Blacklisted phone

[bonehead123]

**MODS: if this question is not allowed in any way or breaks any forum rule, please delete this post and let me know**

Does anyone know of a way to get a phone un-blacklisted that is considered legal, perhaps other than using some mega-bucks, fly-by-night service, which I really have no interest in ?

I am asking because I was cleaning out a storage closet in an office building recently, and found a phone that someone had left there, apparently from a while back, since the battery was dead and I had to charge it up to get the IMEI # & check it's status....it started up quickly and works fine, and connected to my home wifi nottaproblemo...

However, I have both work & personal phones, so I have no use for it, but it is not that old, and if I can get it off the blacklist, I could sell it as a used phone for someone who can put it to good use. Otherwise I will just have to sell it as "for parts-only" and be done with it...

TIA for your thoughts

 

[Dr. Dro]

I know you're asking in good faith, but technically, the device is still its owner's rightful property, you should try to reach them somehow. Only with their blessing you should do anything else with the device, imo, this would be the right thing to do. If you can't find them, then deliver it to the police and say that a lost phone was found at work, they can likely trace it back to whoever reported it missing.

Considered that its IMEI is blocked, the owner has given up on it and reported it lost or stolen to the authorities, best of my knowledge, once a serial number is blacklisted, it's a one-way trip. You can probably spoof/replace it, but it's not right to sell this device at all IMO.

 

[Frick]

So blacklisted means that the IMEI is blocked? If yes, how do you know?

In any case, "cleaning out in an office building and found a phone" DEFINITELY sounds like theft to me, on a technical level, unless the building belongs to you or you have permission to loot it.

 

[freeagent]

HR is where I would have brought it, not home..

 

[ir_cow]

IMEI is banned, the phone is essentially e-waste.

 

[ShiBDiB]

I agree with the other comments saying that this shouldn't have come home with you.

That and I'm not connecting a random smartphone to my home wifi. Everything about this post screams wrong decisions.

 

[Steevo]

So if OP is honest this would have been thrown into the trash. Creating a small pocket of toxic metals at the least. Next step up was it could be recycled, but if it's working and the company stopped paying their bills in a hope to recoup something from any employee who was screwed but they want to keep the number. Last is it's stolen, no claim by who, it's just stolen, the phone is spare parts minus a few.

 

[Toothless]

Worked for large phone company before.

As soon as the phone is listed lost/stolen, it becomes useless. You cannot unlock it and just having it can be considered a crime as theft. Return it to owner if you can or turn it in.

Trying to undo the IMEI lock is illegal.

 

[maxfly]

Old electronics make for great targets

 

[bonehead123]

Thanks for all the comments...but:

A) I was only asking so that I could make the right choice towards disposing of this phone
B) My Boss (a Sr. VP) told me that I could keep anything that I found in that closet, since I was doing the clean out on my own time and volunteered to do it....most of it was useless junk anyways, like 10 yr old inkjet carts, crumbling dot matrix printer paper, etc
C) I initially went to the IT dept to see if they knew of anyone who had reported a lost phone, they didn't, then I went to HR, they did not have any current or past employee on file that had a lost & found claim on file, and then told me that since IT also had no claim on it, it was mine to keep/trash etc...
D) I called the local PD, they laughed at me & said they don't have the time or resources to handle lost & found situations

Therefore, I feel like I went through many of the most logical, reasonable steps that most other people would have, and just wanted to see what my options were...

So I will give it to the local electronics recycler and be done with it.....

 

[Toothless]

Company won't look at it, nor law enforcement. It's time to be recycled into an adult toy in it's next life.

 

[xmanrigger]

If it is a smart phone and Android, use it as a system monitor display for Aida64.

 

[R-T-B]

I actually used to do IMEI transfers on old LG G3's, but with legit parts and factory tools in a controlled facility for certified repairs. It's not consumer stuff, and once the IMEI has been "burned" into a phone mobo its usually a oneway street.

Fun fact about G3's I picked up while working on them: they can be made to live like 10x longer with a drop of thermal paste between the SBC chip and its metal shield. LG doesn't do that for cost reasons I'd assume, and most end up dead in two years from constant overheating. Useless knowledge now but a window into how things were done; disposably.

Anyways, the only hope you have is buying an unblacklisted phone motherboard and doing a mobo swap, but that will cost likely 90% the cost of a new phone, is like doing watchwork to install, and see below:

If it is a smart phone and Android, use it as a system monitor display for Aida64.

With a blocked IMEI phone it can be a crime if you're caught posessing it. I'd just hand it on to a recycler or similiar explaining the circumstance and saying "for parts only."

