Old seller IMEI blocks for revenge?

Bought my 6310i (still have receipt) from the original owner about
6months ago from Trading Post.
Saw his original purchase Telstra reciept and I.D. so bought the phone
cheap and its been going great till 2 days ago....Now cant make calls
because Telstra says its blocked.

Told them the above and they confirm that its blocked and thats
it..FULL STOP. Only the person who got it blocked can lift it ---
Happens to Cash Convertors heeps and all they do is send them to
auction.

Got in contact with the old owner and he denies that he got it blocked.

Gave Telstra his details but they wont say/confirm anything coz of
Privacy Regs.

What do you guys think about this?

---

› See More: Old seller IMEI blocks for revenge?

[email protected] wrote:

> Bought my 6310i (still have receipt) from the original
> owner about 6months ago from Trading Post.

> Saw his original purchase Telstra reciept and I.D. so
> bought the phone cheap and its been going great till 2 days
> ago....Now cant make calls because Telstra says its blocked.

Did the receipt have the IMEI on it ?

> Told them the above and they confirm that its blocked and thats
> it..FULL STOP. Only the person who got it blocked can lift it ---

Thats just plain wrong. Sic the TIO onto the stupid ****wits.

> Happens to Cash Convertors heeps

Because they sell stolen goods.

> and all they do is send them to auction.

> Got in contact with the old owner and he denies that he got it blocked.

He may well not actually be the original owner and was selling stolen
goods.

> Gave Telstra his details but they wont
> say/confirm anything coz of Privacy Regs.

> What do you guys think about this?

That its time to sic the TIO onto telstra.

The person you bought it off may have faked the receipt. Not hard to do.

As Rod said in his post, the guy you bought the handset from is
probably not the original owner.
However it's strange that the IMEI was blocked 6 months after you'd
bought it.
Usually if the mobile is lost or stolen, the block is applied within
hours or a week at the most. Unless, the phone was stolen whilst the
owner was overseas (or in gaol) and they just returned (or got out),
realised the situation and called their SP to block the IMEI. If the
caller is honest, details are taken down of where and when the set went
missing, etc.
It's not a situation for the TIO. Stolen goods isn't their bag, that's
for the Police. You have the dodgy receipt and the bloke's number, tell
the cops and let them follow it up. Perhaps even go to the store where
the receipt came from...the seller may even work there and get a
surprise when you walk in. You never know, it may uncover a big dodgy
operation going on.

Spokes <[email protected]> wrote:
> As Rod said in his post, the guy you bought the handset from is
> probably not the original owner.
> However it's strange that the IMEI was blocked 6 months after you'd
> bought it.
> Usually if the mobile is lost or stolen, the block is applied within
> hours or a week at the most. Unless, the phone was stolen whilst the
> owner was overseas (or in gaol) and they just returned (or got out),
> realised the situation and called their SP to block the IMEI. If the
> caller is honest, details are taken down of where and when the set
> went missing, etc.

> It's not a situation for the TIO.

Wrong when telstra claims that only the individual who blocked
the IMEI can unblock it and telstra isnt prepared to show that
the individual who blocked the IMEI had the actually owned
that phone when the ownership is in dispute.

> Stolen goods isn't their bag, that's for the Police.

Blocking IMEIs by telcos is their bag. It aint for the police.

> You have the dodgy receipt and the bloke's number,
> tell the cops and let them follow it up. Perhaps even go to the store
> where the receipt came from...the seller may even work there and get a
> surprise when you walk in. You never know, it may uncover a big dodgy
> operation going on.

Thanks for your replies, Yes I have a receipt showing the IMEI number,
I also saw his full original Telstra receipt showing the IMEI, brand,
model, date etc, the phone was legit when I bought it from him, the
only thing that I can think of is that I recently lent it to a girl I
know and suspect now that she may be the culprit -- just cant prove it.
Its just so easy to have an IMEI number written down and then ring any
Telco that your with and say you've misplaced your phone.--- How do I
know? I tried it today, I pulled out my old 3210,rang PrePaid Optus
(just sim --no contract), and all they needed was the IMEI, no model,
no proof, just the IMEI --- yep and now my old 3210 is blocked till I
ring in and say I found it. --- How easy was that !!! ,, what a joke.

