Please help me with my Tab A 10.1 wifi PLEASE - Samsung Galaxy Tab A series Accessories

So, a bit of a backstory. I'm part of a parenting group who does work with the local school system. They help lower income families and such, and during the remote learning part of COVID they were responsible for giving out tablets and hot spots to allow children without the means to remotely learn. Well now that remote learning is over they had surplus tablets and hotspots and because my fiancée and I are in a parenting group/education class we were entered in a raffle sponsored by them. We won tablets. Tab A 10.1 Wi-Fi tabs. Nice as hell. They came loaded with a Knox configuration for a company for early education called HATCH. Inc. It uses an app called IGNITE!. The security profile locks the wallpaper, and a few other things that are obviously centered around the school stuff. Well, a lot is unlocked also, but I'm concerned about my privacy and inability to upgrade and/or install apps of my discretion. I reached out to the head company several times for them to unlock it. I opened the developers options and was able to enable USB debugging as well as OEM unlock to unlock the bootloader. It had the option readily available. Since then, I have tried EVERYTHING to uninstall this security profile by flashing custom ROMs and everything. I've googled several dozen hours and have installed drivers, .tar recovery files, apps, Odin, flashers, rooters, romers, holy relics, mantras, novels, movies, self-help magazines, you freaking name it I've done it. I also have yet to find a clear, DEFINED set of instructions for my SPECIFIC model of tablet, and the firmware downloads are questionable. Please, PLEASE freaking God above, PLEASE, one of you android gurus help me! I can't get up with the company to remove it because they don't return calls or emails, and I can't find any real help online. This is so freaking aggravating. I OWN THIS TABLET. IT IS MY PROPERTY. Someone, help me disable this Knox crap, so I can use my tablet at my discretion. Please.

That's quit a story...

Indeed. Quite the story and quite the debacle. Most definitely one of the most annoying things that I've dealt with in a long while.

nundril said:
Indeed. Quite the story and quite the debacle. Most definitely one of the most annoying things that I've dealt with in a long while.
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Try to stick to just the pertinent facts especially with issues like this. The axion the longer the story the bigger the lie applies to my former statement. You didn't snap on me so I'll give you the benefit of doubt.
You won't like the answer but the easiest way is to get the IT department to delete the work profile. Not much of a prize if they don't. Some face to face encounters might motivate them better. Rub it it in if you have to, and don't take no for an answer. May take multiple people, trips, letters, whatever, climb the ladder to the top of that administrative chain if needed.
Consider it a lesson in assertiveness, you can never get too much of this type of training and it's free.
Otherwise the solutions you see in the Google searches are what's available.

Understandable. As of now I've just stuck to emails and phone calls. The head office is located about an hour and a half from my location so a ride to them for me and my fiancee tablets to work might be worth it. Appreciate the response and the honesty, I just figured I would explain the situation because I've seen so many times where a situation could've been handled had it been explained in greater detail. Just trying to convey the whole situation to an audience with zero knowledge of me or the situation as to hopefully reach someone with the knowledge to help, that's all.

Knox is a true pain. I avoid using it as much as possible because of the trouble it can cause.
XDA gets at times 1 request a day to bypass FRP lockouts. Some of those are stolen devices.
My dead mother's, friend's, etc. , I forgot it, it was like this when I bought it, my professor assigned us to hack it; the list is endless. Most are first post new members.
Of course some are innocent victims that got caught up in the machine as it were. Best advice is to return to vendor/do a charge back or get the unlock code from the last owner.
Rock simple stupid works the best.
If you're in the right the satisfaction of getting it resolved outweighs the time spent. I'm one of the few people who has gotten a refund check from Sony... it took dozens of calls. It was worth it in satisfaction alone

Do you think that calling Samsung customer support would make something shake? I mean considering we are legitimate owners, of which the instructors of our parenting class (who are employees of the early education place who distributed the tablets) are happy to attest to. I talked to them and they said to email or call and they would verify ownership and the details of the raffle etc etc to whomever reached out to them. If Hatch. Inc won't answer my calls perhaps Samsung might be able to help? Just trying to gather info at this point.

nundril said:
Do you think that calling Samsung customer support would make something shake? I mean considering we are legitimate owners, of which the instructors of our parenting class (who are employees of the early education place who distributed the tablets) are happy to attest to. I talked to them and they said to email or call and they would verify ownership and the details of the raffle etc etc to whomever reached out to them. If Hatch. Inc won't answer my calls perhaps Samsung might be able to help? Just trying to gather info at this point.
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You can try, Samsung customer support is notoriously horrible. Replacing the mobo would fix it. There maybe less drastic ways to resolve it.
The source of your dilemma are your benefactors not ensuring the gifts were properly decommissioned. They should see their mistake is rectified if they are sincere. Actions have consequences... even if by omission.

Related

AT&T rep: "Your GS4 is slow because you did not activate it properly."

