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bigbrowntruck

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 8, 2009
55
0
Hi guys and gals. My iphone 2g got jacked and have no idea where it is. I reported it stolen to att and police and apple. An idea popped into my head. Not sure but maybe I can get some feedback for this. I know the IMEI number. What if I clone another phone with my stolen IMEI. Will this effect calls to the stolen phone receives. I guess I am just not knowledgeable on how IMEI relates to the networks. For example. If the network ATT, Tmobile, whatever has a call to mr x but mr x and mr y both have the same IMEI does is route to both phones or does it see what number belongs to the SIM and just go to that phone. I was hoping to gather a list of people and phone numbers that are calling my stolen phone in hopes of tracking it down further. I know someone at work stole but only narrows it down so far. I had navizon on there where I could track it, but unfortunately I lost that during a firmware update =( Maybe some people have similar or better ideas. This phone was a gift to me so it has sentimental value. I don't care about the cost of the phone. I would pay $400 if I could get the same phone back. Anyone that could help me get it back I would reward too. Thanks.
 
I dont think you understand how placing and receiving calls works.
It all has to do with the sim card.
Since you reported it stolen/lost to AT&T they deactivated the sim so theres no way for that phone to receive or make phone calls using your account. Assuming they havent removed the sim, restored, unlocked and maybe using it with another account. In the US carriers dont blacklist IMEI's so anyone that finds it is free without any problems to use it on another AT&T or even Tmobile account.
Even if you had Navigon you cannot acess the phone to receive that information.
There's no way to get it back unless you had tracking software installed on it or the mobile me find my iphone feature.
If not there isnt much you can do but ask around if anyone knows what happened and hope for the thief confessing or getting revealed and then returning it back to you.
 
I dont think you understand how placing and receiving calls works.
It all has to do with the sim card.
Since you reported it stolen/lost to AT&T they deactivated the sim so theres no way for that phone to receive or make phone calls using your account. Assuming they havent removed the sim, restored, unlocked and maybe using it with another account. In the US carriers dont blacklist IMEI's so anyone that finds it is free without any problems to use it on another AT&T or even Tmobile account.
Even if you had Navigon you cannot acess the phone to receive that information.
There's no way to get it back unless you had tracking software installed on it or the mobile me find my iphone feature.
If not there isnt much you can do but ask around if anyone knows what happened and hope for the thief confessing or getting revealed and then returning it back to you.


Well, thanks for the quick reply Applejuiced. I am just rambling things through my head. I put up some lost signs offering $300 reward if "Found" Hopefully that will work. I just am bouncing things around figuring if there is anyway ways to get the phone back. It has a lot of sentimental value that makes it worth a lot to me. My new Iphone 3gs has ilocalis on it so maybe that would help. I am not sure what would prevent a thief from wiping the device and making ilocalis disappear =( . If anyone comes up with ANY ideas I would appreciate some reply's. Thanks in advance.
 
Yes, like mentioned above if someone just picks it up and restores it thru itunes even with mobileme or tracking software installed everything is erased and nothing much you can do.
I dont know about the sentimental value, its just a phone and you can get a 2G iphone cheaper than the $300 reward you're offering.
I suggest picking up another iphone instead and next time guard it better cause iphones get stolen often.
 
A lost/stolen phone really sucks. For obvious reasons, the data on the phone is much more valuable than the phone itself (i.e. your/family/friends phone #s and addresses; passwords; etc).

I'm going to start researching MobileMe or iLocalis for the remote wipe capability.
 
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