The following practical measures can help in preventing and reducing mobile phone theft

 

Mobile Phones: 

·        Register your mobile phone with your service provider.

·        Take careful note of your unique 15 digit mobile phone International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. By pressing *#06# on your phone keypad the IMEI will appear on the screen.

·        Enable the PIN Security feature and keep your phone locked at all times.

·        When out and about, keep your mobile phone out of public view, be streetwise and always be aware of your surroundings.

·        Never leave your mobile phone behind in an unattended vehicle.

·        If your mobile phone is lost or stolen, contact your mobile phone service provider immediately to suspend your service and prevent unauthorised calls being made and billed to you.

·        Your provider will block your SIM card and IMEI number to prevent your phone from being used on the mobile network.

·        Report the loss or theft to the Police, providing identification numbers for your SIM card and IMEI number. This information may assist in the recovery of your mobile phone.

Tablet Devices:
 

Tablet device owners should take great care of their property. It only takes a moment of distraction for a thief to take your Tablet device. Along with cash, laptops and tablets are the most common items taken in burglaries.

The cost of replacing the data contained on the device can sometimes cost more than replacing the hardware itself.

Why Rice Will Not Fix Your Phone

To understand why rice will not fix your phone it is important to grasp the effects that liquids have on a cellular device. In the most extreme situation your phone will fry out when submerged in water due to the impurities that are in the water. The sediment in the water allows electricity to flow through resulting in completed circuits that typically wouldn’t interact. In a less sever instance of water damaged the phone might have still been submerged by water but still somehow managed to operate. Fortunately, the phone did not experience enough completed circuits to be a brick but may still have damage present. Specifically, when all of the water dries away from the phone the same sediment mentioned earlier remains on the phone. The only true way to hopefully correct existing water damage is to open the phone and clean of all sediment with contact cleaner and a lint free rag. Even with all sediment removed the phone might still be damaged in certain areas that a circuit managed to complete and blow out. Typically if there are any black smudges on the motherboard of a damaged phone there is a high chance if partial damage.
So then what exactly does rice do and why do people use it? The extent to which rice helps a wet phone is that rice can help absorb liquid. However, even if the rice absorbs the water well you might still be left with a mess to deal with. Usually when rice is used it is done by placing the wet phone in a Ziploc bag or plastic tub. Rice and other grains have a tendency to become mushy and slimy when exposed to liquids. Mush and slime seem to like getting caked inside the creases and ports of a phone. Unfortunately the only real cure for water damage is to not expose your mobile device to liquid.

Phone Insure PDS/FSG made simple

Did you know that if your phone is under $500 RRP you pay less excess?

$65 for Replacement, $35 for Repair and $35 if your Apple device is damaged and replaced via Apple One –Year Limited Warranty.

All replacement devices for lost or stolen claims are brand new and not refurbished like some competitors offerings.

Thinking of taking your Phone to the beach? Think again!

Summer is here and its beach time however be aware of the dangers the beach can bring especially if you have your mobile phone with you.

One of the most common causes of damage is liquid damage, you wouldn’t have a shower with your phone or bring it in the bath with you, so why does it seem like a good idea to take a selfie in the middle of the ocean. It is one sure way to ensure your phone will suffer liquid ingress that leads to the phone shutting down. Salt water will cause damage faster and in some cases more damage than mains water. 

On the beach you use sun screen to protect you from the rays and prevent damage to your skin. Your mobile can also suffer damage as a result of prolonged direct sunlight. We have had cases where screens have cracked, melted, or have gone yellow as a result of heat and sunlight damage to screens. Make sure you have a good cover and keep the mobile out of direct sunlight this will mitigate the above happening.

Sand also can cause damage to connectors, charging points, headphone jacks if it gets into your mobile so be mindful of this. This can lead to charging ports not working and failing to charge in some circumstances.

Make sure you have a good cover for your mobile , keep it dry at all times and out of direct sunlight and sand .