Returned my GS4 today (that's not the purpose of this thread, so don't bash me), and when the guy asked why I was returning it, I said it's kind of laggy and not enough of an upgrade over my GS3 to warrant keeping. A few minutes later he asked if I ever "activated" the phone, and I said, "I just stuck my SIM card in and it worked." He responded, "Well that is why your GS4 was slow--you did not activate it properly."
I proceeded to explain to him that I did not mean that data was slow, but that the phone itself was laggy, i.e., opening dialer, taking pictures, etc--stuff that has nothing to do with the SIM card or activation. He nevertheless argued with me and insisted that if I had properly activated it instead of just inserting my SIM card, then it would have functioned better. We argued for a minute or two and then I just gave up and said "fine, I would like to return it anyways, thanks."
Anyways, just thought I'd share. The guy clearly has no idea what he's talking about, but it was worth a laugh.
It's like when I told the att rep that I might not be purchasing tha s4 because of the locked boot loader. She proceeded to explain that you could take the back of the phone off and that it was not locked.
MrGriffdude said:
It's like when I told the att rep that I might not be purchasing tha s4 because of the locked boot loader. She proceeded to explain that you could take the back of the phone off and that it was not locked.
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Lol do these people get ZERO training?
Sent from my HTC One
MrGriffdude said:
It's like when I told the att rep that I might not be purchasing tha s4 because of the locked boot loader. She proceeded to explain that you could take the back of the phone off and that it was not locked.
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Ha. Funniest post so far today...
Ugh, this makes me so angry. These AT&T reps remind me of Best Buy employees that sell computers or phones. They are so used to being the "person that knows everything" that they can't deal with being proved wrong or won't see it any other way. For example, I wanted a Macbook Pro and I knew the onboard video card could run my favorite games at a full 60 fps.. So I asked for a sales person to get me the laptop in the cage. Instead, I was given a lecture by the sales person on why "Macs can't play games" and I should get this HP "gaming" laptop (17 inches, neon lights, etc). I tried to educate him on things like bootcamp, nVidia series numbers, and even the games themselves, but nothing got through. He was told at some point in his life that "Macs can't play games" and that's that.
It's gotten to the point where if I want to cancel a service or return a product and they ask "what was wrong?" I simply say "it wasn't the right fit for me" or "I just want to try something else". It's not worth getting in an argument about because there are no winners and you aren't going to educate anyone that gets paid to sell, sell, sell. Educate yourself ahead of time of the store's policies and if the rep tries to give you sh*t, just ask for a manager and be sure you are able to quote policy if need be.
I work for AT&T. I'm not a tech support slave, I'd like to keep my title confidential, but I will say that these people don't deserve this kind of trashtalk.
Do remember that over 90% of AT&T's subscriber base is not the type of individual that's going to browse these forums or know what a locked bootloader even is. The % of the Android community that is into modding is way smaller than you think. Why would AT&T train their tech support slaves on locked bootloaders and rooting? 99% of the time, they deal with billing issues and irate customers who are complaining about service drops.
The tech support slaves also don't have training on the internal workings of the tiered system of Android. They didn't make the phone, they can't tell you why it's slow. The only material they have to go off of, is the same material that's available to us from within the box, and the information they catch up on when people call and complain to them. They aren't programmers, they aren't Samsung. They aren't Google. They are a provider of service. I'm sure almost everyone here would agree that it's dumb to call Comcast and ask them why your computer is slow(Not your internet, but your computer). This is the exact same thing. What do you expect them to say when you say "I'm not going to get the S4 because it has a locked bootloader"? Do you expect the response to be "Well sir I can assist you with that. Please dial this 24 digit number and the pound key and your bootloader will be unlocked.", how do you expect them to fix it for you? Locked bootloaders happen for a LEGAL reason, and the bootloader has already been unlocked. Everyone on XDA is so impatient and rude anymore, it makes me not want to be a part of the degrading community.
In my opinion, the person calling AT&T to complain about their phone being slow and laggy shows less common sense than the AT&T rep who can't help them. Just because they're "Tech Support" doesn't mean they can magically give you explenations out of the nether or fix any problem you might have with the hardware that they did not manufacture. Android is an operating system. If you bought your computer from Walmart and it came with Windows installed, would you call Walmart and ask them questions about why your system isn't performing the way it's supposed to, or would you call Microsoft; the people responsible for the software on the device?
Cut these people a break. It's impossible to police the entire bug list of Android across every handset on the market. 90% of the Android user-base wouldn't even notice that the phone was performing slowly when it shouldn't. Us here at XDA are a huge minority.
When I saw this thread, I laughed, not because of what the AT&T rep said, but because the OP was expecting them to give them some detailed analysis on why their phone is lagging. Maybe AT&T should start hiring their tech support slaves directly from Google Interns, then these wambulance threads wouldn't happen.
