DIS | Department of Information Systems

FCC Consumer Facts: Stolen and Lost Wireless Devices

The theft of wireless devices, particularly smartphones, is sharply on the rise across the country,according to many published reports. The high resale value of these high-tech phones has made them a prime target for robbers and the personal information contained on the device that could be used by identity thieves.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has prepared a downloadable list of consumer facts containing several steps that can be taken to better protect yourself, your device, and the data it contains, along with instructions on what to do if your device is lost or stolen.

In a related article, FCC, law enforcement agencies and the wireless industry, with the support of a U.S. senator, have launched the PROTECT Initiative, a voluntary program that will create a shared database of devices’ identifying serial numbers. When a user reports a lost or stolen phone to their wireless carrier, the carrier will access the database and block the device from being used again, the FCC said.