I would have returned it the day that I found it. That is just me, so I can't speak for everyone.
I found an Android smartphone this summer laying in the street during a bike ride. When I got home I called the owner and returned it the next day. I would sure hope the same happens to me if I ever lose mine. I remember a post not too many weeks ago of a guy who found a BB and was trying to figure out how best to return it. He was going well out of his way to do it b/c I remember he didn't have transportation or anyway to get it anywhere. Just my $.02.
Tell ya what. Call AT&T & have the phone or data activated. If they turn it on, then 1, it must not be reported stolen. 2 - if they turn it on & it has been reported stolen, then AT&T are the crooks.
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
1) If it has been blacklisted, you either call (but if you call they know somethign is up, no?) or two, you just try it already!
2) I told you, data works fine. You just won't have email pushed and bbm.
I found an Android smartphone this summer laying in the street during a bike ride. When I got home I called the owner and returned it the next day. I would sure hope the same happens to me if I ever lose mine. I remember a post not too many weeks ago of a guy who found a BB and was trying to figure out how best to return it. He was going well out of his way to do it b/c I remember he didn't have transportation or anyway to get it anywhere. Just my $.02.
Yes, why didn't the OP go through the Address Book on the phone the day he found it? If it belonged to someone, then their personal information will be on the phone. I lost a BlackBerry at a hockey game and someone called one of my friends in the Address Book and arranged to return it through them. I was most pleased My Blackberry is an integral part of my life, and I would be very disorganized without it!
so what if I never use it or sell it. Just forget about it but dont make an effort/waste my energy to return it or maybe just throw it in trash. Is that bad also?
Doesn't matter if you found it two months ago or yesterday. It isn't your device.
It most likely has been reported lost/stolen. The device is a brick. So, I would take it into an ATT store and drop it off.
I know you have stated you lost phones over the years and never had one returned.
But you knew the feeling of having a lost phone. It is horrible, isn't it ? And I am a firm believer in karma. What goes around, comes around.
You are not being a moral person by keeping it and thinking about getting a charger and using it. You better believe if my phone was lost, a phone call immediately to the carrier. There would be no way it could be used.
Well, if the owner never called back asking for the phone, he never cared for his sh!t... I certainly wouldnt waste my own free time on returning something thats not mine and the owner doesnt have the minimum interest in getting it back.
It sickens me to see people like gamepoint. Someone probably worked hard to get that phone, or really relied on it, and all you can do is steal that away from them and not give a ****.
Worst part is, you even have the guts to come on this forum and say you found a phone and your going to use it instead of returning it to the rightful owner, and ask for advice! Seriously, what's wrong with you??
I'd return the phone, even if you had it awhile. It's for peace of mind, knowing you did the right thing!
Please dont use words such as steal/thief as I clearly stated that I found this phone, it has been dead and its been lying around for couple of months. Not making an effort to contact the seller isnt unethical or immoral. Having an intention to use it as my own and not having attemepted to use it yet is also neither unethical nor immoral.