If you had any idea how much "training" is required to work in any kind of support department for AT&T, you would think twice before crying on forums about how they didn't rifle off a fix for every little problem you have.
As to the comment above me, I will recite the same. Sales people aren't scholars of technology. He's correct that gaming on a Mac is very uncommon, considering almost every computer game in existence runs on DirectX, which is owned by Microsoft, thus not able to be efficiently included in OS X. Do you really damn the salesman for telling you that Windows has 3498230948230948x more gaming capabilities than a Mac? Because I hate to tell you this, but he's right. If I were the salesman, I would try to prevent you from grossly overpaying by 200-300% for a device that you're going to have to jump through hoops for to play an insanely large library of games. What makes it even more hilarious is that now you can install OS X on a Windows based machine, so you're literally overpaying 200-300% for a shiny white Mac because you are a sheeple. Show me any Mac, and I'll build you a Windows computer with Mac OS-X on it for a third of the price. But seriously, If you want to buy a Mac for gaming and you want them to talk to you about strictly Macs, go to an apple store. If you go to a computer store, they're going to try to talk you into Windows, because it's what 85% of the world uses. This is also not a random statistic, although the study is a few years old.
geokhentix said:
I work for AT&T. I'm not a tech support slave, I'd like to keep my title confidential, but I will say that these people don't deserve this kind of trashtalk.
Do remember that over 90% of AT&T's subscriber base is not the type of individual that's going to browse these forums or know what a locked bootloader even is. The % of the Android community that is into modding is way smaller than you think. Why would AT&T train their tech support slaves on locked bootloaders and rooting? 99% of the time, they deal with billing issues and irate customers who are complaining about service drops.
The tech support slaves also don't have training on the internal workings of the tiered system of Android. They didn't make the phone, they can't tell you why it's slow. The only material they have to go off of, is the same material that's available to us from within the box, and the information they catch up on when people call and complain to them. They aren't programmers, they aren't Samsung. They aren't Google. They are a provider of service. I'm sure almost everyone here would agree that it's dumb to call Comcast and ask them why your computer is slow(Not your internet, but your computer). This is the exact same thing. What do you expect them to say when you say "I'm not going to get the S4 because it has a locked bootloader"? Do you expect the response to be "Well sir I can assist you with that. Please dial this 24 digit number and the pound key and your bootloader will be unlocked.", how do you expect them to fix it for you? Locked bootloaders happen for a LEGAL reason, and the bootloader has already been unlocked. Everyone on XDA is so impatient and rude anymore, it makes me not want to be a part of the degrading community.
In my opinion, the person calling AT&T to complain about their phone being slow and laggy shows less common sense than the AT&T rep who can't help them. Just because they're "Tech Support" doesn't mean they can magically give you explenations out of the nether or fix any problem you might have with the hardware that they did not manufacture. Android is an operating system. If you bought your computer from Walmart and it came with Windows installed, would you call Walmart and ask them questions about why your system isn't performing the way it's supposed to, or would you call Microsoft; the people responsible for the software on the device?
Cut these people a break. It's impossible to police the entire bug list of Android across every handset on the market. 90% of the Android user-base wouldn't even notice that the phone was performing slowly when it shouldn't. Us here at XDA are a huge minority.
When I saw this thread, I laughed, not because of what the AT&T rep said, but because the OP was expecting them to give them some detailed analysis on why their phone is lagging. Maybe AT&T should start hiring their tech support slaves directly from Google Interns, then these wambulance threads wouldn't happen.
If you had any idea how much "training" is required to work in any kind of support department for AT&T, you would think twice before crying on forums about how they didn't rifle off a fix for every little problem you have.
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Agree!
It's like people expect that store (best buy, cellular ect) employees all have a BAS or MBA in computer science..
Could have read it wrong,but looks like he was returning his phone and the att rep asked him why. So he told them. what was wrong with that? He didn't take his phone to att thinking some kind of magic was going to take place and it wouldn't lag anymore. That was the att rep saying if he actavatied it he wouldn't have that problem. Again maybe I read the op wrong.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium
I'm fine with people not knowing if its that important i will usually know about it anyways. I just dislike it when I get a bull crap response in return. If I do receive one I don't make a scene and argue with them. I just thought that response was worth a chuckle or two.
atsim said:
Could have read it wrong,but looks like he was returning his phone and the att rep asked him why. So he told them. what was wrong with that? He didn't take his phone to att thinking some kind of magic was going to take place and it wouldn't lag anymore. That was the att rep saying if he actavatied it he wouldn't have that problem. Again maybe I read the op wrong.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium
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Considering the title of the thread is meant to find humor in the reps response, it doesn't really matter how it came about. If he wanted to return his phone, do it without picking fun at people who are literally paid to be treated like dirt. I have to talk to support every single day in my job, and trust me, it can be a huge headache, but I don't hold it against them because I know that when I hang up with them, 9 times out of 10, the next person that picks up the phone is going to scream at them.
