The S Word Blog: A mostly 100% sort-of-semi-technical blog by Thin Guy. Mostly.

Yeah, like @davetong said, they should be able to use the GPS to help the police track it down. It's either laziness or greed that prevents them from helping you.

Posted by Kevin on August 29, 2008 at 08:54 PM PDT #

That sound illegal and incredibly lame. Sorry to see you guys going thru such a nasty experience.

Posted by Skrocki on August 29, 2008 at 09:05 PM PDT #

Among other things this is one of the problems with corp Amex. None of the benefits of a real Amex and YOU are personally on the hook for the bill if it doesn't get paid or there is a delay in payment.

Posted by Shawn Ferry on August 30, 2008 at 10:43 AM PDT #

It was left for a few moments on the grocery checkout counter and when she returned to get it "nobody had seen it". We were hoping that they'd use it to call someone (we got our daughters phone back that way), but they've only called to get voicemail. Whether lost or stolen though, it would be very easy for ATT to black list the phone or Apple to black list the serial #. This is done with other carriers in the US and abroad as a way of deterring theft. If they do nothing to protect the consumer, I don't see how they can legally lock them into two year contracts.

Posted by Thin Guy on August 31, 2008 at 11:54 AM PDT #

I completely agree - AT&T / Apple are missing vital closure to an open consumer abuse hole - no insurance offered in combination with no option to replace a stolen phone outside of having the consumer pay full price. We "lucked out" after having a two-week old iPhone stolen, since we have a family plan and another phone on the plan was eligible for an iPhone upgrade at the discounted rate. And the essential condoning of iPhone theft through the lack of a simple IMEI blacklist option for stolen iPhones is downright apalling.

Posted by Warren on September 09, 2008 at 03:21 PM PDT #

Thin Guy, I responded a while back and I don't see my post.

This is SOOOOO wrong. It is possible to find these thieves and now one does anything?? Neither Apple or ATT? That is just why we as a country are so broken. People can steal and they know they can get away with it.....plain WRONG!

I'm sorry...this bums me out... Barb

Posted by Barbara Kish on September 14, 2008 at 07:48 PM PDT #

Carmen,
No you can't. You are signed up for two years. There's a fee to get out, but we still want phone service for her.

Posted by Thin Guy on September 21, 2008 at 06:34 PM PDT #

Well on wednesday 01, 2008 at target, in los banos ca my iphone was stold by a women come on i mean not even like 2 mins i went back to get it and gone!! nothing i mean how can people be like that you know how hard people work thier butts off to get a phone like that and for stupid at&t and apple not to cover us or track it by serial number!! i mean i was upset cuz am an employee at that place so i went and checked out the carmeras and yup thats how i new it was a women . but now i have no phone and i went to the police and nothing she can go to jail cuz i have very important information on thier but i guess she dont have a heart!!!

Posted by yesenia medina on October 04, 2008 at 02:53 PM PDT #

reading other similar complaints from apple it seems that the iphone does not fall far from the tree

Posted by phil on November 09, 2008 at 05:41 AM PST #

I found you through Google...my 16 year old son is in China w/his dad...got his Itouch pickpocketed...he was soooo careful with it. Fortunately, (I think) we bought it at Costco w/our AMEX and the buyers protection should (maybe) cover it, since it's only been 2 months (they cover w/in 90 days of purchase). Gee, now all they have to do is get a police report in China, submit a receipt, provide homeowner's insurance, AMEX statement, etc. etc. This is WORSE than trying to fill out a rebate! I'll let you know how it turns out. Love your blog! Check mine out...

Posted by Frieda on December 06, 2008 at 03:56 PM PST #

I agree I am full on with the idea of a class action lawsuit. Anyone know a lawyer?
I bought a phone for my girlfriend for christmas and it was stolen.

ATT or Apple pretty much said tough luck we feel your pain (do you really lol). Im pissed off and someone now gets a ipod touch with all her personal info on it. Im furious because there is no option for freaking insurance or any other way to watch yourself.

After the fact I found you could buy it with a covered credit card but come on every other phone is covered and these pieces of junk are not worth more than some of the new phones out there. If it wasn't for the fact that I like the phone I would can ATT a long time ago. If Verizon ever goes gsm ATT is screwed.

