Have you ever wondered why phone companies don't seem interested in
> > trying to prevent the theft of mobile phones? If you have ever lost,
> > or had one stolen, and if you are on a plan, you still have to pay the
> > plan approximately up to 24 months, and you have to buy another
> > handset and enter into another contract. This is more revenue for the
> > phone company.
> >
> > There is a simple way of making lost or stolen mobiles useless to
> > thieves and the phone companies know about it, but keep it quiet.
> >
> > To check your mobile phone's serial number, key in the following on
> > your phone:
> >
> > star-hash-zero-six-hash ( * # 0 6 # ) and a fifteen digit code will
> > appear on the screen. This is unique to your handset. Write it down
> > and keep it safe. Should your mobile phone get stolen, you can phone
> > your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able
> > to block your handset, so even if the thief changes the sim card, your
> > phone will be totally useless.
> >
> > You probably won't get your phone back, but at lease you know that
> > whoever stole it can't use/sell it either.
> > If everybody did this, there would be no point in stealing mobile
> > phones.
> >
> > May want to send this to as many people with mobiles as possible.
> >
> > No charge for directory assistance
> >
> > Phone companies are charging us $1.00 or more for 411 - information
> > calls when they don't have to. When you need to use the 411 /
> > information option!, simply dial 1-800-FREE-411 or 1 800 373 3411
> > without incurring a charge.
> >
> > This is information people don't mind receiving -
> > Pass it on.
> > Works on home phones and cellphones


Snopes check:
http://www.snopes.com/crime/prevent/celltheft.asp

it just gives you the IMEI of your phone...listed on every person who uses a GSM handset's account and on your contract and purchase paperwork. Also, if you pop off the battery it will be there with a barcode scan for it.

BTW this only works for GSM handsets...sorry Verizon people.

I've had 1-800-FREE-411 programmed into my phone for a while. It's great! The only thing is that you need to keep a pen and paper handy. If they connect you, they charge you. But they will give you the number for free.

That is not even useful information. Sim lock your phone so that it only accepts your SIM. Enter the code wrong and it will destroy the SIM that is in the phone. Verizon and Sprint people need not worry anyway, since they use ESN. If you phone is stolen or lost with a CDMA carrier it cant be reactivated once you file it lost. No major netwrok in America will activate a foreign ESN, with the exception of Verizon in some instances, but even then you have to possibly Verizonize the phone and maybe convert it to BREW.

Also I use Google SMS for all my info. It is WONDERFUL. SMS them all kinds of things. A phone number or address or zip/area code and it will look it up and send you back the info. Get weather as well as directory assistance.