What would you do??Found cell phone (UPDATE_CASE SOLVED)

[fluffernutter]

Okay ,I need some help with this one.
I found a cell phone yesterday morning. When the phone rang,I told the person I just found this phone,it seems as if it was his friend calling hoping someone would hear the ringing and pick it up,etc
So the owner of the phone gets on the line and I arrange to meet him to give him his phone. This was at 10am,I told him I will be back home at 7PM,he was so thankful and said whatever time is good for me,etc etc and gave him my address and at 7pm he was a no show.
I waited for 15 minutes outside and noone came. Now the battery of his cell phone has since died and I dont know what to do with the phone,I have no way to reach him and never had this happen before so have no clue what else to do
Any advice
Thanks
Marcy

For adoption=love bracelets,please email me.


@@@@@@UPDATE@@@@@@@@@
Case is solved,lol. I was able to turn the phone on again,I guess there was just enough battery to let me on 1 more time,and I saw there was atext message with a number to call. I called and it was him,he was very nice,he said he was there last night but I guess he was waiting in wrong spot,anyway,we met up to meet again in front of the bldg,no apt # given or phone # and arranged for 1pm. I just went down with my mom and he was there,very nice young guy,kept thanking me ,even gave me a present, (which I thought was so sweet of him to do)
I feel much better now,I did my good deed and made someone happy in the process.
Thanks for all your advice,next time I think I would just mail it to the person or drop it off at the police station but this time it worked out okay.
Marcy

 

[dancergirl]

If you know what provider the phone is, you can take it back there and they will have the record of who owns the phone. That is awesome that you are kind enough to go to all the trouble. Thank you from somone who has been on the other side!!

 

[OceanAnnie]

hmmm. That's a toughie. Maybe go to the store that sells them and see if they can charge it for you (IMO under the circumstances they should). They may even be able to determine who the owner is and be able to contact them.

I think I'd just ask them to charge it and then contact the person. After that you can leave it at the store and they can pick it up there. (Is there one near where it was lost?) I don't think I'd leave it until you know they have been contacted.

I've misplaced my cell phone many times and it's a sinking feeling when you can't find it. It's nice of you to try to locate the person. I hope this helps! Good luck!

 

[Mermaid02]

I would have told them that I would take the phone to the local police station and they could pick it up there. I would never tell anyone where I lived. Now I would take it to the cell phone store.... maybe they can charge it.

 

[ebaynut31]

I never would have given out my address. I would have asked for his and mailed it to him or had him meet me at a local store.

Please be careful. Make sure someone is with you when they show up and/or do not let them into your home.

I don't want to scare you but do want you to be aware of the scams people pull.

 

[dg39]

Put it in an envelope marked "cell phone" and leave it outside. I may be paranoid, but, I wouldn't have given him my address. Only because you don't know this person or anything about him. If/when he comes for the phone, don't open the door if your home alone.

 

[fluffernutter]

Thanks so far for the suggestions. I am visiting my parents this weekend and they live in an apartment bldg so I gave him the address but not my last name,phone # or my parents apt.#. We live in Brooklyn and as is the case everywhere,you have to be cautious. My mom went downstairs with me and he never showed up.Unfortunately I dont know who his provider is because whern I turn the phone on ,the battery is dead so nothing shows on main screen. All I know is that it is a camera phone and a samsung model,thats it,not much to go on.
I didnt even think of just mailing it to him,it would have been much easier then this,everyone I told yesterday said,"oh so now you have a new phone,cool",but that isnt me I just couldnt do that.I know what it feels like when you lose something and it has all your info etc in it,uggh what a bad feeling that is.
Marcy

For adoption=love bracelets,please email me.

 

[ebaynut31]

What I also find strange is the fact that the friend called the phone then the owner got on and started talking to you.

Why wouldn't the owner call it himself?

 

[chernabog]

I would take it to your local PD and let them do the follow up. Never give out any of your personal information over the phone, no matter what good intentions you have. In this day and age, you can never tell what people are up to!

 

[dg39]

You couldn't use a lost phone. Once its reported lost/stolen to the company its wouldn't be of any use and whoever tries to activate it can get in trouble. Your best bet is to follow any of the suggestions listed in the above posts. It was also very nice of you to go out of your way to help someone. But, next time, please don't give strangers your address..

 

[OceanAnnie]

Maybe you can still take it to a store that sells cell phones. It's possible they can charge it or at least tell you who can.

I must still be half asleep. I skimmed over the part where you gave out your location. I echo what's been said. Don't give out your information. Let him give you his. It is a crazy world. I'm glad you didn't give the complete address.

It is strange that the owner got his friend to call and then got on the line. I think when you do get it charged, mailing is a good option. Or the police department. Or a cell phone place. I'd just let them pick it up there.

 

[disneysteve]

You can usually identify what company the phone is from without turning it on. My phone has the company name on the outside of the flip lid and on the keyboard. If neither of those are true, take off the battery. There will probably be something inside that indicates the company - like on the SIMM card.

 

[shortbun]

Find someone to charge it/a cell phone store. They can find the call list in the phone and attempt to call the owner if they choose to. Coulda been a scam but I doubt it.

 

[fluffernutter]

@@@@@@UPDATE@@@@@@@@@
Case is solved,lol. I was able to turn the phone on again,I guess there was just enough battery to let me on 1 more time,and I saw there was atext message with a number to call. I called and it was him,he was very nice,he said he was there last night but I guess he was waiting in wrong spot,anyway,we met up to meet again in front of the bldg,no apt # given or phone # and arranged for 1pm. I just went down with my mom and he was there,very nice young guy,kept thanking me ,even gave me a present, (which I thought was so sweet of him to do)
I feel much better now,I did my good deed and made someone happy in the process.
Thanks for all your advice,next time I think I would just mail it to the person or drop it off at the police station but this time it worked out okay.
Marcy

 

[phamton]

Maybe his friend called on his own cellphone and once you answered he gave the phone to the person who lost the phone. We did that when my son lost his cellphone. My son had his friend Aaron call his phone and when someone answered, my son then got on Aaron's phone and talked to them.

Any store that sells samsung phones should be able to charge it and then pull up the phonebook or call list and also see who the provider is and help you contact the owner. Even if they can't charge it, they can pull out the Sim card and get the information. You could then return it to the provider like Cingular and he could pick it up there if you are worried. I suspect he was a no show because he wrote your address down wrong.

My son has lost his phone a couple of times and we were so happy when someone answered it and we were able to get it back at least one of the times. That is very thoughtful of you.

 

[Dan Murphy]

.........I feel much better now,I did my good deed and made someone happy in the process....

Very cool, Marcy!!!! Kudos!!

 

[OceanAnnie]

Way to go! You did a really good thing. Something to smile about today.

 

[Mimi Q]

Glad it worked out. I know I would be very upset if I lost my cell phone.

 

[princesspumpkin]

I found a cell phone once at a fair. I called the last number that was called and it was the person's mom. I told her what was going on and asked her if the owner was at the fair with any friends. She said yes and called them and said I found the phone and to meet me at the entrance of the fair. We met, the girl seemed a little p.o.'d at me (maybe because her mom knew that she lost her phone). I don't even think she said thank you. Oh well, I hope that someone does the same for me if I'm in that position.

 

[pw2pp]

My son lost his phone on Dec 17 and we still have not found it. We had to have his phone number inactivated and now he has to buy himself one with his own Birthday money.