Mobile users are getting inventive with their excuses for lost or damaged phones

A FISHERMAN who claimed a snapper jumped out of the water and snatched his mobile phone is among the most bizarre excuses given for losing handsets.
Hapless users are also wrecking devices by dropping them in hot chocolate and toilets, and taking them into the shower.
The weirdest and wackiest reasons submitted to insurers for ruined or misplaced phones include a customer who dumped one in a saucepan of hot chocolate.
Dogs, spiders and horses have also been blamed for damage disasters.
One said a horse stomped on a handset and smashed it to pieces, which a dog then ate.
Another reported her boyfriend ran over her phone with a lawnmower before their pooch chewed on the strewn mess, Optus records reveal.
Other insurers said some people tried to dry out phones in microwaves and ovens or put them in the freezer to cool batteries.
Optus mobile marketing vice president Ben White said while some claims may sound far fetched, many unusual situations were possible given people now took their handsets everywhere.
“We’ve processed millions of claims over the years so we’ve heard it all. People are generally honest but we do follow some up more thoroughly,” Mr White said.

“Lost and stolen claims need to be reported to police and damaged devices need to be handed in. We check account details and also look at a customer payment and claims history.”
Sunbury’s Bailee (OK) Rezell said his Galaxy Mini malfunctioned after it dropped, smacked his face and fell to the floor as he was checking social media in bed about a year ago.
“I was lying on my back and was on Facebook when I dropped it. I had a bump on my forehead and the screen had a little crack in it and I couldn’t turn it back on,” the 16-year-old said.
“Luckily it was my birthday soon after so my parents got me an iPhone.”
Risk Insure’s John O’Sullivan estimated Aussies lodged 1.7 million claims annually industry wide for accidental damage, loss and theft.
“It never ceases to amaze me what some people manage to do,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
“Some have said they have taken them into the shower as they think they are waterproof. Others have given them to kids as a teether that they blubber on.”
Insurance claims spiked after boozy public holidays and the festive season, he said.
There was also a rise ahead of new model releases, which fraud experts closely monitored.
karen.collier@news.com.au
Twitter: @KarenCollierHS
Originally published as ‘A fish stole my phone’

Smuggler is caught trying to sneak 94 iPhones into China after strapping them to his body... and customs officers noticed his strange walk

A smuggler tried to sneak 94 iPhones into China by strapping and concealing them around his torso - but was foiled when customs officers noticed his 'weird walking posture'.

Embarrassing pictures show the man standing with his trousers down as officers reveal the startling number of mobiles attached to his body.

He was seized at Futian Port, an immigration port of entry on the border between mainland China and Hong Kong.

Customs officers grew suspicious after seeing a male passenger with 'weird walking posture, joint stiffness and muscle tension', reports the Huffington Post. 

Smuggling under Hong Kong law, where this man was said to be caught, can warrant a seven-year prison sentence and a fine as high as $2m (£171,000).

According to the report, so-called 'mobile armor' is a fairly common tactic for phone smugglers. 

All of Apple's iPhones are actually made in China under contract before being shipped to countries around the world -but purchasing one in the country can be a challenge.

Not long ago, the only way to do so was through the black market.

Recently, deals can be agreed to with legitimate providers such as China Mobile but supplies of the latest models are usually limited.

And contracts and handsets are expensive compared to the devices made by Chinese manufacturers.

According to the FT, an unlocked 16GB iPhone 6 is around £577. At around 18 per cent of the annual salary in China, it's a costly buy. 

As a result, buying new or second-hand handsets outside China and smuggling them into the country can be a lucrative business.

Most of the devices in the pictures appear to be the iPhone 5S but there are also some iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models in view.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2907172/Smuggler-caught-trying-sneak-94-iPhones-China-strapping-body-customs-officers-noticed-strange-walk.html#ixzz3OeL31cvy

Telstra and Optus customers suffering serious iPhone order delays and poor customer service

IT HAS been a month since the crazy queues outside the Apple stores for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. It has been over 5 weeks since you were able to pre-order them from Telstra, Optus or Vodafone. But many people still haven’t got their new device.
When the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were first able to be ordered, many sales reps from all three big carriers were telling customers that their phones were in stock, only to later be told that it will be coming in two weeks. No three weeks. No, maybe sometime in November.
That’s if they were told anything at all.
The delay of stock is an issue, due to how Apple allocates its stock worldwide. It’s also speculated that the launch of the iPhone 6 in China — a key market for the company — will mean that the focus to get enough stock in Australia will be even less.
However, the lack of stock is only a small part of the bigger problem here.


