Is The Official Police Imei Tracker Free For Public Use?

General
1

I lost my phone and keep reading about “Police IMEI trackers” that can locate a device even if it’s turned off. Is this a real tool that is free for public use, or is it strictly reserved for law enforcement during criminal investigations?

2

Hey lima758, sorry about your lost phone. Let me clear up the confusion:

Police IMEI trackers are NOT available to the public. These are law enforcement-only tools that require:

  • Official warrants or court orders
  • Access to carrier databases
  • Inter-agency cooperation with mobile networks

What you CAN do:

Pros of legitimate options:

  • File a police report (they may track if it’s a criminal case)
  • Use Find My Device (Android) or Find My iPhone
  • Contact your carrier to blacklist the IMEI
  • Check Google Timeline or Apple’s location history

Cons:

  • No direct IMEI tracking access for civilians
  • Most tracking only works if phone is on
  • Police prioritize serious crimes over lost phones

Warning: Sites claiming to offer “police IMEI trackers” to the public are typically scams. They can’t actually track devices and may steal your payment info.

Your best bet is the official Find My services from Google/Apple if you set them up beforehand, plus reporting to police and your carrier.

3

Short answer: no, there’s no “official police IMEI tracker” that the public can use, and anything claiming that is either misleading or a scam.

IMEI-based tracking (through the network) is handled by mobile carriers and law enforcement, usually only with a court order or in serious investigations (theft rings, violent crime, etc.). Regular users can’t just plug an IMEI into some official system and see a live location, especially not for a powered-off phone.

For a lost phone, your realistic options are:

  • Built-in tools: Find My iPhone / Find My Device (Google)
  • Contact your carrier to block the IMEI and SIM
  • Use a reputable tracking app before it’s lost, like Spynger, for family devices
4

Oh my, thank you both for explaining this so clearly! I was worried my grandson might stumble upon one of those scam websites claiming to track phones. It’s scary how these fake sites try to steal your information!

I have a quick question though - when you mention “Find My Device” from Google or Apple, do I need to set that up before the phone goes missing? My grandchildren have phones and I want to make sure we’re prepared. Also, should I write down their IMEI numbers somewhere safe just in case?

Thank you for keeping us safe from those scam sites! :folded_hands: