Lost and stolen mobile phoneskeep it safe & know what to doif you lose it.

Lost and stolen mobile phones
keep it safe & know what to do
if you lose it.
If you lose your mobile phone, or
have it stolen, not only do you have
to deal with the inconvenience of
not having your phone, but you
could be paying for someone else�s
calls!
PREVENTION
Prevention is better than cure.
Reduce your phone�s appeal to
thieves and assist in its recovery if it
is lost or stolen:
1) Treat your phone as you
would any valuable item: Even if
you got your handset as a $0
upfront deal�, this does not reflect
its true cost. Handsets are expensive
- they can cost more than $1000.
Be discrete. Keep your mobile on
you. Never put it down in a public
place or leave it unattended.
Switch to vibrate mode in
circumstances where a ring tone
might attract the attention of a thief.
2) Use your phone�s security
features: Your phone has security
features which you can use to stop
others using your phone for
example, you can set a Personal
Identification Number (PIN) number
which must be entered before
anyone can use the phone. Read
your handset User Guide to find out
what features your phone has and
use them. Even if your phone isn�t
stolen, someone might be tempted
to borrow your phone and make a
few expensive calls without your
knowledge.
3) Name it: Some form of personal
identification on your phone can
deter the would-be thief. Consider
engraving your initials on your
phone and the battery, and � if you
have one also including your
driver�s license number.
4) Know your IMEI: Every mobile
phone has a unique 15-digit
electronic serial number, known as
the International Mobile Equipment
Identity (IMEI) number. Record your
phone�s IMEI number and keep it in
a safe place in case your phone is
lost or stolen. You can check your
IMEI number by dialing *#06#.
5) Insurance: Don�t assume your
phone is covered in your (or your
parent�s) home contents insurance.
Check and consider insuring it
separately, if necessary. Remember
that even if you got the phone for
‘$0 upfront�, this doesn�t mean it
was free it means the cost was
absorbed in the overall contract
price. You may not be able to get a
replacement phone for $0 upfront.
LOST OR STOLEN
If your phone is lost or stolen:
6) Notify your network carrier
AND the police immediately in
the event of loss or theft. Tell them
your IMEI number and any other
identifying features on your phone
(e.g. engraved initials). Your carrier
can use this number to block your
phone from all networks once you
report the phone lost or stolen,
making it useless to any thief.
Importantly, this also ensures
you�re not paying for any calls
made by the thief. If the handset is
subsequently found, the IMEI block
can be easily removed as long as
you can prove you�re the original,
rightful owner of the phone.