I think I will attempt to figure out a way to make a program that will allow you to brick a phone by calling it from a specific number and entering in a code. Although I hear there are programs that allow you to track it what good is that if the phone is shut off in the case of my girlfriends.

Lol maybe I will install some C4 (if it was practical) and give the next would be thief a surprise I would be rich if I could do that. I think I found my next 9 - 5 IPHONE bounty hunting.

On a real note, please anyone
All say "I" for a class action lawsuit?

Posted by Derek Dawes on December 16, 2008 at 04:03 PM PST #

this matter. It is totally beside me that as a consumer and taxpayer that we have no protection when we spend our hard earned money and patronize these retailers. What also baffles me, is that the retailers “claim” there is nothing they can do. Would the DMV allow me to register a car that has been reported as stolen? So, why is it ok for AT&T and Apple to allow something like this to happen to valued customers. If greed is the mitigating factor….I small CLASS ACTION! If does not seem fair in any shape form or fashion…especially when this is a phone that has to be registered and/or synced in order for it to work. It is sad that this is a ploy rooted in greed where the consumer gets screwed. How is that fair when they will not allow you to insure the phone. I am truly hurt and very disappointed. Please let me know if there is a class action law suit.

Posted by K Davis on December 22, 2008 at 03:23 PM PST #

Blocking Sim is a good idea, but blocking imei is pointless. CMPE/EE knows how to reprogram the OS and desolder the band chip and reflash the IC via techtronics instruments resolder the chip. You can find these instrument in your local university engineering lab. Thats if your phone is bricked, if owner hasn't realize he lost it, than remove the sim immediately to prevent bricking and use quickpwn and latest 2.2 non-activated IPSW from piratebay, jailbreak without sim, install imei changer via cydia insert your legit sim and you get custom Imei that doesn't match the back of iphone or the sim tray.

Sorry to bust your balls, but Iphone Imei is very much reprogramable Iphone 1g only need ziphone.gui to do it, don't need cmpe degree for that.

Posted by John K. on December 30, 2008 at 03:31 AM PST #

Creating an IMEI blacklist is a step in the right direction and will help deter theft to a degree. The UK did this, they rolled out a nationwide system that kept a blacklist of all stolen phone IMEI numbers the carriers tapped into this and blocked usage from these IMEI numbers.

However, some savvy things found a few ways to get around it, the first is the technical way as the IMEI lives in volatile memory and can be altered, there is actually a technique called "tumbling" that will change the IMEI and IMSI with each call made, but you average person does not know how to implement this as it is very complex. The second way thieves got aroudn this was to ship the stolen phones to a different country. Stolen phones form the UK started being discovered in Russia in high volumes. Since the database was UK only, the phones worked perfectly fine in other countries.

For those who have been victims I am wondering if you had law enforcement contact AT&T? We have software that works with the iPhone and our customer received tracking data from it, the thief connected it to his personal home wi-fi network and a subpoena was sent to Comcast to get the account holders name and address.

Posted by Ken Westin on December 30, 2008 at 10:00 AM PST #

Won't take a police report for a stolen phone? I have never heard of this, what was their reasoning for this?

For an iPhone the serial number is not passed when calls are made, there is some evidence to indicate that the iPhone serial number and iPod Touch serial is passed to Apple when connected to iTunes, but this has been the same story with the older iPods and Apple will not respond to the press regarding it. Some theories are that if Apple revealed they can block a serial number, it would raise privacy concerns as that means they are associating the device id with your personal information. Mobile phone insurance is available I believe through AT&T, it costs $5 a month.

http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/basics/choosing-features-services/wireless-insurance.jsp

Posted by Ken Westin on December 30, 2008 at 10:27 AM PST #

I was able to get a police report for my stolen iphone and gave the case number to ATT and APPLE but was told by ATT and APPLE I need a subpoena before they will do a thing.I am told getting a subpoena is not an easy task. The saga continues...

Posted by Bob on December 30, 2008 at 10:47 AM PST #

I think your wife was careless and absent minded which resulted in the loss of the phone you bought for her. So, who should bare the responsibility of this misfortune? AT&T? Apple? I don't think so! I think you should accept responsibility and stop trying to blame some other entity. It's people like you and your careless wife that raise the cost of consumer electronics for us all. You make me sick and I hope AMEX tells you to stick it!!