Perhaps I was a little rude, I meant no offense to any of you.
geokhentix said:
I work for AT&T. I'm not a tech support slave, I'd like to keep my title confidential, but I will say that these people don't deserve this kind of trashtalk.
Do remember that over 90% of AT&T's subscriber base is not the type of individual that's going to browse these forums or know what a locked bootloader even is. The % of the Android community that is into modding is way smaller than you think. Why would AT&T train their tech support slaves on locked bootloaders and rooting? 99% of the time, they deal with billing issues and irate customers who are complaining about service drops.
The tech support slaves also don't have training on the internal workings of the tiered system of Android. They didn't make the phone, they can't tell you why it's slow. The only material they have to go off of, is the same material that's available to us from within the box, and the information they catch up on when people call and complain to them. They aren't programmers, they aren't Samsung. They aren't Google. They are a provider of service. I'm sure almost everyone here would agree that it's dumb to call Comcast and ask them why your computer is slow(Not your internet, but your computer). This is the exact same thing. What do you expect them to say when you say "I'm not going to get the S4 because it has a locked bootloader"? Do you expect the response to be "Well sir I can assist you with that. Please dial this 24 digit number and the pound key and your bootloader will be unlocked.", how do you expect them to fix it for you? Locked bootloaders happen for a LEGAL reason, and the bootloader has already been unlocked. Everyone on XDA is so impatient and rude anymore, it makes me not want to be a part of the degrading community.
In my opinion, the person calling AT&T to complain about their phone being slow and laggy shows less common sense than the AT&T rep who can't help them. Just because they're "Tech Support" doesn't mean they can magically give you explenations out of the nether or fix any problem you might have with the hardware that they did not manufacture. Android is an operating system. If you bought your computer from Walmart and it came with Windows installed, would you call Walmart and ask them questions about why your system isn't performing the way it's supposed to, or would you call Microsoft; the people responsible for the software on the device?
Cut these people a break. It's impossible to police the entire bug list of Android across every handset on the market. 90% of the Android user-base wouldn't even notice that the phone was performing slowly when it shouldn't. Us here at XDA are a huge minority.
When I saw this thread, I laughed, not because of what the AT&T rep said, but because the OP was expecting them to give them some detailed analysis on why their phone is lagging. Maybe AT&T should start hiring their tech support slaves directly from Google Interns, then these wambulance threads wouldn't happen.
If you had any idea how much "training" is required to work in any kind of support department for AT&T, you would think twice before crying on forums about how they didn't rifle off a fix for every little problem you have.
As to the comment above me, I will recite the same. Sales people aren't scholars of technology. He's correct that gaming on a Mac is very uncommon, considering almost every computer game in existence runs on DirectX, which is owned by Microsoft, thus not able to be efficiently included in OS X. Do you really damn the salesman for telling you that Windows has 3498230948230948x more gaming capabilities than a Mac? Because I hate to tell you this, but he's right. If I were the salesman, I would try to prevent you from grossly overpaying by 200-300% for a device that you're going to have to jump through hoops for to play an insanely large library of games. What makes it even more hilarious is that now you can install OS X on a Windows based machine, so you're literally overpaying 200-300% for a shiny white Mac because you are a sheeple. Show me any Mac, and I'll build you a Windows computer with Mac OS-X on it for a third of the price. But seriously, If you want to buy a Mac for gaming and you want them to talk to you about strictly Macs, go to an apple store. If you go to a computer store, they're going to try to talk you into Windows, because it's what 85% of the world uses. This is also not a random statistic, although the study is a few years old.
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I tend to disagree. While sure, the reps may not be "informed" they still shouldn't try to talk out of their asses about something they don't understand. If anything this would shy me away from a product than entice me to get it. Imagine if you go to a restaurant and you ask the waiter/waitress about ingredients in a dish, they don't make stuff up if they don't know, they go ask.
As for this being a "degrading community" please get off this forum, as it's clearly not for you.
raqball said:
Agree!
It's like people expect that store (best buy, cellular ect) employees all have a BAS or MBA in computer science..
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My only gripe is when the person you are talking to (best buy, AT&T, etc) claims that they KNOW they are right because they've had some Saturday afternoon training.
See my example above. All I did was ask for a Macbook Pro from the Best Buy rep and I was questioned on my purchase. A more recent example was the AT&T rep asking me why I cared about the release date of the Galaxy S4 because "it's not like this is an iPhone". It shouldn't matter if it's the S4, iPhone or even a dumb phone. Just answer my question and I'll be on my way.
