There is a new website launched by the National Communication Entity (Enacom) in Argentina, to track stolen phones. This might be a solution for the 5,000 phones that are stolen every day in Argentina!

It tracks the phone’s 15-digit code, the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) which every phone usually has printed behind the battery. The phone will be put on a blacklist that is updated daily. By doing so, the stolen phone will be unable to reconnect to the cellular service if and when it is resold.

This means that there is a type of ´´lock´´ on the phone and won´t function like a normal phone when reconnected. It is meant to discourage the selling of stolen phones, because buyers are able to access the website in order to check their origins.

This is a good idea, although there are some caveats: the phone can still be used for everything else such as Instagram, Facebook, Angry Birds, Snapchat etc. Also, sellers can still supply locked phones. If the buyer doesn´t check the IMEI code before buying the phone, there is a chance that it is locked.

You need to have the phone and enter *#06# to check it.