Lost my phone; am I forgetting to do anything?

CuriousMike

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2001
3,044
544
136
Rolling around in the park with my dog last night, my phone fell out.

It wasn't until 1.5 hours after the fact that I realized my phone was missing.

It was a Sprint, Samsung GS3.

I had installed Sprints "TEP" application that allowed me to login and locate the phone and remotely deactive/wipe/siren it.

The problem was the last update for the phone was 7p.m.; I left the park at 6:30 pm. The last location was smack dab where I had been. I went back with my whole family and we scoured the area to no avail.

Since the Sprint app updates location every 1 hour, it means that at some between 7pm and 8:30, the phone was turned off. So, someone found it. I could not remotely deactive/wipe it because it was off.

I called Sprint and they de-activated it. I had insurance on it, so with a deductible I'll get a replacement.

My concern is, other than having Sprint de-activate it... is there anything that the new owner could do to grief me? Anything I should be doing to further protect myself?

About the only thing I've done is change my Google Password ( with 2-step verification, it wanted to send a verify code to my stolen phone - luckily, I had my wifes phone # as a backup. )

Bonus question: Do these phones have the equivalent of a unique MAC - so if Sprint kills it, they could also notify ATT/Verizon and all services would deny my phones MAC from ever coming on any network? Is it now a glorified PMP for someone?
 

podspi

Golden Member
Jan 11, 2011
1,982
102
106
Yes, the IMEI will prevent it from being used if it is labelled lost/stolen. Was the phone password protected? If it was, there is a chance it has already been reset (in which case, no worries).

Otherwise, I'd try to camp at the location app to at least get it wiped.
 

CuriousMike

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2001
3,044
544
136
Yes, the IMEI will prevent it from being used if it is labelled lost/stolen. Was the phone password protected? If it was, there is a chance it has already been reset (in which case, no worries).

Otherwise, I'd try to camp at the location app to at least get it wiped.

It was not password protected.
I've tried again this morning to use Sprints remote wipe website, but it continues to say the phone is off.