 

[LabRat 891]

Y'all over reacting.

A blacklisted phone can be from someone not paying their bill, or even *really* pissing off someone in the CS dept or anyone who is otherwise 'capable'. Not to mention, an 'errant' report of loss
(ex. Family accidentally started an insurance claim, just by asking a question.)
An unknowing/elderly user could easily 'brick' their own device just trying to 'get help finding their device'

Assuming this was stolen, and presuming some kind of social taboo by OP is sickness


There are (non-legal) methods of un-blacklisting it, but you're having to go to 'resources' that are just as likely to scam you, or not work and still be out the $.


As long as the phone still 'runs', I'd use it as a mini WiFi tablet, OBD2-device, sec/webcam, etc.

Thanks for all the comments...but:

A) I was only asking so that I could make the right choice towards disposing of this phone
B) My Boss (a Sr. VP) told me that I could keep anything that I found in that closet, since I was doing the clean out on my own time and volunteered to do it....most of it was useless junk anyways, like 10 yr old inkjet carts, crumbling dot matrix printer paper, etc
C) I initially went to the IT dept to see if they knew of anyone who had reported a lost phone, they didn't, then I went to HR, they did not have any current or past employee on file that had a lost & found claim on file, and then told me that since IT also had no claim on it, it was mine to keep/trash etc...
D) I called the local PD, they laughed at me & said they don't have the time or resources to handle lost & found situations

Therefore, I feel like I went through many of the most logical, reasonable steps that most other people would have, and just wanted to see what my options were...

So I will give it to the local electronics recycler and be done with it.....

Looks like you've concluded your journey with this cursed item. Jeebus, the work that went into it...

 

[R-T-B]

Y'all over reacting.

I'm not (though some may very well be). Resale or use of a blocked IMEI device is a crime in many if not most states (I know it may vary because US states vary on virtually anything like this). It's usually treated similar to cable fraud laws.

Do I think bonehead did anything immoral? No. I'd even go so far as to say some of those laws are overbearing and silly/dumb (and certainly to do with the lobbying power of the telco companies but meh). But it is what it is.

 

[Toothless]

Y'all over reacting.

A blacklisted phone can be from someone not paying their bill, or even *really* pissing off someone in the CS dept or anyone who is otherwise 'capable'. Not to mention, an 'errant' report of loss
(ex. Family accidentally started an insurance claim, just by asking a question.)
An unknowing/elderly user could easily 'brick' their own device just trying to 'get help finding their device'

Assuming this was stolen, and presuming some kind of social taboo by OP is sickness


There are (non-legal) methods of un-blacklisting it, but you're having to go to 'resources' that are just as likely to scam you, or not work and still be out the $.


As long as the phone still 'runs', I'd use it as a mini WiFi tablet, OBD2-device, sec/webcam, etc.



Looks like you've concluded your journey with this cursed item. Jeebus, the work that went into it...

I've never flagged an IMEI for non-payment. The account gets charged and sent to collections where the credit damage kicks in. However because the phone was not paid it will stay locked to one company's service. (Like T-Mobile will not allow the phone to go on Verizon)

Companies do not lost/stolen a phone for billing related and customer support does not flag to be an ass. Only authorized users that can verify to make changes on accounts can request the flag.

 

[R-T-B]

I've never flagged an IMEI for non-payment. The account gets charged and sent to collections where the credit damage kicks in. However because the phone was not paid it will stay locked to one company's service. (Like T-Mobile will not allow the phone to go on Verizon)

Companies do not lost/stolen a phone for billing related and customer support does not flag to be an ass. Only authorized users that can verify to make changes on accounts can request the flag.

That's usually true of first tier providers, as in, that run their own networks. I've heard some horror stories on mvnos though (the providers that piggyback on other networks, usually at a discount). But even I'll say I never validated the stories, wasn't really my job, was more on the "service the hardware" end, and only briefly honestly. It was a weird point in my career lol.

I can't work on phone hardware anymore since my broken arm anyways, it'd be like trying to do brain surgery with a jackhammer (tremors in my right/good hand ever since)

 

[Toothless]

That's usually true of first tier providers, as in, that run their own networks. I've heard some horror stories on mvnos though (the providers that piggyback on other networks, usually at a discount). But even I'll say I never validated the stories, wasn't really my job, was more on the "service the hardware" end, and only briefly honestly. It was a weird point in my career lol.

I can't work on phone hardware anymore since my broken arm anyways, it'd be like trying to do brain surgery with a jackhammer (tremors in my right/good hand ever since)

I've used some piggyback providers and never even needed to contact support with how good they were. I'm sure the horror comes from a disgruntled employee that really needed that recycled phone product.

