How to disable your mobile if it is stolen?

[Anonymous]

I received the following text: -
Before your mobile gets stolen, find your mobile’s serial number by entering the following five digits on your phone: * # 0 6 # . A 15-digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. If your phone later get stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset, (not just the SIM card which holds the mobile’s phone number) so that even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone cannot be used for making calls. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you will know that whoever stole it cannot use it. If everybody did this, there would be less incentive to steal mobile phones.
Does anybody know if this is true?

[perksie]

Where have you been living for the last few years?

[Anonymous]

His spam is great :womanindifferent:
If your service provider doesnt know your IMEI there must be some serious problem

[jonsie]

Wonder if he has to pay a subscription to receive all those really useful tips? No, surely not? :mansurprised:

[browni]

If your service provider doesnt know your IMEI there must be some serious problem

That's not strictly true. The IMEI number is tied to the handset which can be sourced from anywhere, not necessarily the service provider.
I've used my sim card in a number of phones recently so what is treated as my personal IMEI?
My insurance company knows it, O2 don't although they could probably guess due to the usage of the sim card.

[adamtemp64]

browni
o2 know which phone your sim is in from the phones imei.
hence insurance claims rejected if not in correct phone that the insurance relates to.
Also the same goes for iphone unlocking.

[Anonymous]

Kent?

Care to explain...?

[Anonymous]

That's not strictly true. The IMEI number is tied to the handset which can be sourced from anywhere, not necessarily the service provider.
I've used my sim card in a number of phones recently so what is treated as my personal IMEI?
My insurance company knows it, O2 don't although they could probably guess due to the usage of the sim card.

All the UK mobile providers can see what your IMEI is, go to O2, give them your MSISDN and they will give you your IMEI (please note that the data protection act may intervene here 😮 )