Even when I went to the store to pick up the S4, the AT&T rep started the phone, and logged in as his own Gmail account and installed a "task killer". He had the phone behind the desk where I couldn't see and by the time I had gotten it in my hands, he had logged out of his account. I asked simply "why did you install this?" and he said "well that's so your phone doesn't run slow. Just run that every couple days and your good". I just factory reset as soon as I got in the car and went on my way.
mcmb03 said:
I tend to disagree. While sure, the reps may not be "informed" they still shouldn't try to talk out of their asses about something they don't understand. If anything this would shy me away from a product than entice me to get it. Imagine if you go to a restaurant and you ask the waiter/waitress about ingredients in a dish, they don't make stuff up if they don't know, they go ask.
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They are paid to handle your questions. That is their job. They are not allowed to say "I don't know.", or they will lose their job. If I were at a restaurant and asked a waiter about the ingredients in a dish, I would know that the restaurant obviously made this dish themselves. AT&T did not manufacture the S4. It is not their hardware. It is not their software..well, a small portion of it is. But either way, they shouldn't be held responsible for the physical malfunctions of a device that they didn't themselves produce.
"Degrading community"; go look at the bootloader unlock thread and see how many people are crying and being impatient and just downright rude because djrbliss decided not to release HIS WORK until he sees necessary, and then tell me this community isn't degrading, and if things keep going in this direction, I will find my way off this forum...Because you are right, it's not for me, because I am not an impatient troll that bites the hand that feeds me just because I don't want to wait a few weeks. I do know that this is irrelevant to this thread, but I thought I'd post it anyway. It bothers me so much. I want to punch everyone being jerks in that thread......right in the face.
No I didn't think it was rude. This is xda though people get crazy over the smallest thing. How many lag threads do we have now? Ahaha things get outta hand fast.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium
geokhentix said:
They are paid to handle your questions. That is their job. They are not allowed to say "I don't know.", or they will lose their job. If I were at a restaurant and asked a waiter about the ingredients in a dish, I would know that the restaurant obviously made this dish themselves. AT&T did not manufacture the S4. It is not their hardware. It is not their software..well, a small portion of it is. But either way, they shouldn't be held responsible for the physical malfunctions of a device that they didn't themselves produce.
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I didn't say they should say they don't know, they should go find a more well-informed rep at the store and find out, unless you condone of AT&T reps to lie to their customers.
Also I don't mean to sound harsh, it's just something that really pisses me off, and I'm not trying to flame you or anything
mcmb03 said:
I didn't say they should say they don't know, they should go find a more well-informed rep at the store and find out, unless you condone of AT&T reps to lie to their customers.
Also I don't mean to sound harsh, it's just something that really pisses me off, and I'm not trying to flame you or anything
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Hey, no worries, all in good fun right? I don't condone lying, but they aren't allowed to tell you they don't know, they'll lose their jobs if that happens too often...they're basically forced to lie if they can't give you a definite answer. Damn, if I get one bad survey, my director breathes down my neck like a dragon and threatens to send me to gitmo.
geokhentix said:
Considering the title of the thread is meant to find humor in the reps response, it doesn't really matter how it came about. If he wanted to return his phone, do it without picking fun at people who are literally paid to be treated like dirt. I have to talk to support every single day in my job, and trust me, it can be a huge headache, but I don't hold it against them because I know that when I hang up with them, 9 times out of 10, the next person that picks up the phone is going to scream at them.
Perhaps I was a little rude, I meant no offense to any of you.
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As a retail sales leader for one of the major 4 in the US I find the OP to have every right to post what he did and use the Thread title he did. The sales rep that helped him in an effing dolt. Along the same lines as the reps that tell customers that they need to condition a Lithium Ion/Lithium Polymer battery. You need to calm down bro.
mcmb03 said:
I didn't say they should say they don't know, they should go find a more well-informed rep at the store and find out, unless you condone of AT&T reps to lie to their customers.
Also I don't mean to sound harsh, it's just something that really pisses me off, and I'm not trying to flame you or anything
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Exactly making something up is worse then not knowing just tell me you don't know and be done with it. don't make something up and misinform people
MrGriffdude said:
Exactly making something up is worse then not knowing just tell me you don't know and be done with it. don't make something up and misinform people
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When my job is on the line and I have a family to feed and I have no information in front of me about the problem you're having, I'll tell you that your phone is slow because there's a small civilization of gnomes inside your device that are getting a little too sexual and overbreeding
geokhentix said:
When my job is on the line and I have a family to feed and I have no information in front of me about the problem you're having, I'll tell you that your phone is slow because there's a small civilization of gnomes inside your device that are getting a little too sexual and overbreeding
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Now that people would definitely believe!