News.com.au readers have overwhelmed our email inboxes with stories about not only ridiculous delays but shameful handling of situations, particularly from Telstra and Optus.
Reader Shantel Tamarah informed us that she placed her order at 7am on September 13th from Telstra, with a confirmation email promising a delivery time of “up to two weeks” after the 19th (the iPhone release date) depending on location.
Ms Tamarah later rang Telstra to confirm that there was nothing else she needed to do with her order, with the Telstra representative informing her that her device had been dispatched and she would receive it on the release day. This was not the case.
Following many phone calls with Telstra staff insisting her device was coming in the next few days, she eventually managed to speak to an honest representative who informed her that they did not have any stock and realistically she was looking at late October/early November for it to arrive.
Other Telstra customers who pre-ordered their phone have not yet received their devices, despite Telstra posting on their support forums saying that all pre-orders had been filled.
Some people have even tried to cancel their order, with Telstra telling them to “give a real reason” why they need to leave. One customer (who asked not to be named) said that after they gave Telstra their “real reason” they were told to wait for the device to arrive and post it back. Not until that happened were they able to cancel their order and account.
Optus has proven to be just as difficult to deal with as Telstra.
One loyal customer of 20 years told news.com.au that he signed his new contract after not only being assured that Optus had stock, but that it would be delivered on release day. After being messed around by Optus customer service, it wasn’t until the Telecommunications Ombudsman became involved that Optus tried to sort the situation out.
Another reader reported his phone was delivered to his local Optus store, rather than his address, and then was sold to another customer before he had a chance to come and pick it up.
One Optus customer told us that when she asked if she could be offered any compensation for her continued delay, Optus said it was her responsibility to approach the appropriate team if she wants any. When she did contact the “appropriate team” she was told they can’t start the process until she receives the phone.
Some news.com.au staff have also experienced problems, with two people who ordered through Optus on launch day receiving their first piece of communication today advising them that their order would be delayed a further two weeks.
Despite the lack of stock and delays to existing orders, that hasn’t stopped carriers from excessively advertising their iPhone 6 deals. Optus has been particularly prominent, with its ads covering CBD bus stops and signs in cities across the country. The carrier has told news.com.au that they are still heavily advertising as they have 16GB models in stock, however they are currently out of 64GB and only have limited availability of 128GB models.
So what can customers do now? Both carriers seems to be allowing customers to cancel their orders, but only after some attempts to convince customers not to. If you do cancel, Apple retail stores have more stock than carriers and are able to sign you up on their plans in store.
If you still aren’t getting any luck, Kogan.com boss, Ruslan Kogan says he can have one at your door step in five days.
“While there is certainly some supply shortages in the market, we have been consistently outperforming our competitors ​by​ being able to supply the iPhone 6 much quicker and cheaper than others in the market. Our average dispatch time for the iPhone 6 is 5 days. We have even had several wholesale customers and large retailers purchase iPhone’s from us as it’s their only alternative to being able to fulfil customer demand in a timely manner.” Mr Kogan said to news.com.au.
“We apologise to any customer who has had a poor experience ordering an iPhone with Telstra,” Steven Carey, General Manager Media, told news.com.au.
“We are working to fulfil orders as quickly as we can. Unfortunately, demand for some models and colours is currently high. In instances where customers face a wait for their chosen model we send a regular text message to confirm that we are continuing to work on their order. Customers who would like to talk to us directly about the status of their order can contact us on 132200.”

http://www.news.com.au/technology/gadgets/telstra-and-optus-customers-suffering-serious-iphone-order-delays-and-poor-customer-service/story-fn6vihic-1227096263171

$571,000 in Mobile Charges for Australian who had his mobile stolen.

