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Could someone else disable my phone if they knew the IMEI number?

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  • 06-01-2014 11:14am
    #1
    Worztron
    Registered Users Posts: 8,675 ✭✭✭


    Hi.

    If I bought a second hand mobile phone could someone else maliciously get it disabled if they knew my IMEI number?

    Mitch Hedberg: "Rice is great if you're really hungry and want to eat two thousand of something."

    Tagged:


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    #2
    Paulw
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 13,381 Mod ✭✭✭✭Paulw


    Yes.

    They simply call their operator, report it stolen, give the IMEI, and the operator will block it.

    Not uncommon for 2nd hand phones. People sell them, report them stolen, claim insurance, and it's win win for them, and a pain for the person they sold the phone to.


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    #3
    Worztron
    Registered Users Posts: 8,675 ✭✭✭Worztron


    Paulw wrote: »
    Yes.

    They simply call their operator, report it stolen, give the IMEI, and the operator will block it.

    Not uncommon for 2nd hand phones. People sell them, report them stolen, claim insurance, and it's win win for them, and a pain for the person they sold the phone to.

    Damn! So people should guard their IMEI number just like passwords. There should be a system to prevent this (and still allow legitimate instances when a phone is lost/stolen).

    Mitch Hedberg: "Rice is great if you're really hungry and want to eat two thousand of something."



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