One of the common tip we offer to anyone who has lost a smartphone is to remotely find the location of the device. While it seem so simple, but a lot of people do not have this feature activated on their mobile phones. So what are the other ways available?
Apart from the traditional method of lodging a complaint in the police station, using advanced GPS method, or deactivating the phone for privacy reasons (which is risky but recommended by cops), there is another option worth a shot.
The hot tip is to post about your stolen or lost mobile phone on a local classified website. This looks so simple, yet a lot of people are not doing this for some reason. Here are a couple of tips to follow:
- Use Google to search local classified website.
- Look for the “Lost & found” section on the site.
- Post the message. Be descriptive as possible.
- Offer reward, if you can.
Do not forget to monitor classified sites after you have lost your mobile phone because, who knows, you might find the device and the person who took your phone — like this girl who found her Samsung Galaxy S3 on Quikr.
Use Google to search local classified website:
Type in Google the following query: “classified site in [name].” Replace [name] with the name of your city. There are many classifies sites on the Internet, so pick the top ones — about 10 sites are good enough.
Look for the “Lost & found” section on the site.
For instance, Kijiji Canada has a “Lost & Found” section on their websites where members can report lost items. Not every site has this section, but do remember to post in relevant category. Every classified site does have a “mobile” section where you can publish the message.
Post the message. Be descriptive as possible.
The bitter truth is, not everyone will help you in finding the device. This is why you should be polite and descriptive. Offer the following details:
- Where you lost the device — location, street, etc.
- How you lost it.
- What’s the model of the phone.
- Color of the phone.
Offer reward, if you can.
At the end of the message, do let everyone know that you are willing to offer a reward for anyone who can find a phone. Not everyone wants to help for free, which is why offering reward to find phones is a best way to get your phone back.
Example post:
Hey everyone,
David here from California. I was out for a walk yesterday evening at xxx street and somehow lost my precious smartphone. It’s an Apple iPhone 5, black in color.
I have been searching my phone for hours, but I couldn’t find it yet. Appreciate if someone can help me here. I am also offering $50 cash if you can find and return the phone back to me.
For further details, please get in touch with me on this email ID: david@mylostcellphone.com
Thank you,
David.
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