[Vision2020] Some Interesting Cell Phone Information

[Barrett Schroeder]

Some more information on this subject from Snopes

http://www.snopes.com/crime/prevent/celltheft.asp

The key point is that people steal cell phones in order to temporarily use
the service:

" Although there is a small black market for stolen handsets, cell phone
theft is overwhelmingly a theft of service - thieves don't really want your
handset (cell phones are so cheap and ubiquitous that hot phones aren't
worth much); they want to use your wireless service to make free calls and
stick you with the bill. Since reporting your stolen handset's phone number
to your service provider already cuts off a thief's ability to charge calls
to your account, reporting the serial number and having the handset disabled
as well is largely superfluous. It certainly won't hurt anything to take the
extra step, but doing so isn't likely to pose much of a deterrent to cell
phone thieves."


Barrett

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Tom Hansen [SMTP:thansen at moscow.com]
> Sent:	Tuesday, May 23, 2006 3:57 PM
> To:	Moscow Vision 2020; 
> Subject:	[Vision2020] Some Interesting Cell Phone Information
> 
> Greetings Visionaires/Vandals -
> 
> Here is something worth knowing if you have a mobile/cellular phone...
> 
> Have you ever wondered why phone companies don't seem interested in trying
> to prevent the theft of mobile phones? If you have ever lost, or had one
> stolen, and if you are on a plan, you still have to pay the plan
> approximately up to 24 months, and you have to buy another handset and
> enter
> into another contract. This is more revenue for the phone company.
> 
> There is a simple way of making lost or stolen mobiles useless to thieves
> and the phone companies know about it, but keep it quiet.
> 
> To check your mobile phone's serial number, key in the following on your
> phone:
> 
> star-hash-zero-six-hash ( * # 0 6 # ) 
> 
> and a fifteen digit code will appear on the screen. This is unique to your
> handset. Write it down and keep it safe. Should your mobile phone get
> stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code.
> 
> They will then be able to block your handset, so even if the thief changes
> the sim card, your phone will be totally useless.
> 
> You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever
> stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody did this, there would be
> no
> point in stealing mobile phones.
> 
> Seeya round town, Moscow.
> 
> t hansen-moore
> Moscow, Idaho
> 
> "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
> safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in
> sideways, chocolate in one hand, a drink in the other, body thoroughly
> used
> up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO. What a ride!'"
> 
> 
> 
> 
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