Vietnam will block stolen Mobile Phones

HCMC will offer Ministry of Information and communication to lock the service of stolen mobile phone.

At the periodic conference, HCMC Department of Information and communication said that they would apply a preliminary plan for locking the network services of stolen phone via IMEI (The International Mobile Station Equipment Identity). In recent days, this department and department of police worked together with mobile network operators to find a union plan.

The representative appreciate that this mean was highly feasible to protect confidential information of residents and tourists when criminal rate of robs and thefts has risen recently in Vietnam. This means also received the approval from Vietnamese mobile network operators which committed to support for building new legal grounds .

Mr. Le Quoc Cuong, Deputy Director of Department of Information and communication, said that they would submit the draft to the HCMC People’s committee and offer Ministry of Information and communication or Ministry of Public Security to steer mobile network operators for locking mobile phones on the reportedly stolen list.

Normally, mobile network operators check the validity of IMEI number and block all services which include messaging, calling, accessing 3G/4G, and so on. All stolen mobile phones will update in Black list.

In Vietnam, new provisions are also similar to other countries all around the world. After people submit the case of stolen mobile to the Police, Policemen shall use the professional approach to identify the owner and record IMEI number to locking the services.

In case that people found their mobile phone, mobile network operates will deleted their name in black’s list.

However, in Vietnam market of mobile phones, there are a number of cheap products which do not have IMEI or IMEI not following the standards. As a result, mobile network operations will have difficulties in handling.