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What does the iTrack Registry do?
The purpose of the iTrack Lost and Found Registry
is to facilitate the recovery of lost or stolen iPhones, iPads, and iPods as a free service to the Owner and Finder of a device.
Owners of Apple iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices may sign up for a free membership to the iTrack Lost and Found Registry through the use of a web browser or a FREE Tracking App available for download on the App Store.
For iPhone and iPad/iPod touch units, the iTrack Registry generates a Wallpaper ID image which can be synchronized to the
owner's device for display on the Lock Screen.
This Wallpaper ID contains information which can be used to search the iTrack Registry in order to facilitate return of a lost
iPhone or iPad/iPod touch to the rightful owner.
iPod models that do not have the capability to show a Wallpaper ID as a
Lock
Screen can be searched for by their Manufacturer's Serial Number.
For a nominal one-time fee, a collection of advanced tracking
applications are available for download on the Apple App Store. Any one
of these applications offer a
variety of options to allow iPhone and iPad/iPod touch owners to
register a Membership directly from the device, ranging from the management of
customized Wallpaper IDs to dynamic Push Notifications, and more importantly, the use of the Location Services
of the device to track activity by geographical position.
Finders of a device can
search the iTrack Registry by Manufacturers Serial Number to check if the Owner
reported the unit as lost. If no match was found, then the Finder can register
the device and leave a message for the Owner.
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I found an iPhone, iPad, or iPod. What must I do?
Finders of a device can search the iTrack Registry by Manufacturers Serial Number to check if the Owner
reported the unit as lost. If no match was found, then the Finder can register
the device and leave a message for the Owner.
Follow these steps to report a found device:
- On the iTrack Website Home Page, enter the
Security Code and your email address. Click the green button entitled 'Found
an iPhone, iPad, or iPod?'.
- The next page is the Search Page. Enter
the device Serial Number in the text field. If the device is an iPhone or
iPad/iPod touch containing a start-up screen with an iTrack ID on it, use this ID
instead of the Serial Number.
- Click the 'Search' button.
- If a match was found, the system will send
a message to the Owner with your email address. You may also leave a message
to the Owner.
- If no match was found, then click the blue
button 'Register found Serial Number'. This will lead to the screen where
you can register the found device into the iTrack system.
- Complete the fields on the screen to
provide as much information as possible. You can either select the found
Device type from the drop down menu or by clicking on one of the device
pictures on the right side of the screen.
- Click on the yellow button 'Register Found
Device' to complete the process.
You will be contacted by the system via your email address under the following conditions:
- The device owner is searching the iTrack Registry for the device
- The device owner is trying to register the lost device
- A Law Enforcement agency is searching for the Serial Number
- Anyone else is searching for the Serial Number
- Your found device registration has expired
Entries for found devices are kept in the iTrack Registry for a period determined by the system, which is currently 180 days.
After the expiration period, the entry will be automatically removed from the Registry.
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How can I remove a Found device from the Registry?
Sometimes a Finder of an iPhone or iPod inadvertently registers a device in error because of mistyping the serial number or incorrectly identifying the device model.
The Finder can remove the device from the Registry by sending an email to iTrack@iTrackMobile.com and entering the following into the Subject line of the email:
REMOVE serial number
Where serial number is the serial number of the registered device.
There is no need to provide any message in the body of the email.
IMPORTANT!
The email must be send from the same email address that was used when the Finder registered the device.
You will receive a confirmation email from the Registry after the device was successfully removed.
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I lost my iPhone, iPad, or iPod. What must I do?
Owners of a lost or stolen device can register the Manufacturers Serial Number
so Finders or a Law Enforcement Agency can search for the unit.
Before a lost or stolen device is registered,
please make sure that the unit has not already been reported as 'found'.
From the iTrackMobile.com Home Page, search the
Registry first by entering the Security Code and your email address and clicking the green button entitled
'Found an iPhone, iPad, or iPod?'.
Then enter the serial number of your lost
device. If a match is found, the Finder of the device will be contacted by the
system and provided with your email address. You can also submit a message to
the finder using the web site. For security reasons, we recommend that you
always engage your local Law Enforcement agency to assist in the process of
recovering a lost or stolen device.
If your search did not result in a match,
then use these procedures:
A. Follow these steps to report a lost device if
you do not have an iTrack Membership:
- On the iTrack Website Home Page, enter the
Security Code and your email address. Click the blue button entitled 'FREE
New Membership Request'.
