Lost or Stolen Mobile (Cell) Phones in Turkey

Learning Your Mobile Phone's IMEI Number

There are three ways to learn your mobile phone's IMEI number:

1. Enter the following numbers and characters on the keypad of your phone: * # 06 #. A 15-digit number will appear. That is your phone's IMEI number.
2. Turn off your phone, remove the battery cover and the battery. Under the battery you will also see the IMEI number.
3. Look on the box or in the documentation that came with your mobile phone.

Keep this number separate from your mobile phone, and not in anything which might also be lost or stolen with your phone.

Reporting a Lost or Stolen Mobile Phone

Call the Mobile Device Registration System

From within Turkey: 444 9777
From outside of Turkey: 90 312 232 23 23

Or, call your network provider. Their main customer service numbers are:

Turkcell: 444 0 532
Vodaphone: 444 0 542
Avea: 444 1 500

These are national toll-free numbers, so no prefixes are necessary in Turkey.

They will direct you to an English-speaking operator if necessary. Explain the situation and give them your IMEI number, and they will disable your mobile phone. Your phone will be useless to anyone trying to use it, even if they insert a new SIM card.

Report your stolen mobile phone to the police. It may be recovered and returned to you if they have a report on file.

See Also

Telephones and Internet Forum

Ken Grubb

As a special investigator for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and teacher for the University of Maryland, Ken Grubb has lived and worked in Turkey since 1997. He now lives in Antalya, where he researches and writes guides to help others live skillfully in Turkey.