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Guide

How to Report Your Stolen Phone by IMEI

5 min readUpdated 6/1/2025

How to Report a Stolen Phone Using IMEI

If your phone is stolen, reporting the IMEI immediately to your carrier and police maximizes the chances of blacklisting the device before the thief sells it — and protects you from any fraudulent use of your number.

Step 1: Find Your IMEI Immediately

If your phone is stolen and you don't know the IMEI, check:

  • The original retail box (IMEI printed on the barcode label)
  • Your carrier's My Account portal (IMEI linked to your account)
  • Apple ID account at appleid.apple.com → Devices (shows serial number; cross-reference with purchase receipt)
  • Google account at myaccount.google.com → Security → Your Devices
  • The purchase receipt from the carrier store

Step 2: Contact Your Carrier

Call your carrier immediately. Provide the IMEI and request blacklisting. Most carriers can blacklist the device within 24 hours of a report.

Step 3: File a Police Report

File a police report in person or online (where available). Include the IMEI, device model, purchase date, and any identifying information. The report number is required for insurance claims and adds the IMEI to law enforcement databases.

Step 4: Report to the GSMA/National Database

In some countries you can report directly:

  • UK — immobilise.com (national lost/stolen property database)
  • USA — Contact your carrier; they report to the CTIA national database
  • Australia — Contact your carrier; they report to AMTA

Step 5: Monitor for Reactivation

Some stolen phones are used internationally where the blacklist hasn't propagated. Check with your carrier if you have GPS tracking data from Find My iPhone or Google Find My Device before the battery died.