[email protected] wrote:

> know? I tried it today, I pulled out my old 3210,rang PrePaid Optus
> (just sim --no contract), and all they needed was the IMEI, no model,
> no proof, just the IMEI --- yep and now my old 3210 is blocked till I
> ring in and say I found it. --- How easy was that !!! ,, what a joke.

But did you make a call using that phone+sim combination? I would assume
so. If you did then that establishes a link between the two (phone and
account) and your story is feasible. So you can't really do it to Joe
Random unless you get their phone, put your sim in and (I assume) make a
call/sms. Correct?

Rod Speed wrote:
> Spokes <[email protected]> wrote:
> > As Rod said in his post, the guy you bought the handset from is
> > probably not the original owner.
> > However it's strange that the IMEI was blocked 6 months after you'd
> > bought it.
> > Usually if the mobile is lost or stolen, the block is applied within
> > hours or a week at the most. Unless, the phone was stolen whilst the
> > owner was overseas (or in gaol) and they just returned (or got out),
> > realised the situation and called their SP to block the IMEI. If the
> > caller is honest, details are taken down of where and when the set
> > went missing, etc.
>
> > It's not a situation for the TIO.
>
> Wrong when telstra claims that only the individual who blocked
> the IMEI can unblock it and telstra isnt prepared to show that
> the individual who blocked the IMEI had the actually owned
> that phone when the ownership is in dispute.

***The question now is, whose service is it anyway? Our friend's?
Perhaps not anymore if it's been changed without his knowledge**
And that can be done very easily if the service is pre-paid.

Rod Speed wrote:
> Spokes <[email protected]> wrote:
> > As Rod said in his post, the guy you bought the handset from is
> > probably not the original owner.
> > However it's strange that the IMEI was blocked 6 months after you'd
> > bought it.
> > Usually if the mobile is lost or stolen, the block is applied within
> > hours or a week at the most. Unless, the phone was stolen whilst the
> > owner was overseas (or in gaol) and they just returned (or got out),
> > realised the situation and called their SP to block the IMEI. If the
> > caller is honest, details are taken down of where and when the set
> > went missing, etc.
>
> > It's not a situation for the TIO.
>
> Wrong when telstra claims that only the individual who blocked
> the IMEI can unblock it and telstra isnt prepared to show that
> the individual who blocked the IMEI had the actually owned
> that phone when the ownership is in dispute.

***The question now is, whose service is it anyway? Our friend's?
Perhaps not anymore if it's been changed without his knowledge**
And that can be done very easily if the service is pre-paid.
a phone can change owners every week so a receipt from 6 months ago is
irrelevant.

[email protected] wrote:

> Thanks for your replies, Yes I have a receipt showing the IMEI number,
> I also saw his full original Telstra receipt showing the IMEI, brand,
> model, date etc, the phone was legit when I bought it from him,

You cant be completely sure of that, it isnt hard to fake up receipts.

> the only thing that I can think of is that I recently lent it to a girl I
> know
> and suspect now that she may be the culprit -- just cant prove it.

Then get the TIO to force telstra to say who blocked it.

> Its just so easy to have an IMEI number written down and then ring
> any Telco that your with and say you've misplaced your phone.---
> How do I know? I tried it today, I pulled out my old 3210,rang
> PrePaid Optus (just sim --no contract), and all they needed was the
> IMEI, no model, no proof, just the IMEI --- yep and now my old 3210
> is blocked till I ring in and say I found it. --- How easy was that
> !!! ,, what a joke.

Are you sure they didnt check that you had used that
IMEI yourself from the data they have on you ?

Spokes <[email protected]> wrote:
> Rod Speed wrote:
>> Spokes <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> As Rod said in his post, the guy you bought the handset from is
>>> probably not the original owner.
>>> However it's strange that the IMEI was blocked 6 months after you'd
>>> bought it.
>>> Usually if the mobile is lost or stolen, the block is applied within
>>> hours or a week at the most. Unless, the phone was stolen whilst the
>>> owner was overseas (or in gaol) and they just returned (or got out),
>>> realised the situation and called their SP to block the IMEI. If the
>>> caller is honest, details are taken down of where and when the set
>>> went missing, etc.
>>
>>> It's not a situation for the TIO.
>>
>> Wrong when telstra claims that only the individual who blocked
>> the IMEI can unblock it and telstra isnt prepared to show that
>> the individual who blocked the IMEI had the actually owned
>> that phone when the ownership is in dispute.

> The question now is, whose service is it anyway? Our friend's?
> Perhaps not anymore if it's been changed without his knowledge**
> And that can be done very easily if the service is pre-paid.

And that is precisely what the TIO can get involved in resolving
if telstra is stupid enough to try stonewalling him on that question.

> a phone can change owners every week
> so a receipt from 6 months ago is irrelevant.

No its not when considering whether the seller actually owned it.

Agreed. TIO must and will act. They will direct Telstra.

"Rod Speed" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Spokes <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Rod Speed wrote:
>>> Spokes <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> As Rod said in his post, the guy you bought the handset from is
>>>> probably not the original owner.
>>>> However it's strange that the IMEI was blocked 6 months after you'd
>>>> bought it.
>>>> Usually if the mobile is lost or stolen, the block is applied within
>>>> hours or a week at the most. Unless, the phone was stolen whilst the
>>>> owner was overseas (or in gaol) and they just returned (or got out),
>>>> realised the situation and called their SP to block the IMEI. If the
>>>> caller is honest, details are taken down of where and when the set
>>>> went missing, etc.
>>>
>>>> It's not a situation for the TIO.
>>>
>>> Wrong when telstra claims that only the individual who blocked
>>> the IMEI can unblock it and telstra isnt prepared to show that
>>> the individual who blocked the IMEI had the actually owned
>>> that phone when the ownership is in dispute.
>
>> The question now is, whose service is it anyway? Our friend's?
>> Perhaps not anymore if it's been changed without his knowledge**
>> And that can be done very easily if the service is pre-paid.
>
> And that is precisely what the TIO can get involved in resolving
> if telstra is stupid enough to try stonewalling him on that question.
>
>> a phone can change owners every week
>> so a receipt from 6 months ago is irrelevant.
>
> No its not when considering whether the seller actually owned it.
>


*** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
*** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from http://www.SecureIX.com ***

"thegoons" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Agreed. TIO must and will act. They will direct Telstra.

They will investigate and suggest nothing. There is no way to "prove" who
owns a handset at any one time

>
> "Rod Speed" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Spokes <[email protected]> wrote:
> >> Rod Speed wrote:
> >>> Spokes <[email protected]> wrote:
> >>>> As Rod said in his post, the guy you bought the handset from is
> >>>> probably not the original owner.
> >>>> However it's strange that the IMEI was blocked 6 months after you'd
> >>>> bought it.
> >>>> Usually if the mobile is lost or stolen, the block is applied within
> >>>> hours or a week at the most. Unless, the phone was stolen whilst the
> >>>> owner was overseas (or in gaol) and they just returned (or got out),
> >>>> realised the situation and called their SP to block the IMEI. If the
> >>>> caller is honest, details are taken down of where and when the set
> >>>> went missing, etc.
> >>>
> >>>> It's not a situation for the TIO.
> >>>
> >>> Wrong when telstra claims that only the individual who blocked
> >>> the IMEI can unblock it and telstra isnt prepared to show that
> >>> the individual who blocked the IMEI had the actually owned
> >>> that phone when the ownership is in dispute.
> >
> >> The question now is, whose service is it anyway? Our friend's?
> >> Perhaps not anymore if it's been changed without his knowledge**
> >> And that can be done very easily if the service is pre-paid.
> >
> > And that is precisely what the TIO can get involved in resolving
> > if telstra is stupid enough to try stonewalling him on that question.
> >
> >> a phone can change owners every week
> >> so a receipt from 6 months ago is irrelevant.
> >
> > No its not when considering whether the seller actually owned it.
> >
>
>
> *** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
> *** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from
http://www.SecureIX.com ***

Michael <[email protected]> wrote
> thegoons <[email protected]> wrote

>> Agreed. TIO must and will act. They will direct Telstra.