Unlock Iphone 5 with Fido

Dear XDA members,
Please can you help me to unlock my iphone 5 from fido canadian carier because I don't have money right now and it's so high in the market online or stores is about 125 Dollars. I wanna to give it to my fiancee that I love so much as a birthday gift. Please please help help me as soon as possible. Thank you very much in advance and looking forward to hear from you soon.
Best regards,
¸
Mouahed
Montreal
Moandro said:
Dear XDA members,
Please can you help me to unlock my iphone 5 from fido canadian carier because I don't have money right now and it's so high in the market online or stores is about 125 Dollars. I wanna to give it to my fiancee that I love so much as a birthday gift. Please please help help me as soon as possible. Thank you very much in advance and looking forward to hear from you soon.
Best regards,
¸
Le IMEI number : :good:
Mouahed
Montreal
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Take off ur imei number immediately. No one should know it
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
okey thank you, but can you please help me with issue.
Moandro said:
okey thank you, but can you please help me with issue.
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This site is not for Crapple products. Try using Google to search or our sister site at http://iphone-developers.com/
There is lots of website available on the internet, just Google it. Pick the best site where you can resolve your problem.
@brookeaidan - Not to trole you or anything but I noticed a pattern forming of telling people to just google it. Though its a good suggestion to use google, I'm not saying write pages or something, just be a bit more helpful if your going to post help. Maybe post a link to a google search for them (not everyone is a wiz a google) because this is hard to get into (unlocking or hacking or rooting) the first time but once someone gets a win it's all good for the most part from there on.
I would suggest;
1. example Google search the following or to help resolve the questions in this here thread:
"Iphone"+"unlock" how to similar:xda
Or
"Iphone"+"unbrick" how to similar:iphone-developers
2. If you've got some knowledge to drop or experience to share its a good idea to post it so that the original poster can benefit and all future readers. For example:
When I had to unlock my first phone I first read up on the legalities, the how to(s) and then picked the best rout of action... at that time it was not illegal in the nation I resided and most of the how to(s) where way over my head (at that time) so I found that adding "solved" to the search queries pulled one up on "how to unlock your phone with help from service provider" in that guide it went over the steps of escalating a call without burning bridges and the legitimate reasons that you can give a service provider to assist you with unlocking a device.
Example of escalating the call
Service provider turns a request down
Respond something like
"That's ok <insert name> I won't waist your time further, can you please connect to your supervisor"
When supervisor answers, this is usually after the person you've just talked to has shared some words about you to their supervisor, so be polite but firm with the first person you talked to they'll likely also try to turn you down as well. Don't get impatient here, instead re-state your wishes completely, pause long enough that the supervisor can "grunt" that they've herd you but not long enough that they can interrupt you until you've finished everything that you need to say, if they do interrupt say something like
"I respect your time <insert name> and I need you to listen because this is very important <continue statement>"
When you're telling your story some things to keep in mind; don't lie, don't raze your voice (tention in the voice works far better), know that the first 2 or 3 people you talk to may not have the knowledge or the ability to do what you want so treat it like an adventure
Now for the reasons why a service provider might be cool enough to help you;
~ A family or business emergency, vacation, or trip is taking you out of your provider's coverage without incurring steep roaming charges wile your abroad.
This was the one that worked for me at least and was suggested by others. Make it sound like it could happen soon and let them know that you love your device and your service and don't want to have to leave them just to get a phone that'll work over seas because you love your phone (remember )... most people get it by then and are more apt to be on your side about connecting you to the department that handles unlocking.
So to recap
~ polite but firm and prepared to repeat yourself
~ request to be connected to the person(s) or department that can resolve your issue
~ use the persons name and the names of the persons to talked to before
~ treat it like an adventure
Doing so ensures
~ the person you are talking to is willing to help
~ prevents you from getting turned down and hung up on
~ let's them know that you will remember them, this is powerful when used correctly
~ by being up beet with company represinitives on the phone you can make them really eager to please. Note though; not to be to chatty or friendly as this will drag things out.
Some additional notes about unlocking devices:
I've unlocked many phones (no iphones yet) and two with the above method before doing it with guides and USB and programs or exploits on other devices. Both routs are tedious at times but if you take notes and are persistent you'll find a method that works in either rout.
In all companies the least secure and most flexibility/leverage can be found in the call centers, as a customer it's a good idea to know how to get your moneys worth out of 'em so perhaps look up social engineering (The Art of Deception was an entertaining read) or NLP (Darin Brown can be found on Youtube and it's good for a laugh too. Tools like that when used to get what you want as a customer can make life far quicker and easier even if your not out to exploit something but instead have a legitimate concern. I'm not saying that you should become some kind of mind master but instead take a look at the key concepts and apply them to actively construct a conversation that leads to your goal. After playing round with both ways of unlocking I can say getting a service provider to do it for you is kinda more fun, ya get to make peoples days a bit more interesting (such as when ya get a talker that then clams up because the realize that the conversation is recorded on their end and they've just said... something...) and not stare into a PC screen but instead kick your feet up and let them handle it.
If you go with option 1 and find a guide and unlock your device at home do be sure your not going to get stuck with some kind of fine for breaking a law and be sure to look up guides on how to unbrick and or recover from boot loop; bricks and boot loops happen, knowing how to solve it before it happens makes things so much quicker.
If you go with option 2 be sure to not cancel or suspend your contract or otherwise alter your contract (such as adding international roaming, they tried that one a few times on me, just said "no, thanks though" and moved on) because such things are not needed And if they suggest it then; let them know that you will make contact just before traveling and that "this" call is to ensure that the next rep you talk to has only those steps left to do and that "this" call is to get all the time and technical intensive things out of the way so that you and the next rep are not scrableing to get it done that day. They may suggest all sorts of other solutions, like a pre-paid phone, this is where you loving your phone or needing something on it for business to work comes into play. If one level of supervisor doesn't cut it go higher. And if you're transfered more than twice and had to repeat yourself more than that then on the next transfer ask to be directly connected or to have the person that is trasfering you to stay on the line to help explain why your being trasfered to the new person; this makes it so that you are using duble the resources of the company and most of them know it, so getting you quickly trasfered and the issue explained becomes a priority to the first person you talked to and the second person your about to talk to is being put at ease because someone from their company is explaining things to them before you do (prepping the target) these two forces combined cause you to become viewed as within their circle and leads to them wanting to work with you more rather than just push you down the line. Like I said though don't go lieing to your service provider but know that there are ligit reasons you may have to require your service provider do this.
As with all things you see on the web use at own risk
And happy hacking, whether it be on humans or what they make.
Sent from either my SPH-D700 or myTouch3Gs
Debian Kit/QEMU Linux Install guide for all android devices that I'm writing:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2240397
Now have working Installers for ARM Java 7 JDK + Maptools + jMonkey
Sorry, but there isn't a lot of iPhone development on xda and sooner or later this thread is going to see some heavy anti-iPhone trolling. So thread closed, and please try a website that is specialized for iPhones....like this one: http://iphone-developers.com/

