengers, email accounts, etc. Typically, each service has a function to unlink connected devices. Google, VKontakte, Dropbox, Twitter, Facebook, Viber, Odnoklassniki have this function.

Where this is not the case, change your passwords. For example, you will have to change passwords on Skype, Instagram, Mail.ru.

Disconnecting your smartphone from all accounts and cloud services

Recovery methods

An application for SIM card restoration will be considered only if the identity of its owner is confirmed and the subscriber has a passport. There are several options for getting a new SIM card:

Restoring a card in an MTS salon

This is one of the easiest ways to recover a phone number. If a subscriber has a starter package from a lost SIM card, MTS employees will not resort to the personal identification procedure. After filling out the application to restore the number, the client will be issued a new SIM card with the same number, tariff and balance in the personal account.

SIM card delivery service

If you wish, you can restore the card via the Internet without contacting the mobile operator’s service center. To do this you need to do the following:

1. Go to the website mts.ru;
2. At the top of the main page, select the “Mobile Communications” section;
3. In the window that appears, go to the “Support” tab and select the “Actions with SIM card” category;
4. From the drop-down menu, select the “SIM card delivery” section, then click on the “Order a SIM card” button;
5. Fill out the appropriate form to restore a lost card, indicating the country, city and address of residence;
6. Select the most convenient method for delivering a new SIM card and click on the “Next” button;
7. Fill out the required items in the form that appears, which will contain information about the lost SIM card;
8. After providing the required information, click “Next” and complete the application.

1Locate a lost Android device

If you have an Android smartphone, then you need to go to the Android device remote control page. If the smartphone is currently online, its location will be displayed on the map with fairly decent accuracy. If the phone is offline, its location will be determined and shown on the map as soon as (if) it comes online.

Android remote control doesn't find devices

In the Google Play market there is an application of the same name Android Remote Control (or Device Manager). With it, you can search and block your device from another Android device.

Also useful for tracking your Android device is the TimeLine service, which collects and stores the history of your device’s movements.

If you have prudently allowed the location of your Android device to be determined and have configured blocking and deletion of data (the Set up blocking and deletion of data button), then you will also be able to block the phone or erase data stored in its internal memory. Data from the SD card will not be deleted! You can write a message that will appear on the device screen and leave a backup number to contact you.

The location of the Android device is determined; lock screen settings

2Locate your lost iPhone

If you are the owner of an iPhone, then go to the iPhone search page or launch the special Find iPhone from another i-device. Select your lost device from the list of devices. If it's online, you'll see its location on the map.

Search iPhone

Next you need to activate Lost Mode . This mode locks the device with a code. Also here you should set a message about the return reward and leave your contact information so that we can contact you.

Here you can delete all data from your iPhone. However, after this it will no longer be possible to find it through the iPhone search page. But no one will be able to use your smartphone until they activate it using your Apple ID.

What to do if you lose your phone

Very often situations arise when smartphone owners lose their devices by an absurd accident. This could be during a regular walk in the park or on a bus in which the phone fell out of your pocket and remained on the seat.

The very first steps you should take if you have lost your smartphone:

1. First of all, you need to remember where the phone was in sight for the last time.
2. After that, go to this area and carefully search for the presence of your own gadget.
3. You can also try calling or texting. If the phone was found by a decent person, it will certainly be returned. However, in case of theft, you should immediately contact the police.

User Help Center

• contact a mobile operator consultant,
• dictate your phone number and IMEI code,
• dictate the contract number for the SIM card.
• wait for the operator's response.

If you feel like your pocket is being cut by tweezers, don’t worry, stay calm, most likely your phone will disappear!! this is life!!The most effective way to detect a switched off phone is to search by IMEI - a unique digital code that is assigned to each phone. It can be found under the battery of your smartphone or tablet, as well as on the box in which the device was purchased. Knowing the IMEI code, you don’t have to worry about whether your phone can be tracked if it’s turned off. Just follow these steps.

7Applications for returning a smartphone after theft

And finally, a few words about programs that will help you find a smartphone, but which must be installed and configured before they are lost. There are many such programs on Google Play. But perhaps the highest quality in this regard is Avast Anti-Theft . It will help you find your stolen smartphone even after the attacker performs a factory reset. Alas, if you did not install and configure the program in advance, this method is not applicable.

Various settings for Avast Anti-Theft

How to block a mobile phone if you lose it

To protect the data on your device, you need to lock your SIM card. To do this, you should contact the operator that provides mobile services. This is especially important if Android was used to log into electronic banking. Attackers can steal passwords or, worse, withdraw funds from accounts. Unfortunately, this procedure involves the need to obtain a police certificate of theft and supporting documentation.

3Locate a lost Windows Phone device

If you have lost your Windows device, go to your devices page and log in. Select a stolen/lost smartphone from the list of your devices and click Search Phone . If its location is known, it will be displayed on the map. Next, click Block and indicate the phone number for feedback from you.

Find a Windows Phone

4Smartphone search tools from manufacturers

Many smartphone manufacturers have their own individual means of finding lost or stolen smartphones. For example, Sony devices have the My Xperia Theft Protection . Samsung has Reactivation Lock . In addition to searching for smartphones, Apple devices have an Activation Lock . Typically, these features are activated by the user, that is, you, until the moment of loss, so we will not dwell on them in detail.

Search the website of the manufacturer of your device, it is possible that one of the tools they offer will help you find your smartphone.