Posted by HeadShot on December 31, 2008 at 03:25 PM PST #

Oh okay, thanx for clarifying that........and don't call me a moron. I am way smarter than you are. I am a senior programmer for MS.

Posted by HeadShot on December 31, 2008 at 03:40 PM PST #

All your base are belong to us! MSFT

Posted by HeadShot on December 31, 2008 at 04:03 PM PST #

And your point is what ............that if you are banned from one crappy network you can switch to a crappier network while compromising the legitimacy of your phone? You just don't make sense man! Now ............if I could place my iPhone on Verizon's network, that would be measurable progress. So don't come around pretending like you're "in the know", because you're just not and it makes you look stupid and uninformed! God almighty!

Posted by HeadShot on January 05, 2009 at 09:12 PM PST #

THIS IS SPARTA!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by HeadShot on January 13, 2009 at 12:04 PM PST #

I believe a class action lawsuit is in order for this serious lack of action by ATT and APPLE. I for one am ready for this as my son and several of their friends had their's stolen at school with no repercussions. $300.00 is alot of money for a piece of equipment and if APPLE gave a shit they would prevent this from happening. Refusing to register these stolen devices would obviously block a revenue stream for them and I believe that we are entitled to a piece of that profit as we are the ones that footed that purchase for the APPLE product in the first place. Any attorneys interested in taking on these clowns from ATT and APPLE please contact me as I am in. I say appr 150 million would suffice as a class action suit against these clowns.......

Posted by LKelly on February 03, 2009 at 03:02 PM PST #

that how business grows, they wont act on anything coz if they do it cost money to do things, so dont do anything no expenses , and the person who lost their iphone , have to or no choice but to buy new phone, think about it if your the business man and you selling phone and one of the person bought phone from you and asking for replacement , would you give one? 90 % no, coz youll lose money , so he got no choice but to purchase new one from you...for business Money is what they after....you lost your phone too bad , i know iphone is really nice piece of plastic and glass, they attract people , so if you want it , you'll probabaly get a new one..thats profit on apple's corp. so yea Profit $$$ is their target...

Posted by DJhomie on February 22, 2009 at 12:42 AM PST #

well...a similar thing happended to me and AT&T is just fine with it..so it IS corporate greed operating here...the kind of greed that gave us, and continues to give us a trashed economy, foreclosures, bankruptcy, etc...and why do they do it?...because they can get away with it...

by the way, not only is there cooperation between AT&T and Apple on this subject...the AT&T rep i talked to today said that "AT&T and Apple have a policy" to get full price each time a phone is lost or stolen..and, yes, Apple is just fine with resetting stolen phones for personal use and AT&T is just fine with signing up stolen phones...

indeed, i'm surprised not to see a "criminal enterprise" tab on the AT&T Wireless home page...gee, i wonder if they review stolen phone revenue growth at their quarterly management meetings?

Posted by Iain Somerville on February 23, 2009 at 10:07 AM PST #

I am currently going through the same thing (as above mentioned) The "supervisor" on the phone even had the audacity to raise her voice at me because I brought up the following:

--I have to get "locked" into a new contract as if it's my 1st day with AT&T with an "Upgrade" available after ANOTHER 1.5 years but have to pay FULL price for the phone (how is this not criminal?)

--Their new "No Contract" policy, starting March 26, really means I will have to pay an additional 100 dollars and still be locked into my current contract so the phone will be actually be 700 dollars plus tax.

--Their use of the word "upgrade" is bogus. Upgrade as defined by Webster as: to improve or replace especially software or a device for increased usefulness. (Um,I'm buying the same phone there is NO upgrade!)

--Refurbished phones, according to this lady, are only available to people who have reached their "Upgrade date" and DO NOT APPLY to people who are getting a replacement phone who do not meet that criteria.

--I'm livid. Why is the AT&T customer getting screwed so badly? Why, because they are making a killing off stolen phones! So is Apple! They don't even offer insurance. AT&T customer ='s a screwed one...

How has there not been a class action lawsuit against these criminal actions? I even have a police report. That doesn't mean garbage to them too. They just don't care.

Posted by Tracy C on March 23, 2009 at 10:16 AM PDT #

Really what the thief is doing could be considered harassment, or even a threat. You should contact the police, they can get a subponea to make AT&T provide information regarding who has the phone. AT&T keeps track of the IMEI number which is unique to each phone, they will have a record of what account is using your phone, but you have to get the police to do it.

