Bypassing screen lock for lost phone

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appa

15 posts

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#139172 30-Jan-2014 10:20

Someone gave me a phone which I'd like to return to it's owner.

Problem is, the screen is PIN locked. I've tried the various screen unlock techniques that are available on the net, and none of them work.

I suspect it's a recent version of Android (?) which has since plugged those types of holes.

Also, the SIM is prepaid, so couldn't track down the owner via a postpaid account. I contacted the SIMs Telco and they said the only contact number on file is the SIMs phone number.

I'm relatively computer literate, so am not averse to trying a benign hack just to get past the lock screen.

Phone is a Galaxy S4.

Any help/ideas, would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

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3075 posts

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#977143 30-Jan-2014 10:31

have you tried putting the sim into another phone, and seeing if theres any contacts on the sim itself that you might be able to reach? Even if the sim is blocked I think you can still see the sim contents.

Best of luck, and good on you for trying to get it back to the owner.

jeffnz

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#977150 30-Jan-2014 10:37

tardtasticx: have you tried putting the sim into another phone, and seeing if theres any contacts on the sim itself that you might be able to reach? Even if the sim is blocked I think you can still see the sim contents.

Best of luck, and good on you for trying to get it back to the owner.

good advice had the same situation last year when a womans phone was left on top of car and fell off. We changed sims around and rung the number most often run.

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ajobbins

5052 posts

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#977156 30-Jan-2014 10:44

Take it to your nearest police station. If someone has reported it missing, they can get it back to the owner.

Also, if it's not claimed within a certain time I think you get to keep it (could be wrong)

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kinsten

240 posts

Master Geek

#977157 30-Jan-2014 10:46

I don't think they pass ownership of phones or tablets back to the person who dropped them in, due to personal information stored on devices etc.
also could be wrong. Just something I heard.

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Oblivian

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#977162 30-Jan-2014 10:51

kinsten: I don't think they pass ownership of phones or tablets back to the person who dropped them in, due to personal information stored on devices etc.
also could be wrong. Just something I heard.

Correct. As apparently forensics and smart-device wiping is out of their capability...

graemeh

2078 posts

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#977166 30-Jan-2014 10:53

Have you tried the "emergency call" option from the lock screen?

I've set up my S4 so that it has my wife and parents accessible via that screen. Hopefully the owner of your phone has done the same.

ajobbins

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#977178 30-Jan-2014 10:55

kinsten: I don't think they pass ownership of phones or tablets back to the person who dropped them in, due to personal information stored on devices etc.
also could be wrong. Just something I heard.

Interesting. Here in Melbourne I found an iPhone on the street and handed it into the police. They did find the owner, but when I handed it in they ask me for my details and said if it wasn't claimed within a certain time frame (can't remember what it was, maybe 30 days), it was mine.

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appa

15 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#977184 30-Jan-2014 10:59

tardtasticx: have you tried putting the sim into another phone, and seeing if theres any contacts on the sim itself that you might be able to reach? Even if the sim is blocked I think you can still see the sim contents.

Best of luck, and good on you for trying to get it back to the owner.

Thanks.

No luck unfortunately. No personal numbers on the SIM. Only a couple of speed dials from the Telco.

appa

15 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#977190 30-Jan-2014 11:03

kinsten: I don't think they pass ownership of phones or tablets back to the person who dropped them in, due to personal information stored on devices etc.
also could be wrong. Just something I heard.

The Telco CSR reckoned the police auction them off eventually (if no owner found).

It's a been a few weeks since the phone was lost, and I've kept it on in the hope the owner would call it.

appa

15 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#977198 30-Jan-2014 11:04

graemeh: Have you tried the "emergency call" option from the lock screen?

I've set up my S4 so that it has my wife and parents accessible via that screen. Hopefully the owner of your phone has done the same.

Yes, I did try that. Sadly, no emergency contacts have been setup.

wellygary

8333 posts

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#977221 30-Jan-2014 11:17

With the SIM in another phone, try calling its voicemail box,

you might find a message that either gives you info on the owner, or someone who would know who the owner is..

MurrayM

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#977230 30-Jan-2014 11:24

appa:
tardtasticx: have you tried putting the sim into another phone, and seeing if theres any contacts on the sim itself that you might be able to reach? Even if the sim is blocked I think you can still see the sim contents.

Best of luck, and good on you for trying to get it back to the owner.

Thanks.

No luck unfortunately. No personal numbers on the SIM. Only a couple of speed dials from the Telco.

Yeah, these days with smart phones most people don't store contacts on the SIM, they just store them in the phone.

ajobbins

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#977245 30-Jan-2014 11:50

I used the 'owner info' option in Android to display an alternative contact number for me in cast I lose my phone somewhere.

Recommend it if you haven't already got it set up

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appa

15 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#977253 30-Jan-2014 11:51

wellygary: With the SIM in another phone, try calling its voicemail box,

you might find a message that either gives you info on the owner, or someone who would know who the owner is..

The SIM is blocked on outgoing calls. So, I'm not sure if I can.

wasabi2k

2096 posts

Uber Geek

#977259 30-Jan-2014 11:56

Not knowing you was noone else thinking this was slightly suss?

a "lost" phone you want to "return to owner" by bypassing PIN?

Apologies if you are an upstanding citizen trying to do the right thing...

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