CheckESNFree released free services to protect mobile device users from cell phone fraud. The reliable website allows users free access to check the history of their mobile device through a database which covers most cell phones and providers across the United States and Canada. Each cell phone is marked with a serial and identification number, which users can lookup to make sure the device wasn’t reported lost, stolen, or couldn’t be activated as a result of a billing issue.
The increase in cell phone theft has drastically increased throughout North America. CheckESNFree is doing their best, providing all cell phone users with up-to-date knowledge to protect the growing number of cell phone fraud.
The Smartphone Summit took place this past summer, where law enforcement officials throughout the coasts met with US smartphone companies to discuss ways to curb the spike in cell phone thefts. In San Francisco, more than half of robberies involve a cell phone, while nationwide, nearly 1 in every 3 robberies involves the theft of a mobile device.
“The theft of handheld devices is the fastest growing street crime,” New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a released statement leading up to the summit. These stolen phones often appear for sale online at sites such as Craigslist and eBay. Their discounted prices are attractive to would-be buyers who are completely unaware that they were stolen or reported lost.
Cells phones are being released yearly, and the turnaround for some users is within months. This results in cell phone users purchasing old, more affordable instead of the expensive, “new” and off-the-shelf models. Not everyone who uses a mobile device is connected to fraudulent behavior, individuals are putting themselves at greater risk when they choose a used model over a more expensive newer model.
But CheckESNFree aims to change that by releasing their free online service. All a user needs to know is the phone’s serial number, which is labeled either as an ESN, MEID IMEI, as well as the mobile provider. These numbers can be easily found by removing the phone battery or, in the case of an iPhone, by scrolling into the phone’s About settings. If a seller is not willing to provide that information, the buyer should take that as a sign of potential fraudulent behavior and walk away.
Once the information is entered into the CheckESNFree database, the results are quick and simple to understand. With the click of a button a user will know whether the phone is ready to be activated or is tied to some type of fraudulent behavior, be it stolen, lost, or connected to unpaid bills.
As the use and reliance on mobile and smart devices increases, so too is the potential of theft. It’s important that all mobile device users record the model, serial number and other identifying labels of their device in case it’s lost or stolen. Anyone looking to buy a used device should access the CheckESNFree database as a form of protection and to help end this national epidemic.
Original Article Courtesy of CIOL
