Stopping a violent stalker from tracking my location through my Android phone

[Android Central Question]

Is resetting my Samsung Android to factory default and resetting Google passwords enough to stop him from finding me? The last attack I was beaten until I gave up my PIN and passwords. He then when into the about screen to get my IMEI and serial numbers.

I have since factory reset my phone and passwords. I wonder if I need to ditch another phone and get a new one again.

He did this before with an Iphone and I thought I was free from GPS tracking since I thought I had reset my phone. He kept finding me everywhere no matter how hard I tried not to be tracked and no matter how far away I would drive. I could have sworn I factory reset the iphone before he found me everywhere but who knows maybe my memory is bad and I just checked for hidden apps and missed something. He said he had my IMEI which is why I switched to an Android but now he got my IMEI and passwords for that two. Which I have of course again reset.

Thanks in advance for the info.

 

[mustang7757]

Is resetting my Samsung Android to factory default and resetting Google passwords enough to stop him from finding me? The last attack I was beaten until I gave up my PIN and passwords. He then when into the about screen to get my IMEI and serial numbers.

I have since factory reset my phone and passwords. I wonder if I need to ditch another phone and get a new one again.

He did this before with an Iphone and I thought I was free from GPS tracking since I thought I had reset my phone. He kept finding me everywhere no matter how hard I tried not to be tracked and no matter how far away I would drive. I could have sworn I factory reset the iphone before he found me everywhere but who knows maybe my memory is bad and I just checked for hidden apps and missed something. He said he had my IMEI which is why I switched to an Android but now he got my IMEI and passwords for that two. Which I have of course again reset.

Thanks in advance for the info.

This is a Android phone forum, I'm sorry what's happening to you but should report to proper authorities,I'll leave a link to register if you have further questions.https://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=409154

 

[belodion]

Don't run and change your phones and passwords. Get this person in prison.

 

[B. Diddy]

Re: Android: How to stop a violent stalker from tracking my location?

This is simply an outlandish crime. I realize that you're asking a technical question, but I doubt anything we suggest will stop this barbaric criminal activity. I would strongly suggest seeking other avenues of legal and physical protection, including speaking with a lawyer and searching for victim's rights organizations in your area. You may also want to contact the FBI, since there are federal laws against cyberstalking, not just state laws.

 

[Rukbat]

Re: Android: How to stop a violent stalker from tracking my location?

Go to your state's investigative service and ask how to file a state criminal complaint against a cop in your state. (I hate cops like that - he makes honest cops look bad.)

You can change your Google account password (or create a new account with a new, long, random password to make it more difficult for him - use Keepass2Android Password Safe or LastPass Password Manager to keep your passwords - and make sure you use a different one for each account and each site - even a site like this - use 30 character upper-lower case-numeric-special character passwords). That should keep you safe until the next time he decides to beat you (unless you file a criminal complaint against him).

(This is assuming that you're not the one breaking the law. If you're dealing drugs, or stealing things, the law won't protect you from him - he has probable cause to stop you, and he can easily claim that you started the fight when he tried to stop you.)

 

[B. Diddy]

Duplicate threads merged.

 

[SpookDroid]

As others have stated, you should report this to the authorities and seek help we cannot provide. As for the phone stuff, no matter the brand, changing your passwords and PINs will prevent an attacker from gaining access to your accounts, but having your IMEI and Serial number (which is tied to a specific device) might be another thing entirely (like SIM spoofing, etc.) and only changing hardware would prevent that.

Now, unfortunately, many users don't realize some apps share their location by default (hate to admit it, but that's how I found out my ex was cheating on me). For instance, Snapchat (I guess on iPhones, since those are the ones I keep seeing on the map and when questioned about, have no idea how they got there) shares location automatically unless you turn that off. Posting a picture with location information might also be something most people don't think about when sharing on social media.

 

[priperson75]

Thanks for the replies. Like I said I was only looking for technical advice and did not expect anything more from anyone here to solve a pretty extreme problem. It is getting expensive switching phones and there is no guarantee it will not happen again with a new phone. So just trying to stay safe while not losing access to tech.

So it sounds like considering that he has my IMEI and other numbers that I have to switch phones again?

Before he had my IMEI, pin and passwords he once said all they needed was my phone number. Is this true?

Not to get off the technical aspect but just to be clear I did not break any laws and I have never been involved in any criminal activity in my lifetime. I have not been accused of anything either. It is not like I have not tried escalating it but they protect one another.

Not going to say anymore than that to keep this on the technical aspect which is why I came here.

Thanks again.

 

[SpookDroid]

Again, not trying NOT to help, but if it's law enforcement systems, he MIGHT have access to network tracking, which yes, means having IMEI or phone number information should be sufficient to track a person based on cell tower triangulation. However, not certain how easy it is for anyone in law enforcement to just access these tracking systems (since it involves the networks) without logs or warrants.

There is no technical advice that would stop that other than not having a phone. Sorry we can't offer more help, but maybe a higher law enforcement agency can provide assistance, as suggested above.

 

[B. Diddy]

they protect one another.

This is why I suggested contacting the FBI. I don't think they're interested in protecting local law enforcement.

 

[priperson75]

A phone number change, that's easy.

What about IMEI change? Is it possible?

If it is even possible to change the IMEI or lets say I get a new phone and new phone number. I assume at that point if the stalker comes near my house or finds me naturally, as long as he does not get a hold of the phone it should not be possible to determine the phone number or IMEI by simply having it on, correct?

 

[priperson75]

"This is why I suggested contacting the FBI. I don't think they're interested in protecting local law enforcement."