> They will investigate and suggest nothing.

Wrong, as always. They will make telstra check whether the
individual who got the IMEI blocked had any right to do that.

> There is no way to "prove" who owns a handset at any one time

There are plenty of ways of proving who has the right to block an IMEI.


>> "Rod Speed" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>> Spokes <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> Rod Speed wrote:
>>>>> Spokes <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>>> As Rod said in his post, the guy you bought the handset from is
>>>>>> probably not the original owner.
>>>>>> However it's strange that the IMEI was blocked 6 months after
>>>>>> you'd bought it.
>>>>>> Usually if the mobile is lost or stolen, the block is applied
>>>>>> within hours or a week at the most. Unless, the phone was stolen
>>>>>> whilst the owner was overseas (or in gaol) and they just
>>>>>> returned (or got out), realised the situation and called their
>>>>>> SP to block the IMEI. If the caller is honest, details are taken
>>>>>> down of where and when the set went missing, etc.
>>>>>
>>>>>> It's not a situation for the TIO.
>>>>>
>>>>> Wrong when telstra claims that only the individual who blocked
>>>>> the IMEI can unblock it and telstra isnt prepared to show that
>>>>> the individual who blocked the IMEI had the actually owned
>>>>> that phone when the ownership is in dispute.
>>>
>>>> The question now is, whose service is it anyway? Our friend's?
>>>> Perhaps not anymore if it's been changed without his knowledge**
>>>> And that can be done very easily if the service is pre-paid.
>>>
>>> And that is precisely what the TIO can get involved in resolving
>>> if telstra is stupid enough to try stonewalling him on that
>>> question.
>>>
>>>> a phone can change owners every week
>>>> so a receipt from 6 months ago is irrelevant.
>>>
>>> No its not when considering whether the seller actually owned it.
>>>
>>
>>
>> *** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
>> *** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from
>> http://www.SecureIX.com ***

Thanks for your response.
I tried several combinations. Newly blocked 3210 with Optus pre-paid
sim, Virgin account sim & Telstra account sim even mums Voda sim and
all come up as phone blocked etc. but when use all the above sims into
another phone then that phone is ok--even with my Optus Pre paid
sim---I advised Optus that only my phone was missing NOT THE SIM-- So
yep, its definitely only the phone thats now usesless till I ring them
back & advise that I've found the PHONE.....This IMEI block system
needs to be reviewed--just to easy for a nuisance blocker to get
someone else's phone blocked.

If anyone thinks its not easy...get an old working phone and list it as
missing with your Telco.

Nick Adams wrote:

>
> But did you make a call using that phone+sim combination? I would assume
> so. If you did then that establishes a link between the two (phone and
> account) and your story is feasible. So you can't really do it to Joe
> Random unless you get their phone, put your sim in and (I assume) make a
> call/sms. Correct?

[email protected] wrote:
> Thanks for your response.
> I tried several combinations. Newly blocked 3210 with Optus pre-paid
> sim, Virgin account sim & Telstra account sim even mums Voda sim and
> all come up as phone blocked etc. but when use all the above sims into
> another phone then that phone is ok--even with my Optus Pre paid
> sim---I advised Optus that only my phone was missing NOT THE SIM-- So
> yep, its definitely only the phone thats now usesless till I ring them
> back & advise that I've found the PHONE.....This IMEI block system
> needs to be reviewed--just to easy for a nuisance blocker to get
> someone else's phone blocked.

I don't think you understand what I was getting at. By making a call
with that sim + phone combination you have shown the carrier that at
some point there was a relationship between the two. Unless the nuisance
person has physical access to your phone to put their sim in they can't,
IMHO, just ring up and cancel the IMEI.

The carrier would look to see that their account/sim has never been
associated with that phone and thus no relationship exists = no block.
Get my point?