Mobile Phone Hint...... or is it??
 

This message appears to be quite popular these days, does anyone know if its genuine?

Each of our Mobile phone handsets has a unique serial number.
Check this number by Keying in the following digits on your phone:
*#06# (If it doesn't accept for a different brand you have such as Ericsson please press 04*#06#.)
A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe.

Should your phone get stolen, you can contact your service provider and give them this code.
They will then be able to block your mobile phone, and render it useless, even if the
SIM card is changed.
You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that who ever stole it will be unable to use it but perhaps as a paperweight.

If everybody did this, there would be no point in stealing mobile phone. Please pass this message on to as many people as possible.


Or am I just getting too suspicious in my old age? :):)


Mutt.

YEs- I think it called an IMEI number and is unique to your phone. I think it is the same number you will see under the battery lid and on your contract. With it, the phone can be 'barred', but this will only stop the 'casual' thief (ie 99%) because there is a way to re-programme the number, but you have to be in big time to do that!.

Thanks for that BOAC..... much appreciated.


Mutt :)

Hi Mutt. BOAC is correct in what he says about the number. The thing now is not to let anyone have from you. There is a scam going on at the moment where someone calls you claiming to be an engineer and asks you to key in the numbers you quoted above. I dont know what they do with these numbers but its not good.!!!

Hi lads...

the IMEI number is the equivalent of the chassis number of the phone. for those in network control, it uniquely identifies the handset and is a basic element required for correct billing.

'Cloning' the phone is done at least by copying the IMEI number and a few other things.

The handset box should have a little piece of paper with PUK,PUK2 and IMEI for the handset.

If you change handsets, the SIM is newly linked to the new IMEI on their computers.

The IMIE is not needed for the billing as it is the SIM info (IMSI) that is used, hence as the last post pointed out you can move your SIM to other phones with no problem. The networks can ban IMSI or IMEI if they want to. There is a facility for a Global black list so all the operators can give lists of stolen mobile IMIE numbers, but I don't think they do anything with it at the moment. I think this facility resides in Ireland.
If offered a mobile that will work on 3 out of the 4 networks (UK) then there is a good chance it is stolen, or lost and has been blocked on the previous owners home network.
Also some mobiles are locked into one network, by the operators, this can be undone, by various methods, depending on the phone manufacturer.
CC

Fortunately, this is an email-propagated urban legend derived from an American land-line scam :

see http://www.tafkac.org/ulz/90pound.html

Noting down your IMEI number is a good idea though - just in case your phone goes for an unauthorised excursion... ;)

m.