Posted by Ken on March 25, 2009 at 03:28 PM PDT #

Obviously, they do this so they can keep charging people the retail price.. think about it this way: if they allowed me to purchase replacement iPhones at the discounted price, what's to keep me from continuously report them stolen -- and pocketing the profit each time? Hell, it could pay for my bill if I did it once a month.

It sucks, but Apple is a business. Not a charity.

Posted by Zach on April 13, 2009 at 03:14 AM PDT #

Ah, that makes sense. Getting my 3G in 2 weeks, but I have a pretty good track record for not losing phones. :p I hope it continues.

Posted by Zach on April 13, 2009 at 05:08 PM PDT #

Hello all, this may or may not help you depending on your situation.

In my situation, it will help, first i must tell u the short story in order to explain this.

I was at a breakdancing party, so most people know each other. Basically I see the same faces a lot at different events. I left my phone on a cornered table with a lot of junk on there, so it was somewhat hard to see. But anyways, I did that so I can breakdance a little... Moments later, phone was gone!!! I was pissed as hell. These people know that I'm a big military man and it will not be pretty if i find them. Heres my solution in which im still waiting on to happen:

First, they must use the phone and call someone. Hopefully they are dumb enough to do this, but as someone stated before, most thieves in our time are pretty stupid. I will consistently check my call log (online), when they call someone, I will have my friend (who has a very innocent beautiful voice) call that number. If it is someone we know, we will hunt him down and forcefully get the information I need from him to get to my phone. If it's someone we DON'T know, my friend will sweet talk him into meeting her (without mentioning the phone or any relation to the people at the party). After that, when the person meets up with my beautiful friend, she will lure him to a more private non-public area, and yeap u thought it, repeat the fun part. " investigate "

This next part u dont really have to read, but im doing this neways cuz it makes me feel better. When i find this guy, I will actually be nice to him/her (pretty sure its a him, but wutever). I will give him 2 options. 1) Pay me straight up $500.00, i will go to the bank with him and everything. 2) I will take it by force. Now you're probably wondering.... hmm why isnt there a 3rd option, where u call the cops and let them handle it? Well lets see, im not sure if theres enough evidence... like someone said before, there is a way to check the serial on itunes.. but okay.. .would the cops go that far to help u? The main reason why cops, att, and apple do not help, is because the iphone is too low costing of a device (yes $500 or $400, or wutever it costs now is too pocket changey for them) to spend money on tracking the device. Im pretty sure everyone knows that ANY cell phone thats connected or has service, is trackable. Now I had another idea, and this one would get the cops involved, maybe even the FBI. But I'd rather not do this because i'd be in deep trouble and probably lose all my rank and perhaps charged also... Basically just tell them, oh I had classified military information on that phone, you must retrieve it! Yea.... not gonna do that. Sadly, Im probably getting another iphone :(... I HATE TO SAY IT!! but i really love that phone. Anybody, ANYBODY, please let me know if theres a better but similar phone out there. Thanks for reading, please reply to this so I can feel better about someone who feels my pain, lmao.

Posted by Karl Tran on April 19, 2009 at 11:30 AM PDT #

Att does this for all phones, not just the iphone. My exboyfriend took the phone he was using on our shared family plan. Left me with the bill and was able to open up a new account with the phone that was a part of my plan. I had reported the phone stolen and he was still able to do this. There needs to be some kind of protection for consumers and existing customers. It is extremely unfair.

Posted by lo on April 21, 2009 at 02:03 AM PDT #

Must a phone be TURNED ON at all times in order for the phone to be tracked in anyway possible? Because, alot of times, low-lives will steal the phone and turn it off. Of course, at one point in time it will be turned on again but some people cannot wait that long such as myself. Answer back asap Please anyone, especially Lee, from reading your post.

Posted by Unknown on May 14, 2009 at 05:44 PM PDT #

I got jumped two nights ago for my iphone. Filed a police report. The lady at the ATT store was nice enough to send my serial code to other stores in the region. I miss my iphone but do not miss att's craptacular customer service. This is bullshit, if i ever get a new iphone, i will get the family tracking plan on it since ATT and apple dont give a flying shit about us!!! I guess I am glad I won't be fighting all these charges att is constantly trying to barrage me with. Oh well, live and learn. Thank you apple and att for turning another customer away.