 

[R-T-B]

I've used some piggyback providers and never even needed to contact support with how good they were. I'm sure the horror comes from a disgruntled employee that really needed that recycled phone product.

That is 100% possible, which is why I phrased it how I did.

I used to use one too and no issues as a consumer. I THINK it was xfinity mobile. Back when they had a loophole that let you byod. I believe they closed that loophole though and that led to me leaving (I have an odd phone they don't whitelist, of course, a motorola edge+)

Honestly my employer gives me a verizon line now and I don't worry about it lol.

 

[LabRat 891]

I've never flagged an IMEI for non-payment.

100% Believe you.

The account gets charged and sent to collections where the credit damage kicks in. However because the phone was not paid it will stay locked to one company's service. (Like T-Mobile will not allow the phone to go on Verizon)

Makes sense.

Companies do not lost/stolen a phone for billing related and customer support does not flag to be an ass. Only authorized users that can verify to make changes on accounts can request the flag.

At face value, I do not believe this; been around long enough to not be naïve. However, the key word of 'authorized users' makes the statement 'accurate'.
Unauthorized (by owner/service provider) parties, can be authorized users in extenuating circumstances
('security breach', 'social engineering', "hack", etc.)

@R-T-B
Thank You for the input, and for not being so 'matter-of-fact' about it.


This thread's been educational.
Now I know to not tell anyone if I ever find a blacklisted device, and to scrap it for parts, immediately (sans mainboard; which, gets @maxfly 's suggestion).

Speaking of...
in the spirit of being 'constructive'
@bonehead123 could buy a non-blacklisted IMEI mainboard for the phone, and swap 'em.
I've done this 3x w/ LG V20s, due to branding/compatibility not IMEI-status.

Fun fact about G3's I picked up while working on them: they can be made to live like 10x longer with a drop of thermal paste between the SBC chip and its metal shield. LG doesn't do that for cost reasons I'd assume, and most end up dead in two years from constant overheating.

Did the same on my V20s. Sadly, (on my personal device) the display connector ignited itself. I got a 'banana phone' (read: bent) OnePlus 7T for cheap after that.

Useless knowledge now but a window into how things were done; disposably.

Not at all. Lots of people still are seeking and using those old phone for the features they offer.

 

[Wirko]

If it is a smart phone and Android, use it as a system monitor display for Aida64.

It can even make phone calls over Whatsapp.

 

[Toothless]

100% Believe you.

Makes sense.

At face value, I do not believe this; been around long enough to not be naïve. However, the key word of 'authorized users' makes the statement 'accurate'.
Unauthorized (by owner/service provider) parties, can be authorized users in extenuating circumstances
('security breach', 'social engineering', "hack", etc.)

@R-T-B
Thank You for the input, and for not being so 'matter-of-fact' about it.


This thread's been educational.
Now I know to not tell anyone if I ever find a blacklisted device, and to scrap it for parts, immediately (sans mainboard; which, gets @maxfly 's suggestion).

Speaking of...
in the spirit of being 'constructive'
@bonehead123 could buy a non-blacklisted IMEI mainboard for the phone, and swap 'em.
I've done this 3x w/ LG V20s, due to branding/compatibility not IMEI-status.


Did the same on my V20s. Sadly, (on my personal device) the display connector ignited itself. I got a 'banana phone' (read: bent) OnePlus 7T for cheap after that.

Not at all. Lots of people still are seeking and using those old phone for the features they offer.

Whenever a customer called in, they would need the pin or key word for me to be allowed to access the account. No pass, no account.

There are plenty of flags on accounts on who authorized users are. If someone somehow gets the account info and isn't authorized, then it's the service rep's fault for doing anything account changing. My local phone shops require ID when making changes now and I'm sure over the phone has gotten better for security.

This is just coming from being a rep for what was Sprint for a while. Had to turn a good amount of people away because they couldn't give me the proper info to get into the account.

It's in a company's best interest to keep security tight. I don't need four phones on my account for them to eat the bill.

 

[bonehead123]

MODS, please close this thread, as I decided to introduce the phone to both of my .44 magnums yesterday

 

[FreedomEclipse]

maybe you should change the last 3 digits of your username to .44

(or DirtyHarry123)

 

[lemonadesoda]

Plot twist. Original owner lost phone on purpose, claimed as lost/stolen, collected insurance, has new phone.

Although there is no financial gain to be made, if you are interested pursuing the gumshoe storyline, call an insurance company to find whether on claims register.