Recovering Stolen Mobiles

A few days back, I got the following text as an eMail:

Hi Friends,
Simple to find Lost Mobile

An IMEI number-The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number is an international identity number used to uniquely identify a mobile phone. The 15-digit IMEI number is an electronic fingerprint transmitted every time a phone is used, which reveals the identity of the mobile handset.

How can I find out my IMEI number? IMEI numbers are independent of the phone number and are usually written underneath the battery or on the back of the handset. Mobile phone users can also check their 15 digit IMEI number by dialling *#06# on their mobile handset. Mobile phone owners should make a note of their IMEI number and keep the details in a safe place.

If u lost your mobile, send an e-mail to cop@vsnl.net with the following info.
Your name:
Address:
Phone model:
Make:
Last used No.:
E-mail for communication:
Missed date:
IMEI No.:

“No need to go to police station”

Source: THE HINDU

Naturally, I didn’t take it seriously, but since I had nothing better to do my curiosity got better of me, I did some R&D. Searched around for “cop@vsnl.net” to see if this was genuine, and I was pleasantlty surprised as I read the articles that Google spat got me.

Well, in short, the eMail thingy is indeed true. I remember reading a couple of blog posts thanking the Government for getting back mobiles and all.

The one and only catch – I believe the service is available for residents of Chennai. It’d be great if the same was available everywhere throughout India.

Good work, Chennai Police.

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EDITED on May 11, 2005:

I find it hard to believe that there are so many people who can’t read the article before posting their comments, and these happen to be people who have access to the internet, own expensive mobile phones. If you lost your mobile phone, face it – You should have been more careful. Posting a comment here would hardly help. I can not do anything. I now wonder how many people would actually read this edit! Anyway, I am closing comments on this article.