How to recover a lost or stolen Mobile Phone? Both Technical and Legal process are explained here

In present days, mobile means not only a phone, it is a gadget which provides us multiple types of services like, entertainment to alarm, photography to torchlight, internet to calculator and many more. It means it is next to our friend. Moreover our mobile knows many secrets of us. So, losing a mobile not only affect us financially but also we loses many important or secret data.

There are mainly two types of mobile, i) Feature phones (small size phones) ii) Smartphones (Android or iphones). In case of Feature phones, you have only few options to get it back. But, in case of Smartphones, there is more chances to get it back.

What to do after losing mobile?

Basically you need to follow two process to get back your lost or stolen phone, i) Technical Process (You can try this yourself) ii) Legal Process (You need to lodge police complain)

TECHNICAL PROCESS:

i) Call your phone

Whenever you realize that you have lost your mobile, call your phone from another phone. May be you have misplaced it nearby or may be a good person find it and can not call you because your phone is locked. This is a very common step that everybody knows.

*Point No. (ii) and (iii) are only for Smartphones and not for Feature phones.

ii) Log in to Android Device Manager or iCloud

In case of Android, go to google from any device and open Android Device Manager. Log in to Android Device Manager with the google account (gmail id) and password that you used in your lost phone. You can directly locate your phone in the map if your device data is turned on. Also you can,

• Ring your device (Device rings for 5 minutes even if it is in silent mode)
• Lock your device (You must do this to protect your data)
• Erase your device data (Only do, when you have no chance to recover your phone. Remember you can't ever locate your phone, if you erase your device data)

In case of Apple iphone, go to google and open iCloud. Sign in with Apple id and you can do same things as like Android Device Manager.

iii) Google Location History

If Android Device Manager doesn't work, then try Google location history. Here you can see the places where your phone last used.

iv) Track with IMEI no.

Firstly you need to know that you can not yourself track your phone with IMEI no. Only authorized person such as Police, Network Service providers etc. can track or block your phone with IMEI. Otherwise anyone can track anyone's phone location and that may affect a person's security. So, you need to know your phone's IMEI no and you should go to the local police station or police website with it.

What is IMEI no. ?

After losing your phone, if you go to the Police Station or Mobile Service Center, they will ask you the IMEI no. of your phone. IMEI or International Mobile Equipment Identity is a unique 15 digit no. used by GSM networks to identify valid devices. Devices that can be connected with networks such as Mobile phones, 3G/4G Tabs, Dongles must have IMEI no.

How to find IMEI no ?

You can find your device's IMEI no. in multiple ways such as,

• Dial *#06# from your phone and IMEI no will be shown in the screen.
• You can also find IMEI no in your mobile's backside, mobile box, purchase bill etc.
• Go to Android Device Manager and click the (i) icon, located beside your device name. There you may find your device's IMEI no.

v) Contact your Device Manufacturer Service Center

Go to your nearest Service Center of your mobile and tell them the matter. They are authorized to locate the location of your device with IMEI no.

Vi) Contact Network Service Provider

Contact your Network Service Operator if you want to block your lost SIM no. Tell them your lost phone no and IMEI no. They will block the number or activate the surveillance mode for the lost IMEI. It means even if anyone removed the SIM and put a new SIM of any network, the SIM will not work if IMEI i.e. phone will become useless.

But it is a suggestion that firstly you need to file an FIR in the police station and consult with them before calling your network service operator.

vii) Register IMEI to Stolen Mobile Database

Register your lost phone's IMEI no to Stolen Mobiles Database. It will help protecting sale of your stolen mobile. Some websites are given below,

• mycellwasstolen
• imeipro.info
• imeidetective.com
• Indore Police

LEGAL PROCESS:

Make a Police complain

File a complain at your nearest police station. Remember this is the most important step because it is a safeguard. In future, if anybody will use your lost/stolen phone in any illegal purpose, you will haven't any liability if you have the copy of complain.

Before going to Police Station or Police website, you need to gather some required information, such as,

• Brand and Model no. of the phone.
• IMEI no of the phone.
• Your phone no.
• Date, Time and place of the incident.
• Your Suspect (if any) in case of stolen mobile.
• Copy of your ID proof.

File FIR in case of Stolen Mobile phone

If you think that your phone is stolen, then you go to the nearest police station where the phone is stolen and file an FIR to report the Theft.

What is FIR?

• FIR or First Information Report is defined under Sec. 154 of CrPC. 
• It is the earliest and first information of a Cognizable offence (Criminal offences such as theft, murder, rape etc.) recorded by an officer-in-charge of a police station.
• Police starts the investigation and submit the charge sheet u/s 173 of CrPC after completion of the investigation.

There is no time limit to file FIR, but file it as soon as possible. If there's a delay in filing, informant should have a valid reason for non filing the FIR immediately.

How to file an FIR?

• Go to the nearest police station where the phone is stolen.
• Tell the police officer to register the FIR for a stolen phone u/s 154 of CrPC.
• Tell the details of your phone (i.e. color, brand, model no. and IMEI of your phone).
• Tell the names of witnesses (if any).
• Information may be given orally or in writing. If it is given orally, it must record in writing.
• The writing information must be signed or marked by informant.
• You must take the copy of FIR as evidence. It is free of cost.