Have you misplaced your Android smartphone, or has it been taken from you without your permission? Because our cell phones have become so essential to our daily lives, any disruption to their availability might throw us for a loop. But what should one do in such a predicament? If your smartphone is stolen or lost, the procedures that need to be carried out are outlined in this section.
Dealing with a scenario as challenging as this one is not easy. We are concerned, first and foremost, about the loss of our personal data, which is a loss that transcends both the loss of material goods and the financial expenditure that will be required to purchase a new smartphone.
Some are so delicate that the prospect of them ending up in the possession of an unfamiliar person is even more concerning than the possibility of losing the smartphone itself. In this article, we describe what to do when you go through such an awful experience.
What actions should you take if your smartphone is lost or stolen?
Hang your line
Have you misplaced or been unable to locate your smartphone? The first thing you should do is get in touch with your operator and let them know about the situation. You have the option of conducting the transaction over the phone, through your customer application, or on your website.
The fact that you can no longer use the device is a challenge in that it is necessary to locate an alternative platform on which to carry it out. After that, the SIM card will be rendered inactive by the operator. Therefore, you will not be responsible for paying the expenses that the person who stole your cell phone spent.
If you are fortunate enough to locate the phone, you will have the opportunity to reactivate it. If this is not the case, you will need to place an order with the operator for a new SIM card to maintain both your number and your subscription.
Locate your android smartphone
You can use the localization feature to look for your smartphone if you misplaced it. It is necessary to activate this function in advance. After then, it will be easy to track down your misplaced or stolen smartphone using a map (Google Maps). Additionally, you can remotely lock it, ring it, and wipe data. To accomplish this, open any web browser on a personal computer, other smartphones, or tablet, and navigate to this website. If the thief has turned off the smartphone, however, it will be hard to track it down. On the other hand, you can see the location that the smartphone was most recently on. If the item was merely misplaced and is still in your house, you can easily locate it by ringing it if it is still there. It even works in silent mode.
You may also use this function to display a message or a contact telephone number on the screen of your smartphone. This is useful if you want to try to interact with the person who is now in control of your mobile device and you don’t want to risk losing it. Who knows, a well-intentioned person might have found your smartphone and be willing to give it back to you if you ask them nicely.
Erase Mobile Data Remotely
As we have shown, you will be able to lock the smartphone by using the identical Google platform that you used to unlock it. You can sign out of your Google account and even remove all of the content that is currently stored on your mobile device.
This is the correct measure to take if you have reasonable assurance that you will never see it again. Do not be hesitant if you have messages that are meant to be kept confidential or if you handle your financial accounts using your mobile device.
Note that once you delete the data from the smartphone, it will no longer be possible to track its whereabouts in any way. If the device is turned off when the alteration is performed, the deletion won’t take place until the next time it is turned on after that.
Declare a theft
After you have ensured the safety of your data, the next step is to notify the relevant authorities about the data loss or theft (Police). Even if it is unlikely, it is nevertheless feasible for you to locate your mobile device in this manner.
Nevertheless, this technique is essential for many reasons. First, the officer who is taking your statement is going to ask for your IMEI number. Because of this, you are going to need to write it down somewhere. You may discover your IMEI number connected to your smartphone’s packaging or by using the Google Find My Device service.
After that, you can provide evidence to your operator by sending them a copy of the declaration that you just completed. They will enter the IMEI number into a database that is shared by all of the operators, and the smartphone will be made illegal across the entirety of the territory that you are in.
It won’t make much of a difference for you, but at least you won’t have to worry about your mobile device going up for auction again. Making the life of a thief more difficult provides a certain amount of satisfaction, and if everyone makes this relatively small effort, it will make it less appealing to take smartphones to resell them, which could lead to a decrease in the frequency of criminal activity.
In addition to the IMEI number, you will need to make sure that you are familiar with the following information before going to the police station: the brand and model of the smartphone, the telephone number(s) that are connected with the SIM cards, and the operator(s) that gave these SIMs.
They may also ask you to describe the accessories, such as the protective cover, and you will be required to provide a detailed account of the events leading up to the theft (place, precise date, etc.). Additionally, if you have insurance if your phone is stolen and you want to assert your rights, you are required to file a report.
In this scenario, it is also recommended to get in touch with the insurance company as soon as possible so that they can provide you with an explanation of the process and so that you may make the declaration to the insurance provider.