- The next page is the Profiles Page. Enter
your Member Information as well the device Serial Number in the text field.
Select the type of device and mark the device as 'missing/lost'. Complete the
remaining fields as appropriate.
- Click the blue 'Apply for Membership' button.
- The system will create your Member Account
and also register your device as 'lost'.
- The device can now be searched for by its
Serial Number.
B. Follow these steps to report a lost device if
you do have an iTrack Membership:
- On the iTrack Website Home Page, enter the
Security Code and your email address. Click the blue button entitled
'Register your New or Lost iPhone, iPad, or iPod'.
- Enter your Member Password on the
following page.
- Your Member Profiles Page will be
displayed next.
- If the lost device was registered
in the past, select it from the drop-down list and click on the yellow 'View
Device Info' button. Select the 'Lost' radio button on the
device profile page and click the yellow 'Update Device' button. The device
is now marked as 'lost'.
- If the lost device was not registered
under your Membership in the past, then click the white 'Add another
Device' button on your Member Profile page. Complete the information for the
new device and select the check box 'Report Device as missing/lost'. Click the yellow 'Register Device' button.
- The device can now be searched for by its
Serial Number.
Your lost device information will be transmitted to LeadsOnline, the largest on-line investigation system in use by U.S. Law Enforcement.
The system will notify you via your email address under the following conditions:
- Someone is searching the iTrack Registry for the device by its Serial
Number or iTrack ID
- Someone is trying to register the lost device on the iTrack site as either a
new or found device
- A Law Enforcement agency is searching for the Serial Number or iTrack ID
- Anyone else is searching for the Serial Number
Entries of devices are kept in the iTrack Registry indefinitely or until
deleted by the Member.
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How do I get support?
Questions or feedback pertaining to our service and apps can be submitted via the iTrackMobile Feedback section and will be responded to on a best-effort basis.
It is our business policy to not provide phone service and/or give legal advice.
Please contact your local Law Enforcement Agency to report a stolen device
or if you want to return a found device to its owner.
The iTrackMobile website and apps are simply
a tool for you to aid in the recovery of a lost iPhone, iPad, or iPod.
iTrackMobile is not a substitute for you to engage official legal or investigative resources.
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Which Devices can be registered?
The iTrack Lost and Found Registry is specifically targeted for Apple iPhone, iPad, and
iPod owners and finders.
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Why did I not receive my New Member confirmation email?
When you apply for the free iTrack Membership, the system will send you a confirmation email. The email is send to the email address that you provided.
If you did not receive the confirmation email, please check that the sender iTrackSupport@iTrackMobile.com is permitted to send to your mail account and
is not discarded as 'spam'.
It may be required for you to become an iTrack Member using a different email account. We recommend a free
Windows Live Hotmail or Google Gmail account.
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Why did I not receive my iPhone/iPad/iPod touch Wallpaper ID email attachment?
If a newly registered iPhone or iPad/iPod touch is marked as 'lost', then the iTrack Registry will generate a Wallpaper Id image for future use, but will not attach the image to the confirmation email.
The system assumes that a lost device is physically not available to have the Wallpaper ID applied.
However, once the device is recovered, the unique Wallpaper ID is readily available in the Member's profile for download from the website.
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What about Confidentiality?
Use of the iTrack Registry website requires that an email address be entered in order to:
1. Log In as a Member
2. Apply for a Free Membership
3. Search the Registry for a lost iPhone or iPod
The email is used to appropriately enable communication between the Owner and Finder of a device.
When Members register their iPhone or iPod, the Manufacturers' Serial Number must be provided to the system.
The iTrack system also assigns a unique ID to each registered device. For iPhone, iPad,
or iPod touch devices, the Member has the option to either display the Serial Number or iTrack ID on the Wallpaper ID image
with the appropriate tracking app installed.
No information entered into the iTrack Registry is disseminated to any third party.
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What is 'US Law Enforcement Search Interface'?
The iTrack Registry is a Goodwill Ambassador of
LeadsOnline, the largest online investigation system in use by US Law Enforcement.
iTrack Members can select the option in the Member Profile section if their information about a lost (or stolen)
iPhone/iPad/iPod can be automatically interfaced with
the LeadsOnline Investigation System. If the option is selected, then the iTrack
Registry will electronically transfer the Serial Number as well as the Member's Email Address for each device that was marked as 'lost/missing'.
