My Lost Phone Is Now Stolen!

[+ Lucky]

ON Friday I stupidly set my phone in a shopping cart while I unloaded the cart. It is the same color as the car, and I failed to pick it up. I went back to the store several times and no one had turned it in. So yesterday I ordered an older, cheaper model from Amazon and it was delivered at 7 this morning. I wasted no time getting to T-Mobile to have the phone set up and my info transferred from the Samsung Cloud. The woman at T-M showed me how to use the Find My Phone app, and it turned out it was at another grocery store near my house.

I went into the store, started the app, and it directed me to a kiosk where people can sell their phones. The implication is that the phone is still in the kiosk.

I called the number on the kiosk, and while they were clear that my call was very important to them, they never responded despite 15 minutes on hold. So I filed a police report. Having taken possession of my phone is theft and hopefully the police will contact the EcoAtm folks and they will cooperate. They have special people assigned to work with law enforcement all over the country, so this is not an unusual thing.

What got me was that when I used their "price your phone" feature, my older phone was worth less than I had paid for the older model I had just bought. They get you everywhere.

Anyone wanna give odds on my getting the phone back?

[viewing ownly]

50/50. I hope that you're able to. I brought my phone with me into a public pool nearly 20 years ago, which was one of the stupidest things I've ever done. I wanted a phone just like it to replace it that had the "worm game", not some high-tech worm game knock-off. Lesson learned. 

[BuffaloKyle]

This is from the EcoAtm's FAQ page:

What steps have you taken to protect my stolen phone from being sold at an ecoATM?

We have worked very hard to make sure that ecoATM is one of the worst places for a thief to bring a stolen phone. Our kiosks have a variety of security features installed, including:

• Required Photo Scan
• Required Thumbprint Scan
• Required ID Scan (verified by live agents back at our headquarters)

Once we receive your device at our process center in San Diego, it will be held on our property for a minimum of 30 days, just in case. ecoATM happily and voluntarily cooperates with law enforcement when requested. If a missing phone does end up in one of our machines, it is returned to the rightful owner, free of charge.

We want to make sure that you get not only convenience and instant cash with ecoATM, but also a safe and comfortable experience.

[+ Lucky]

So far neither the police nor EcoAtm has responded to my complaint.

Once I got my phone information restored yesterday, I looked to see if anyone had called while I did not have access. No one did...BUT there was a message left Friday night from a number I do not recognize. A woman said that she hoped I would find my phone, and she used my name. The call is not in the recent call list. I googles the woman and she apparently lives in Desert hot Springs. Funny.

[+ purplekow]

You could just go buy your old phone back, like ransom but I would find that amaxzingly annoying. Pay with a credit card andthen cancel the charge once you have your phone,  that would likely cause you further headaches but the satisfaction might be worth it.  

[d.anders]

On 5/27/2025 at 6:00 PM, Lucky said:

They get you everywhere.

One of the many reasons I refuse to own one.

1 hour ago, Lucky said:

Police Department neither acknowledged my report nor responded to it.

I would be very surprised if you hear anything from the police on this matter. I assume they chuckled, and moved on with their day. Good luck.

[+ Lucky]

Well, guess what, @d.anders? I did hear from the police and also from Eco ATM. The latter did find my phone in one of their kiosks and within a few weeks I should have it back.

[d.anders]

13 hours ago, Lucky said:

I did hear from the police and also from Eco ATM. The latter did find my phone in one of their kiosks and within a few weeks I should have it back.

Very happy for you.