Coming home from an overseas trip to find a surprisingly high phone bill is nothing new. But one Australian got the shock of a lifetime when a European trip came with $571,000 in mobile charges.
The bill - which would have been enough to pay for over 285 return flights from Sydney to London - was a nasty surprise that came on top of an unhappy theft.
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman said the case occurred after an Australian traveller's smartphone was stolen in Europe. Rather than dump the SIM card, the thief evidently decided to phone up a storm that cost over half a million dollars.
The victim's father David took the cause up with the telecommunications carrier and pointed out that the theft had been reported to police. Some of the calls had been made to Somalia.
But the telco refused to wipe the record while insisting the full amount be paid.
Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman Simon Cohen said the case was one of 138,946 made by phone and internet users in financial year 2014. The body will release its annual report on Wednesday morning.

 Disputes from customers about being charged extra for exceeding their mobile internet download limits have become the top topic of phone user complaints this year. Photo: Glenn Hunt

It shows that the number of complaints about phone and internet services has reached a six-year low but anger from customers over excess download charges is on the rise.
The improvement in overall complaints was driven by falls in complaints about mobile services, which dropped by 20 per cent to 73,518 in financial year 2014 compared to 2013.
SingTel-Optus and Vodafone Hutchison Australia both experienced substantial decreases in customer complaints that were raised with the Ombudsman.
"We're seeing fewer complaints in terms of mobile coverage and mobile faults related we think to the significant investment by telcos in mobile infrastructure," Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman Simon Cohen said. "So the steps being taken by the industry are positive."
However, disputes from customers about being charged extra for exceeding their mobile internet download allowance rose substantially to become the top topic of complaint this year.
"As networks become faster and consumers want to download more and as phones become better, it's a challenge to make sure there's a match between the sort of data consumers are using and the affordability of the plans they're on," he said.
Australian Communications Consumer Action Network chief executive Teresa Corbin said that customers getting hit with high bills should consider shopping around, with recent data showing most customers used 2 gigabytes of data while using plans with caps of just 1GB.
SingTel-Optus showed the biggest improvement, with overall complaints falling 46.9 per cent from 26,629 to 14,144. Problems with coverage, disputed bills and poor contract information all fell at the telco.
Optus and Vodafone Hutchison Australia also improved the most in mobile coverage, with complaints from both companies falling 60.7 per cent and 58 per cent respectively.
But Vodafone Australia's mobile coverage still reaped the most complaints in Australia despite the fact that it has fewer users than Telstra and Optus.
The Ombudsman received 8143 complaints about mobile coverage from Vodafone Australia's 5 million mobile subscribers in financial year 2014. In contrast, Optus' 9.4 million mobile customers made 1623 complaints while Telstra's 16 million subscribers complained 1526 times.
Telstra's overall complaints rose by 1.2 per cent to 58,009 during the financial year but Mr Cohen said the company also added over 1 million phone and internet services to its subscriber pool over that period.
Mr Cohen said the Ombudsman was working to provide contextual data to better rank the telcos as part of a big picture view.
"There are significantly fewer complaints about Vodafone from consumers than there were 12 months ago," he said. "But I don't intend to comment specifically about the proportions against each of those.
"We've been looking to contextualise our data and hope to be in a position shortly to work with industry to provide that context around the complaints information in addition to the pure trends."
A spokesman for Vodafone Australia said the fall in network coverage complaints was a pleasing sign its investments were paying off.
"We know there is more work to be done, and remain committed to improving our customer service," he said.
Fortunately for Australian travellers, the Ombudsman said efforts by all three mobile telcos to reduce international roaming charges had helped lower the number of complaints about the issue.
This meant that David's son – and the Somali-dialling thief – managed to get away scot-free.
"The matter was resolved without him having to pay the charges," Mr Cohen said.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/biztech/mobile-phone-complaints-fall-but-excess-download-charges-the-biggest-gripe-20140917-10i0aj.html#ixzz3DXpMKgES