If a device is recovered through LeadsOnline, then Law Enforcement will contact the iTrack Member directly via the Email Address or Contact Phone Number (if supplied by Member).
This feature is made available to iTrack Members at no cost.
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Does my iTrack Membership expire?
Each registered iPhone, iPad, or iPod is automatically listed for 365 days. Prior to imminent expiration of a device listing, an email is send to the Member requesting renewal of the subscription.
If no response is received by the system, then the device will be automatically removed from the iTrack Registry.
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Can I change my Member ID?
YES. When you sign up for the iTrack Registry you are asked to provide a unique email address which is used as your Member ID.
Any iPhone, iPad and/or iPod that you register is associated with your Member ID.
When you first create your Member Account, your email address is also the
Contact email Address used for the system to communicate with you and any person
who recovers your lost device. If you change the Contact email Address in
the future, you can also change the Member ID at that time.
Please note that your Contact email Address must be able to receive email
notifications from the iTrack system.
THE SYSTEM WILL AUTOMATICALLY REMOVE A MEMBER ACCOUNT THAT HAS AN INVALID
CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS ON RECORD FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS.
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What if my Email Address changes?
If your Email Address has changed, log in to your iTrack Member account and change the Contact Email Address in your Member Profile to your new address. The initial Contact Email Address is the same as your Member ID. Note that the Member ID (the original Email Address used when you signed up)
can also be changed at that time.
Also, your Contact Email Address must be unique within the iTrack Registry; i.e. the system will generate an error condition if your Contact Email Address is changed to an email address that is already in use by another member.
THE SYSTEM WILL AUTOMATICALLY REMOVE A MEMBER ACCOUNT THAT HAS AN INVALID
CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS ON RECORD FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS.
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How much does the Membership cost?
There is no charge for being a Member and listing iPhone, iPad, or iPod devices in the iTrack Registry.
Donations are accepted for any amount to help in making this service available on an an going basis.
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How can I make a Donation or contribute?
Donations are accepted for any amount to help in making this service available on an going basis.
Advertisement space is also available for a fee. Please
contact us for prevailing rates.
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Can a Member register more than one Device?
Yes. An unrestricted number of iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices may
be registered by a given Member.
It should be noted that each device must have a unique Manufacturers' Serial Number.
The same device may not be registered by multiple Members at the same time.
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Where can I find the Serial Number of my iPhone, iPad, or iPod?
The following link is good sources of Apple's documentation which describes various ways to identify the serial number of your device.
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Can the Wallpaper ID be customized?
Yes, but only for iPhone or iPad/iPod touch units that have the appropriate tracking application installed. A default Wallpaper ID is generated by the system and emailed to the Member each time the Member registers
a new iPhone or iPad/iPod touch.
The Wallpaper ID shows a unique iTrack ID as well as other information to enable a Finder to search the iTrack Registry for
an Owners' lost iPhone or iPad/iPod touch.
NOTE: If the appropriate tracking application is installed on the iPhone or iPad/iPod touch, then the Wallpaper ID can be
customized directly from the device. More detailed information can be found here.
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Is there a limit to the number of Wallpaper ID's for a given iPhone or iPad/iPod touch?
YES, unless the appropriate tracking app is installed. Each time a Member registers a new iPhone, iPad, or iPod, the system assigns a unique iTrack ID to a given unit. For
iPhones or iPad/iPod touch devices, one free default Wallpaper ID image is generated.
A Member can customize an unlimited number of wallpaper images for a given unit directly from the device if the appropriate tracking application was downloaded on the App Store.
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How does the Wallpaper ID get onto the iPhone/iPad/iPod touch?
The Wallpaper ID image can be obtained from the iTrack Registry in multiple ways:
Whenever a new iPhone or iPad/iPod touch is registered, the Member will receive an email with the
default Wallpaper ID image file as an attachment.
Note: If the iPhone and iPod touch does not run the latest software update (2.0 or above), the Wallpaper ID cannot be loaded directly from the iTrack website onto the device.
Instead, synchronization procedures need to be followed using the iTunes program on a Mac or PC.Click
here for more detailed instructions.
If the user installed the appropriate tracking program from the Apple App Store, then the Wallpaper ID can be customized directly from the device.