Perhaps. When many local departments and state police tell you to go away or else and then being met with retribution for "talking" each time you end up with trust issues.

Not sure if favors work with them as well which is a concern. You would be surprised how many departments did favors for one another even when they did not know one another. All one big family protecting their own no matter where they are geographically. If someone told me my story before all this happened I probably would not believe so many would be so dishonest.

 

[Mooncatt]

What about IMEI change? Is it possible?

Technically, yes. Realistically, it can cause other problems and may be illegal. It's a device identifier, not unlike your social security number. If you change it and the new one is already in use, you could cause network and data communication issues for both you and the unfortunate party who's number you took. It's not something the average person can do, and it's also against forum rules to discuss stuff of that nature.

For now, go into your phone's settings and turn off the location. That may help.

I'm also with the others in getting this guy off your back. Contact the FBI. Contact domestic abuse shelters. Contact lawyers. Most law enforcement agencies are not corrupt, so it shouldn't be hard to find one to help, or some other service that would have additional legal resources to point you in the right direction.

Remember, stalkers have been around forever. Even if you gave up your mobile phone all together, it's still possible for him to stalk you. Whatever advice we might give isn't fixing the root of the problem and may only be a stop gap at best.

 

[SpookDroid]

A phone number change, that's easy.

What about IMEI change? Is it possible?

If it is even possible to change the IMEI or lets say I get a new phone and new phone number. I assume at that point if the stalker comes near my house or finds me naturally, as long as he does not get a hold of the phone it should not be possible to determine the phone number or IMEI by simply having it on, correct?

Like Rukbat said, IMEI changes are technically possible, but likely illegal (and not easy as in 'install app, change, done'); plus there's the implication of IF you do change the IMEI, you'd have to update your carrier as it would assume it's a new phone to continue to get service.

Getting a new phone effectively changes your IMEI (since it's a completely new phone). Changing your number would help if they are using network tracking to locate you (unless, of course, they find out your new number).

Broken record here: you need to address this with 'higher powers'. If you mention that you already changed phones once and it happened again, then...

 

[Rukbat]

there's the implication of IF you do change the IMEI, you'd have to update your carrier as it would assume it's a new phone to continue to get service.

Not necessarily, it depends on the carrier. I used to swap my SIM card among a few phones with no problem. Each one had a different IMEI, of course, and the carrier didn't care.

That said, tracking an IMEI for anything but an official investigation is something the FBI would certainly be involved in. (Whether anyone at your local office wants to or not is another question.)

 

[priperson75]

Is the IMEI is on my SIM card? If that is the case I can just change the SIM and order a new service rather than buy a whole new phone?

 

[Mooncatt]

Is the IMEI is on my SIM card? If that is the case I can just change the SIM and order a new service rather than buy a whole new phone?

No, it's on the phone itself, embedded deep in the programming.

 

[SpookDroid]

Is the IMEI is on my SIM card? If that is the case I can just change the SIM and order a new service rather than buy a whole new phone?

As Mooncatt said, that's hard-coded onto the phone. If you know about computers, think of it as the MAC address for a network card. If you don't, then think of it as the address linked to a specific house. That's the IMEI for phones: the unique ID given to every single phone so that the carrier can assign services and route calls/data to a specific device (alongside the SIM card information). The only true way of getting a different IMEI address is to change the phone. The SIM card will then link itself to whatever IMEI is being used at the time (If the carrier supports that 'hot swapping' method, which most carriers today do... If not, you might have to call them to give them the new IMEI information so that the SIM card can work with that new device).

 

[Golfdriver97]

I have a few ideas:
1. Start getting burner phones. The dirt cheap ones that are $50. New SIM card, new Number. Prepaid even if you want.

2. Keep your old phone and number and SIM. Leave the old phone at home at all times. Burner phone goes with you. If he is constantly tracking you, and suddenly, you never leave the house, he can't guess where you are. Every couple months, get a new burner phone. Pay in cash.

3. Ask for a transfer at work.

 

[dbsapps]

'Burner phones' are great for secure anonymity as long as only cash is used for them and prepaid minutes. The instant a credit card is used with your name, law enforcement has a way to track it so if you have a perpetrator who is also a member of law enforcement getting access to SIM card info. only usage of cash is safest.
One way to be anonymous where regular cell phone services is concerned is if you have a friend or business associate whom you have never listed on any credit or employment application or anywhere else as a reference who would be willing to get the cell phone service in their name using their credit whom you pay the fees to in advance.
For the OP: you may want to read an older text available free online to read concerning anonymity and self preservation: just google search "how to be invisible by jj luna .pdf" due when it was written, much is 'dated' but the ideas help to guide you in forming your own ways to secure anonymity.
Please consider complete and public exposure of this individual and the law enforcement division he represents beginning with contact of as many attorneys as possible to find the one who will represent you followed by local and national press releases to all media that you can email and/ or FAX. Dirtbags like this sorely need to be brought to justice!
PS: Creativity is a big part of survival. It's bad enough that my personal involvement with someone over 15 years ago who had bi-polar disorder drove me to use an artist's palette knife to remove his license plate registration sticker, attach a velcro to it and both license plates so that I could gradually move my household items out after being in a relatively 'trapped' situation that prevented me from taking care of my vehicle registration at the time. While I did get caught using the velcro registration at what would be my new temporary home, thankfully the female motorcycle cop who heard my story was willing to scrap the ticket she was ready to slap me with when I agreed to let her keep the license plate with the velcroed registration sticker on it!