A couple of weeks ago, my sister's N93 got snatched. Failing in all attempts to get the phone back, she reported her stolen phone to the National Telecommunications Commission. The NTC asked her to formally file with them an affidavit of loss stating there the serial number and model of the phone and other relevant information. By doing this, the NTC can block the signal of the cellphone even if the sim is replaced rendering the phone useless to any "subsequent possessor".
You can also achieve the same result by SMS. Everybody in the Philippines with a cellphone (practically 3/4 of the whole population, I think) should know this:
Text 682 or Text NTC is another alternative way of reporting lost/stolen cell phones. Project Text 682 aims to prevent and eventually eliminate the problem of mobile cell phone theft. Through a string of SMS commands, TEXT 682 will enable mobile phone subscribers to prevent anyone from using a stolen or lost mobile phone by blocking the IMEI of the said phone. Once a mobile phone is blocked, it cannot be used anymore even if the SIM card is replaced. Likewise, if the stolen phone is returned to the rightful owner, he/she will be able to automatically unlock the IMEI of the said mobile phone.
For SMART/Talk & Text, Globe and Touch Mobile Subscribers:
REGISTER: First step is to register to TEXT 682. Registration is valid for one year. To find out the IMEI of your mobile phone, simply type *#06# or look for it on the printed compliance plate under the battery.
To register, simply type REG_PHONE NUMBER>__ and send to 682
BLOCKING THE PHONE: You must block your phone as soon as you learn it is lost or stolen. You may use any GSM phone to BLOCK a cellular phone.
To block phone, simply type BLOCK__ and send to 682.
UNBLOCKING THE PHONE: You may use any GSM phone to unblock a blocked cellular phone.
To unblock phone, simply type UNBLOCK__ and send to 682.
UNDOING THE REGISTRATION OF THE PHONE: You must use the registered cellular phone that you wish to unregister.
To unregister, simply type UNREG__ and send to 682.
CHANGING THE PIN CODE: You must use the registered cellular phone to change the pin code.
To change pin code, simply type PIN__ and send to 682.
HELP MENU: For help, simply type HELP and send to 682.
For Sun Cellular Subscribers:
The Text 682 service is found under Sun Cellular Emergency sub-menu. To reach the said sub-menu, enter The Mall, select Post Office, then select Public Service, then select Government, and then you will find the TEXT 682 service. There are six options found under the Text 682 service: Register, Block, Unblock, Unregister, Change PIN, and FAQS.
NOTE: All completed transactions are worth PhP 5.00
9 comments:
Won't a simple IMEI change (e.g. "phone unlocking") defeat this?
It depends on the handset. Nokia's DCT 3 range of handsets has been cracked. Nokia's newer DCT 4 line-up has not yet been cracked... well at least I don't think so. It makes it less profitable, but there are work arounds, and sooner or later there always seems to be a workaround for everything.
I am not sure if NTC registration will limit the authorized IMEI numbers so that an effective reverse "blacklist" can be created (i.e. Anything without an authorized IMEI will not be allowed on any network).
Hi, has anyone tried this service?
I just tried it out a few minutes and ago, and geeeeeeeeeeez, what a long, long process!
I just hope it was worth the numerous texts worth 5php or 2.5php I've sent...
My phone, an SE M600i just got stolen last night... at Embassy! FROM MY BAG! WOULD YOU BELIEVE? :( *cry*
Ouch! It looks like cellphone thieves are everywhere nowadays...
I have been told that there was an occasion where a stolen cellphone was returned to its owner after being surrendered to the NTC because the cellphone was rendered useles after its IMEI was blocked. After two months of blocking her stolen N93's IMEI, my sister, unfrtunately, had no such luck.
Personally, I think going through the process of IMEI blocking can at least give you that sense of comfort that you did everything you can for your phone after it's been stolen. Otherwise we'd just feel downright powerless against it. That sucks. ;P
the process added frustrations and aggravation, instead of feeling a bit relax bec. there is an agency that would help with the stolen cellphone; it was like snatched twice bec. you have to lose a lot of loads yet no specific response that in a way the agency is now doing the blocking...
THE PROCESS DOES NOT GIVE ASSURANCE THAT THERE CAN BE DONE FOR THE STOLEN CELLPHONE... I HOPE THERE IS A SIMPLIER PROCESS TO IMMEDIATELY BLOCK THE CELLPHONE.
In my sister's case, she filed for IMEI blocking the long way- she filed an affidavit of loss with the NTC. The NTC has a form for this and you can download it from their website at ntc.gov.ph. She followed up the status of her request by calling up the NTC office (the phone number is posted in their website as well) and was advised to call after two weeks. After which, she got confirmation that the NTC has blocked her stolen phone's IMEI number. End of story. I hope I can tell you more about this, but that was that. Bye bye N93. (Hello N95! hehe..)
Anyway. I think you can verify the status of your IMEI blocking SMS request by calling up the NTC personally, too. But I can't verify this because I can't seem to connect to their website at this moment. It appears that the link I've posted here is already a dead link, too. Tsk..
True, IMEI blocking via NTC does give that nagging sense of false hope even if you do get confirmation. More so, I believe, if you don't get any confirmation at all. But what other choice do we have?
I strongly believe that the government (via NTC or whatever) should take cellphone snatching in our country seriously, with the alarming rate and gravity of the incidences, thus far. This IMEI blocking may be a step in that direction. As for the effectiveness of this endeavor, I must admit I have no clue. I am with you in hoping for better options.
I had lost my nokia 3315 handset on 29th august 2007 . My IMEI no is 351465303386031 . please any one track my phone and block the service of the handset . My contact no is 09820483002 .
Ever heard of the new anti-theft software for mobile phones? It allows the owner to get the new sim information of the thief and his current location. It works by secretly sending 2 text messages to the number you initially configured to receive the messages. The message will include your IMEI, the new SIM card, the area code where the thief is currently located, and the network's cell site number. You can use this to either call the thief directly or as evidence for the police...or the NTC.
The software is called PhoneBAK and is now available in the Philippines. Call 0920-9785758 or 0918-9346880. You can visit their website at www.nthdegree.com.ph for more information.
Can u guys help me out.
I lost my phone and I need to block it. Someone probably stole it already.
I've already blocked the SIM and I need to block the phone.
I have called NTC and it seems they do have a very long process to do so.
Plus, I've already recovered my same number (but different SIM).
Is there something faster than NTC's process?
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