In this article, Sakshi Garg discusses the legal steps to follow for getting your lost mobile phone back.

How to get your lost mobile phone

In the modern 21^st century where we have travelled such a long journey from those monkeys to two-legged men. In some way this technology has made us lazy and addicted to it. Earlier there were only letters which were used as mean of communication and it took so much time to reach the person then phones reduced the time taken for communicating the people. First instance is we are so addicted to our phones that we keep every secret or every important thing in our phone and this increases the chance of misuse of that data by any one when we mistakenly lose our phone. There is no need to be worried if we have lost our mobile phone because we can track our phone.

if someone stole your mobile phone or any other case  what you need to do is

1. Usually we have smartphones, so people use tracking apps in their phones then you can simply track it with the help of that application. So a person can easily download these apps from Google Play Store or Apple Store. Settings for the same application have to be changed accordingly to track the location of the phone.
2. If you don’t have any tracking application downloaded then you can use services provided by Google to locate your phone where you can locate your phone if your phone is registered to the Google account and has internet access then with the help of Android Device Manager you can call on your phone and wipe all the data away. But this comes in handy when you don’t have ADM turned on in your phone. For this you have to change the settings of the phone to allow ADM. And with the help of ADM one can only erase the data with remote control.
3. You can simply use the Google Maps location history to find your phone where all you need to do is that your device must have connected to Google account and has internet access then with change in some settings in your device you can locate it easily.
4. There are so many phone manufacturing companies which provide facility to track your device when it’s lost so you can easily locate it with its help, such as Samsung provides the facility of  Find my Samsung. With the help of these facilities you can easily track your device5) You can also track your phone with the help of IMEI number of your phone. IMEI number is different for every phone but it is not easy to track the phone with IMEI number. One can only track the phone with IMEI number if police assists in the case for this grieved person needs to file a complaint in police station.

First thing first, file a FIR

When we misplace our phone then the fear of its misuse is the biggest stress for every person. The best option for us is to opt for filing a FIR because that is ver easy and the procedure to file a FIR is very easy and ensures the possibility of exemption from any liability arising from the misuse of that phone. To file the FIR the person needs to go to any nearby police station where he last time had his phone with him and tell the police officer, the details of his phone like colour and model of the phone, IMEI number of the phone. If there were any witnesses present at the place where you lost your phone you can mention their names too. Or that person can file the complaint online to where he needs to register IMEI number of his phone online at the Stolen Mobile Database.

While registering your IMEI number online you need to provide your e-mail and active mobile number then you will get an SMS with a code you need to fill that code and some details then you can register your IMEI number. This registration will not lodge a complaint itself but save the phone from resale, or can be used to generate a copy of FIR.

After filing the first information report you should not forget to take the copy of FIR so that you can track the position of the FIR filed by you. Moreover, mobile companies always ask for a copy of FIR filed by you before tracking the location of your phone, in case we need a replacement Sim card of the previous number. You can apply for the replacement Sim Card in the office of your mobile service provider it is very easy process. With the application for replacement Sim card, you need to apply for call barring on your phone. This procedure, sometime take time so you need to do it as soon as possible. You can know the IMEI number of your phone by looking at the back of phone near to the battery area or you can easily find it on the bill of the phone. As per an advisory issued by

As per an advisory issued by center to the states and union territories on 5 Feb 2014, registration of FIR for a stolen mobile phone is compulsory under Section 154 of CrPC.

Here is the sample letter to write to the Police Officer Incharge to file FIR to find your lost phone.

From
abc… (Applicant Name)
xyz …(your contact address)
120012…(your contact mobile number/Phone number)
[email protected]…(your e-mail id.

Date.______

To,
The Police Officer In charge
Address ( Local Police station)

Respected Sir,

Sub. : Loss of my  _____________(mention your lost phone and Number)

While travelling from _______(place) to __________(place) by bus/ train/ walk I have lost my phone __________ bearing No.____________ along with (name other documents if any) some where.  (If you have any idea or chance of loss at an approximate area, you can mention the same in your application). Sir, to avoid any misuse of my above ___________ I seek your help and request you to kindly register my F.I.R in the subject matter.

For your ready reference I enclose herewith
(a) details of phone, IMEI number of phone ____________
(b) copy of ______________ as I.D proof.

Hope you will do the needful favourably at the earliest.

Thanks and regards
Yours Sincerely

____________(your signature)
____________(your Name)

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Suggested Readings

Rights and duties of a finder of any lost goods in India

What To Do If You Lost Your PAN Card Or Voter Identification Card