[Q] (not) Unique Situation - Have 2 Galaxy S3 Verizon and Need Guidance

Hi:
I started writing a thread the other day but stopped as it was full of drama and detail not important. This is what happened (when there is drama I will insert [D] with no detail so the context is maintained a bit.
I was minding my own business when one day last week my Samsung Galaxy G3 (I535) suddenly lost the ability to make/receive calls. I was on 4.1.2 and rooted, bootloader unlocked via ODIN. I thought I had loaded software that caused the problem. Couldn't resolve. Called Verizon [D] [D] to level 2, no problem, let me check a few things, OK, cool, do you have 2nd SIM? Yes! OK, it must be the phone, let's get you a replacement.. (Saturday, Phone arrives Tues).
New phone, powers up, no updates, authentication nightmare. Will not auth. Call Verizon...just wait a while?...OK.
Some hours later, authenticated. Very odd problems: charge isn't indicated on several chargers, then it is, then it isn't, charger independent? Keyboard exhibits over 1000 ms delay on press; unusable. Several other odd problems. Confused, I look online: Verizon Galaxy G3 4.4.2 update slow. First two hits happen to be Verizon's own "self-support" boards. All my symptoms and more. Lot's of Verizon's taking customers through the swamp looking for snipe. Reboot, Sim pull/insert, Factory Reset. Called Verizon back, hold times 4x previous call. Getting to Level 2 very difficult, CS rep actually states: "I know most of our phones and I haven't heard this set of problems". I refered him to Verizon's web site, grudingly sends me to Level 2. Extremely long hold time, and upon answer that group is not busy at all but relaxing talking together. Guy is grumpy, "Let me check something", back without hold in about 10 mins. "What ROM did you flash on the phone!?" first thing he said to me.
I've never flashed a ROM on any phone, for the record. I told him I knew what was and didn't do that. He insisted that he "couldn't read the software on the phone" [D] [D]!
I maintained polite, and focused on a solution, but he would not hear of that. I also offered to do a Factory Reset at least twice. "The Custom ROM will still be there after Factory Reset!" Perhaps, but then that would prove what I did and didn't do, maybe? Finally, I told him that I was very tired, and we weren't solving anything. Could I have an problem ticket number or incident number for reference. "We don't use those anymore". "You can have my employee ID and my phone number." Sorry if this is not PC, but it felt like a rapist giving his victim his contact information, should victim want to be in touch. I said, no, I'll just call back.
Immediately upon termination the new phone (replacement) displayed "Safe Mode" no apps, and the inabilty to unselect "screen mirroring" a new feature to me, but now turned on. I pull the SIM and factory reset, even though I had loaded many apps back (Inclulding Towelroot, which I had found and implemented). Although no idication of root before, the phone showed rooted and customer or modified, I don't remember the fields. Next day called back, long holds, CS OK, everyone had read Level 2 notes. Sent me up to Level 2. Long hold time, over 30 minutes. Cold response. I asked why the replacement of a non-functioning device had branched into, after receiving said device, two separate issues, to me it was one, getting my service back. Cold, "what do you want us to do?" Not knowing, I said, "I don't know, I just want the phone to work". Finally he went to talk to the boss, came back at 0 deg. Kelvin, through clenched teeth: You can take your phone to Best Buy, they will flash it back (I presumed to 4.1.2), after factory reboot and confirm no....[D] Thanks, I terminated.
At this point I had no working phone for several days, and I felt very upset about the entire situation, especially how I'd been treated by the last two guys. The first after the replacement was so out of line he should have been sanctioned, and an appology directed at me by manager, unless....
This is what they intended to happen. Because the OTA updates hadn't taken, perhaps, they disabled the G3 connection on the device (and it was unprovisioned on their server), knew this would lead to the likely steps above, and were so intent on getting me under their control with 4.4.2 (which I knew nothing about, in terms of root, etc), they had manipulated me to 4.4.2? I am a long time customer with unlimited data, a withdrawn discount, and paying over $200 for two lines with shared limited minutes and txt. No contract.
Whatever the case I still have my 4.1.2 G3 (no voice) and the 4.4.2 replacement. Obviously, I cannot consider staying at Verizon (likely what they want, apparently). Which do I keep? How do I prep the other for return to them? Know any good class action attorney? Obviously, Verizon is too big to care about me and, like so many huge corporations, no one dares attempt to regulate them.
Thanks for any advice. For infomormation on any technical steps to support the above paragraph, please simply refer me to the thread or post and I'll take it from there. I am not super technical, and had to re-do the original ODIN process about 3 times before it took, so any existing process instructions targeted at the Stupid User level would be appropriate and very much appreciated.
Sorry this is so long, I honestly left out a few calls because it just dawned on me, after I called V back today to figure out next steps, the guy listened (read the notes), said I was very poorly handled, I deserved better, would go talk to manager, be right back, 20 minutes later, manager still busy, can he call me back? Sure, gave info. Not a single call or attempt. That was the "It's not us, it's you response" but made to sound the other way round. Apparently they want me to walk away with a useless device, and since it's old and I'm not under contract, but love the phone, I can't understand why they would destroy my property and tell me to f-off, other than they feel like it.
If this sounds like paranoia, you might be surprised what big companies will do to you if they can. And so far, I'm the only one harmed, since they probably expected me to stop days ago. In any event, I have to send back a phone to them and hopefully keep one that works somewhere else. Please help me with the steps I need to take.
If you like history, or want to see how the big guys got a stranglehold on the US after the Civil War, then were forced back into decency by Teddy Roosevelt, W. Wilson, and FDR check out the Roosevelt 7 part documentrary recently appearing on PBS. I'm up to Episode 4, and already knew much of the story, but the detailed focus on their private and public lives and how they matured and developed is moving, enlightening, and awe-inspiring.
Thank You in Advance,
Mark