Posted by Luke on June 08, 2009 at 04:39 AM PDT #

My daughter's iphone, purchased in May on my calling plan, was stolen in NY this week. After numerous conversations with both The Apple Store and AT&T, it seems that neither cares about protecting their customers, as neither offers an insurance plan and both won't take the simple effort to track serial #'s. The message seems to be that they're enjoying this silent partnership with criminals. Part of the problem is there's no longer anyone who's accountable. The corporate decision makers are behind an unreachable wall of phone outposts where minimum wage employees are reading from scripts. It is impossible to talk to someone with any decision making power. The iphone is a beautiful tool but this situation has raised my consciousness about how enslaved we are by this system. I encourage everyone to use their outrage productively to try to stop this three way crime: AT&T/MAC/street thief, by contacting local consumer protection and advocacy agencies and protesting loudly to AT&T and MAC.

Posted by Elizabeth Greene on August 08, 2009 at 05:33 PM PDT #

I'm still in shock. Somebody lifted my iPhone while I was at lunch today. Used a friends phone to call AT&T to "track" the phone (it has GPS - so you would think it would be a simple request). Unbelievably - I needed a freakin' subpoena to get a track. MY PHONE WAS STOLEN! I passed all their "identiy verification" questions (passwords, SS#, billing zip) - the technology is there and it can't be used? Somebody, most likely withink 100 yards of me, had my phone and there was nothing AT&T could do to track it? OF course, I couldn't buy insurance on the phone, and since I was not yet eligible for an "upgrade" (again, how is wanting your same phone an upgrade), I would have to pay $499 for a "replacement". I even tried to agree to antoher 2-year commitment, WITH UPGRADED SERVICE (more minutes, etc.) - and that didn't work. Basically - I could cancel my contract for $175, and get a new 3G for $99 plus activation (IT'S $100 CHEAPER TO CANCEL AND RE-WRITE THAN TO JUST TAKE CARE OF A 3-YEAR CUSTOMER???!!!???) Charge me $299 - I understand that they can't give the 100% "intro" deal - but give me some credit for being a 3-year customer at $159/month.

The worst part of the whole thing is just knowing that even though my iPhone is password protected and I had the service turned off almost immediately. They can just replace the sim and ACTIVATE MY PHONE. That just doesn't seem possible in today's world. How CAN'T that be stopped. SOrry - I just needed aplace to vent - and it looks like I found some people with some sommon "issues"

Posted by Charlie on October 06, 2009 at 08:38 PM PDT #

I, am sorry for all who has lost or been stolen from ,Facts are Facts . if you have something you paid for , Own , OR , Are stilling Paying for .It is like this TAKE CARE! PAY ATTENION
Think About This , If your Home Is Robbed Do You Make A List Of everything ? and blame the vacume cleaner maker , for not putting an GPS on , TV , computers , Dvd Player , Game Systems, the things would be so high we couldn.t afford them And Besides why do people carry a phone into public and lay it down, what did we do 20 years ago , we didnt have these.

We have all lost or been stolen from

What of these people who Take Their children out and loose them , Or the ones who are stolen or Killed NOW there is a need For G P S Tracking ,,, Agree,,,
Lee Pinkwater @suddenlmk.net

Posted by lee on October 08, 2009 at 09:41 PM PDT #

the price of the phone warrents the police at least take a report
i went back to my old razor phone, stopped my data plan, my text plan, cut back my minutes, cut my bill by 1/3rd, so i figure they (at&t) will loose
more money by me doing that then anything else, one clown from at&t wrote this
"Thank you for taking the time to e-mail AT&T regarding the lost iphone. My name is Corey Zanotelli, and I am happy to help you with your inquiry. Mr. FergusonI am deeply sorry the iphone was stolen that is never easy. If you get another iphone there is a setting called mobile me that you can install on it so it can be located and you can actually lock the iphone from a home computer. You can do an iphone early upgrade and get another iphone if you so desired to. You can do qualify for an exception upgrade with a new two year agreement with an 18 upgrade fee but the pricing on the phone is a bit higher than normal. You can also buy any phone at the full retail costs of the phone. When the person who stole the iphone, try?s to use the iphone on our network, it will notice the numbers on the phone match a stolen iphone and there account will be charged the full price of the phone. I hope that the information provided has been helpful and has resolved all of your questions. Should you have additional concerns or questions about this issue please reply to this email. If you need to contact us again regarding a new issue please send us another email via the contact link through your online account. Again, my name is Corey Zanotelli, and we realize you have many choices for a wireless service provider. I want to personally thank you for considering AT&T as your choice for wireless service! "