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Ho do I remove the iTrack Wallpaper ID image from my device?
To delete the iTrack Wallpaper ID of the device, go to Settings -->Wallpaper and
select a replacement wallpaper image manually.
Note that when removing a tracking app or deleting your Membership from the iTrack Registry, the associated
iTrack Wallpaper ID displayed at device start-up is not removed automatically.
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What to do when an iPhone, iPad, or iPod is lost?
For iPhone and iPad/iPod touch devices, the iTrack default Wallpaper ID shows the website and Device ID on the
Lock Screen.
When a Member customizes a Wallpaper ID, care must be taken that sufficient contact information is displayed to direct a Finder where
to search or what to do.
When a device is lost, the Member should log into the iTrack Registry and mark the device as 'lost/missing'. The system also allows
the Member to enter additional information describing the circumstances, such as possible place and time, under which the loss occurred.
The system permits for the optional identification of an Owner Contact Phone Number, which will be displayed on the website in the event of a matching search result.
For obvious reasons, care should be taken not to disseminate unnecessary private information.
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What to do when an iPhone, iPad, or iPod is found?
For iPhone or iPad/iPod touch devices, the iTrack default Wallpaper ID shows the website and Device ID on the
Lock Screen.
A Finder searches the iTrack Registry for the Device ID (or Serial Number in case of iPods) and will be shown any information
that the Owner provided at time of registration.
The finder can send a message to the Owner using the iTrack system. No private Owner information is displayed on the website.
A Member can configure the system to receive an email alert every time a search result matches a registered device.
Also, the system allows for the option to not show any search results for a matching device unless the Member declared the unit as 'lost/missing'.
Since the iTrack Registry is a self-help system, it is up to the Finder and Owner to facilitate the most suitable method to return the device (possibly in exchange for a reward).
Once a device is returned to the Member, the device should be marked in the iTrack Registry as 'recovered'.
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I found an iPhone,iPad, or iPod with a dead battery or locked screen. How do I get the Serial Number?
We recommend in this case that the device be taken to the nearest Apple retailer and ask the friendly sales or technical staff to connect the device to a power source via a USB cable.
Once power is re-established, the serial number should be retrievable.
If the screen was locked, then the device can be restored to factory settings using iTunes, after which the serial number can be obtained from the device.
With the serial number in hand, the iTrack Registry can then be searched for a possible owner match, or the finder can now register the unit.
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What if an iPhone, iPad, or iPod is found that has not been registered by an Owner?
When someone finds an iPhone, iPad, or iPod and searches the iTrack Registry without locating a matching entry, the Finder has the option to register the device by its Serial Number.
The Finder can specify contact information as well as make comments that describe how proof of ownership is to be provided.
When the iTrack Registry is subsequently searched by someone, such as the
legitimate owner, or one of the affiliated Law Enforcement Agencies, the system will display the matching Serial Number and enable contact to be made with the Finder.
A Finder can remove a device from the Registry after having been returned to the rightful Owner.
Entries for found devices are kept in the iTrack Registry for a maximum period determined by the system, which is currently 180 days.
After the expiration period, the entry will be automatically removed from the Registry.
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Who maintains the iTrack Data?
The iTrack Members do. The iTrack Registry is a self-help database-driven website which is hosted and sponsored by Omni Counsulting, LLC.
Each Member enters and maintains profile information for each registered
iPhone, iPad, or iPod. The iTrack system will perform data integration and validation checks according to the built-in business rules and display any error messages for correction/action by the Member.
A Member can elect at any time to register or delete previously registered devices. Also, the Membership can be voluntarily terminated by a Member at any time by removing all of the Membership information.
Note that when information is deleted by a Member, the data is permanently removed from the system.
There is no undo feature. The iTrack Registry does not retain any information about past Members and/or registered devices.
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Can the iTrack website also be used from the iPhone or iPad/iPod touch?
Yes. The iTrack website detects when an iPhone or iPad/iPod touch is connected and allows for the following usage modes, adjusted to the functional capabilities of the mobile device:
1. All the applicable website features are made available when connected in 'Desktop Mode'
2. Only the most significant features are made available when connected in 'Mobile Mode'
When connected with an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, a user can switch between 'Desktop Mode' and 'Mobile Mode'.
The advantage of 'Mobile Mode' is that information on the screen is presented in a less 'crowded' manner. The disadvantage is that not all features of the system are available.
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