DannyC

morning all

just wondering if you can unlock a mobile that has been locked by the network if lost or stolen cos my mate has found one

cheers

BigMouthBillyBass

independent phone shops (you know the ones that sell fascias and chargers and general phone related ebay tat) unlock phones for about a fiver. There's also a place in Leeds market out the back that does them

They'll need to change the IMEI number, which is a bit dodgy...but hey, finders keepers, losers suck

Spax

Hi,

I think if it's been lost/stolen then found and locked by the network theres nothing you can do? I'm sure it's highly illegal too? just remember reading on here sumwhere about it and the IMEI number?

arch

The only way to unblock, slightly different to unlock, is to alter the IMEI number of the phone, which is illegal to do so.

R4N SS

iTrader: (6)

u r not allowed to change imei numbers - you are looking at 5 yrs inside if caught.

they open the phone up so it acceps other networks

Spax

Ahh thought that was the case, just wanted sumone to clarify it

fish99

dont do it, we check every mobile phone's imei on a huge data base..its amazing how many people come into custody with that.

DannyC

thanks for the advice i'll let him know

slim20012

what soley for that or they get nicked then you check their imei number ??

fish99

We have a database of every mobile phone... its a new initiative we are running where everyone stopped and searched has their phone checked. Everyones phone is on there, tells you make and model etc and if their are any reports

smitsturbo

if you take the sim card out before its blocked can the phone itself still be blocked?

Shings

Afirmative ghost rider.

Its not the phone or sim which is blocked.

Both are blocked- the electronic serial numbers (sim no and imei) are blocked by the network.

In olden days these were only blocked by 1 network so the phone was still of use, or in english the network it was attached to- also Vodafone and O2 (previously Cellnet) did not block the phones at all.

Now all networks register the imei's of all phones stolen and block them on the network to stop them "paging" the network- which is what they must do to work.

As stated the only way round is to change the serial number of the phone so when it pages the network the network accepts it.

This however is now highly illegal and will carry a prison sentance if caught doing it.

Jake