Lost or stolen mobile phones

Introduction

Mobile phone theft is a growing problem both in Australia and overseas. The loss of a mobile phone is not only inconvenient, but can also be costly to consumers.

Initiatives

The Australian Government, Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA), and State and Territory police services, have implemented a range of initiatives over the past three years designed to reduce the incidence of loss or theft of mobile phones. These initiatives include a public awareness campaign - 'Mind Your Mobile' - to encourage consumers to take responsibility to protect mobile phones from theft or loss. Further details about the campaign may be obtained from www.mindyourmobile.com.

From April 2003, mobile phone carriers have been deactivating lost or stolen handsets from their respective GSM networks by effectively blocking the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. This is a 15 digit number, located underneath the battery of a GSM phone (the battery may need to be removed in order to see it), or by dialling *#06# on a GSM keypad (the IMEI number should appear on the phone's screen).

On 15 September 2003, inter-carrier mobile phone blocking was introduced in Australia. Using a centralised database, inter-carrier blocking allows the daily exchange of blocking and unblocking information between carriers. When any carrier is notified of the loss or theft of a mobile phone and its IMEI, that information is quickly relayed across all GSM networks.

Further information about these blocking initiatives can be obtained from AMTA's website at www.mindyourmobile.com or via www.amta.org.au.

What to do if your mobile phone is lost or stolen?

If your phone is lost or stolen, contact your mobile phone company immediately to suspend your service (this will prevent unauthorised calls being made) and report the loss or theft of your handset to the police. Primary responsibility for enforcing criminal law and for providing assistance in locating and returning lost and stolen mobile phones, rests with the State and Territory police.

GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) phones have the potential to be 'rebirthed', where the old SIM card in the GSM handset is taken out, and a new SIM card (connecting to another network) inserted into the lost or stolen GSM mobile phone.

This is not the case with CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) phones. CDMA phones do not have a SIM card as it is the phone itself that connects directly with the network. If your CDMA phone is lost or stolen, it is important to contact your mobile phone company immediately (so that the service can be suspended) and the police.

Purchasing/Connecting a Second Hand Mobile

All buyers of a second-hand mobile phone should request proof of ownership at the time of purchase.

To assist retailers and consumers to determine if a phone has been reported as lost or stolen, AMTA advises that Telstra hosts an inquiry hotline (1900 964 634 - call charges apply), which provides information as to whether or not a handset has been reported as lost or stolen on the Telstra network. According to AMTA, this database contains details of all blocked International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers from all networks since 15 September 2003 together with the 50,000 handsets blocked on Telstra's network since August 2002. It will not cover details of the 50,000 handsets blocked on the Optus and Vodafone networks prior to 15 September 2003.

AMTA has advised it provides an online service where consumers and second hand sellers can check if the phone they have purchased has been reported as lost or stolen by entering the IMEI number. To access this service, go to AMTA's website at www.mindyourmobile.com.

• Document ID: 3840 |
• Last modified: 6 February 2008, 12:26pm