How can you recover a stolen phone? Find out how this app helps.

The Sanchar Saathi app proves to be very helpful in recovering a stolen or lost phone. Let’s explore how this app assists in locating your device.

Nowadays, smartphones are not merely tools for making calls; they have become essential for banking, UPI transactions, social media, and storing personal information. Consequently, people become quite distressed if their phone is lost or stolen. To address this issue, the Government of India has made the Sanchar Saathi portal and app available to the public. Through this app, users can report their stolen phones, and in many instances, successfully recover them. Let’s understand how the app works to help locate your phone.

What is Sanchar Saathi?

Sanchar Saathi is an initiative by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) aimed at ensuring the safety of mobile users and providing various telecom-related services on a single platform. It includes features for reporting lost or stolen mobile phones and preventing their misuse.

A key feature of this portal is its use of the phone's IMEI number. The IMEI is a unique identification number for a mobile phone that allows the device to be identified on the network.

How does it block a stolen phone?

If your phone has been stolen, you can request to block the device via Sanchar Saathi’s CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register) system. This process typically requires the mobile's IMEI number, details about the phone, and information regarding the police complaint.

Once the request is accepted, the phone's IMEI is blocked on the network. This means the thief cannot use the device on a standard mobile network, even if a different SIM card is inserted.

So, how do you get the phone back?

It is important to note that Sanchar Saathi does not physically locate the stolen phone and deliver it to your home. Both the CEIR system and the police play crucial roles in the process of identifying and recovering the phone. If a new SIM card is inserted into a blocked phone and the network is accessed, the information linked to the device helps agencies trace it. Once the phone is recovered, the user can request to unblock the device via the CEIR portal.

What to do if your phone is stolen?

If your phone goes missing, the priority is to ensure your safety and secure your data. Change the passwords for banking apps, UPI services, and other important accounts, and notify the relevant institutions. Next, file a police report regarding the theft or loss of the phone. Finally, submit a request to block the mobile device on the Sanchar Saathi/CEIR portal, providing the IMEI number and necessary documents.

Where can you find the IMEI number?

You can locate the IMEI number even if you do not have the phone with you. It is usually printed on the phone's box, the purchase bill, or—in many cases—found in records of the device. Dual-SIM phones typically have more than one IMEI number, so it is advisable to keep a record of all available IMEI numbers.