course i worte em back and asked if i would be reimbursed if they got the money, NO!!!
SO A)THEY KNOW ITS STOLEN
B)THEY ARE GONNA CHARGE THE THEIF AND KEEP THE MONEY
C)AND THEY GET A 2YR CONTRACT OUT OF HIM
D)AND I DROP ANOTHER 500 OR BETTER JUST CUZ I WANT AN IPHONE?

SCREW EM

Posted by rick ferguson on October 13, 2009 at 08:28 AM PDT #

glad u got lucky with your phone, now u should tell the little shits parents the truth

Posted by rick ferguson on October 22, 2009 at 01:02 AM PDT #

My iPhone got stolen too - totally sucks!
I found a great web site to report iPhone theft - http://www.stolen-property.com/report-stolen-iPhone.php - it's a world wide stolen property data base web site. Hopefully it will help catch the whoever who stole my iPhone.
I think it really stinks because I know the technology exists to trace these stolen items, it seems that the companies don't care about their customers enough to develop something with the $115 billion a year they make - or at least open the technology so a third party can do something about it...I guess we're just paying enough yet.

Posted by Eric on November 08, 2009 at 08:31 PM PST #

My daughters and my iphone were both stolen from the inside of my truck Monday Nov 23 As with everyone else here I am totally pissed that ATT or even Apple just don't care and moreover build thievery into the profit picture!

With all the amazing tech you can get in this phone you really think that they can't brick the phone? So perhaps 2% of the thieves are super smart techies that can re-solder chips and switch the phones internal #. So make them do that and then nail the big operations that are doing it. Just letting some jerk go into the store with a hot iphone and walking out no questions is blatantly shoving our faces in it.

I recall most of the old phones like the brick phone were basically worthless once the number was blocked. That meant the phone was worthless.. or even more worthless:) I am going to sign on with Jim. I don't care if Jim makes the money and I get .10c I just want them to feel the pain too.

Posted by Mike Williams on November 25, 2009 at 06:34 PM PST #

Hi: I just misplaced my iPhone last night. I called AT&T and they told me they will activate a stolen iPhone because they have no way of telling it was stolen. I was wondering about Apple's part in this, but from this blog I read that they do not care either, for it would be easy to brick the phone by the serial number, but hey I guess each stolen phone has the potential to generate a new revenue steam. Fortunately I have a lot of web power. Type my last name: uske into Google, Yahoo, or MSN, and click on the 1st link to see what I mean. I can target any set of key words I chose and make them mine and within just a few months my web property becomes the 1st link on the page of hits on every major search engine. Apple needs a correction here. They should not be operating with criminals at the expense of their honest customers. So I am going to put a dent in iPhone sales as I expose this rippoff to a wider extent, and help their competitors to capitalize on their short commings.

Posted by John Uske on December 13, 2009 at 07:43 AM PST #

You are absolutely right. I my wife works for IT at AT&T. They have the capability already in place to block stolen IMEI or SIM number but are roadblocked at any attempt to institute the system (which is only another field in their customer data base). It has also been leaked [internally] that it is positively a marketing ploy... to sell more iPhones. I am amazed at how we all march off, lemming-like, and tolerate AT&T's almost criminal attitude towards this. (The last time I checked, accessory after the fact was still a felony). It's very poor corporate ethics at best!

Posted by Jim on December 27, 2009 at 12:08 PM PST #

Yea, it does. Mine got stolen last week and it wasn't even a month old :/ Tomorrow, I am going in to buy another one for the full price. Not fun.

Posted by Courtney on January 01, 2010 at 10:11 PM PST #

I have a 3gs and i am glad i keep it close to me at all times. I think AT&T or apple should do something to to help prevent theft. After all everyone wants an iphone.

Posted by Kris Johnson on January 08, 2010 at 09:18 PM PST #