I really should say I'm surprised but in reality I'm not. Your right when you say they don't care because I've experienced it for myself and with my gf over the phone and my mom for that matter. The sad part is they are getting way too big for even themselves and like most companies don't have very good customer service. I'm unlocked as well and have never had issues with voice calls on this phone, only my first phone with a weird rom. It's not there business to ask you if you've installed a custom rom or not. I wouldn't even of answered the question myself.
Personally i would dump verizon if they treated me like that. I was in the store yesterday with my gf and she is a looooong time VZW customer. I'm taking 14 plus years and she went to best buy to get a phone because VZW doesn't know how to take care of customers at all.
It's a sad trend but the bigger the company the worse the customer service is
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
mrbonine said:
Hi:
I started writing a thread the other day but stopped as it was full of drama and detail not important. This is what happened (when there is drama I will insert [D] with no detail so the context is maintained a bit.
I was minding my own business when one day last week my Samsung Galaxy G3 (I535) suddenly lost the ability to make/receive calls. I was on 4.1.2 and rooted, bootloader unlocked via ODIN. I thought I had loaded software that caused the problem. Couldn't resolve. Called Verizon [D] [D] to level 2, no problem, let me check a few things, OK, cool, do you have 2nd SIM? Yes! OK, it must be the phone, let's get you a replacement.. (Saturday, Phone arrives Tues).
New phone, powers up, no updates, authentication nightmare. Will not auth. Call Verizon...just wait a while?...OK.
Some hours later, authenticated. Very odd problems: charge isn't indicated on several chargers, then it is, then it isn't, charger independent? Keyboard exhibits over 1000 ms delay on press; unusable. Several other odd problems. Confused, I look online: Verizon Galaxy G3 4.4.2 update slow. First two hits happen to be Verizon's own "self-support" boards. All my symptoms and more. Lot's of Verizon's taking customers through the swamp looking for snipe. Reboot, Sim pull/insert, Factory Reset. Called Verizon back, hold times 4x previous call. Getting to Level 2 very difficult, CS rep actually states: "I know most of our phones and I haven't heard this set of problems". I refered him to Verizon's web site, grudingly sends me to Level 2. Extremely long hold time, and upon answer that group is not busy at all but relaxing talking together. Guy is grumpy, "Let me check something", back without hold in about 10 mins. "What ROM did you flash on the phone!?" first thing he said to me.
I've never flashed a ROM on any phone, for the record. I told him I knew what was and didn't do that. He insisted that he "couldn't read the software on the phone" [D] [D]!
I maintained polite, and focused on a solution, but he would not hear of that. I also offered to do a Factory Reset at least twice. "The Custom ROM will still be there after Factory Reset!" Perhaps, but then that would prove what I did and didn't do, maybe? Finally, I told him that I was very tired, and we weren't solving anything. Could I have an problem ticket number or incident number for reference. "We don't use those anymore". "You can have my employee ID and my phone number." Sorry if this is not PC, but it felt like a rapist giving his victim his contact information, should victim want to be in touch. I said, no, I'll just call back.
Immediately upon termination the new phone (replacement) displayed "Safe Mode" no apps, and the inabilty to unselect "screen mirroring" a new feature to me, but now turned on. I pull the SIM and factory reset, even though I had loaded many apps back (Inclulding Towelroot, which I had found and implemented). Although no idication of root before, the phone showed rooted and customer or modified, I don't remember the fields. Next day called back, long holds, CS OK, everyone had read Level 2 notes. Sent me up to Level 2. Long hold time, over 30 minutes. Cold response. I asked why the replacement of a non-functioning device had branched into, after receiving said device, two separate issues, to me it was one, getting my service back. Cold, "what do you want us to do?" Not knowing, I said, "I don't know, I just want the phone to work". Finally he went to talk to the boss, came back at 0 deg. Kelvin, through clenched teeth: You can take your phone to Best Buy, they will flash it back (I presumed to 4.1.2), after factory reboot and confirm no....[D] Thanks, I terminated.
At this point I had no working phone for several days, and I felt very upset about the entire situation, especially how I'd been treated by the last two guys. The first after the replacement was so out of line he should have been sanctioned, and an appology directed at me by manager, unless....
This is what they intended to happen. Because the OTA updates hadn't taken, perhaps, they disabled the G3 connection on the device (and it was unprovisioned on their server), knew this would lead to the likely steps above, and were so intent on getting me under their control with 4.4.2 (which I knew nothing about, in terms of root, etc), they had manipulated me to 4.4.2? I am a long time customer with unlimited data, a withdrawn discount, and paying over $200 for two lines with shared limited minutes and txt. No contract.
Whatever the case I still have my 4.1.2 G3 (no voice) and the 4.4.2 replacement. Obviously, I cannot consider staying at Verizon (likely what they want, apparently). Which do I keep? How do I prep the other for return to them? Know any good class action attorney? Obviously, Verizon is too big to care about me and, like so many huge corporations, no one dares attempt to regulate them.
Thanks for any advice. For infomormation on any technical steps to support the above paragraph, please simply refer me to the thread or post and I'll take it from there. I am not super technical, and had to re-do the original ODIN process about 3 times before it took, so any existing process instructions targeted at the Stupid User level would be appropriate and very much appreciated.
Sorry this is so long, I honestly left out a few calls because it just dawned on me, after I called V back today to figure out next steps, the guy listened (read the notes), said I was very poorly handled, I deserved better, would go talk to manager, be right back, 20 minutes later, manager still busy, can he call me back? Sure, gave info. Not a single call or attempt. That was the "It's not us, it's you response" but made to sound the other way round. Apparently they want me to walk away with a useless device, and since it's old and I'm not under contract, but love the phone, I can't understand why they would destroy my property and tell me to f-off, other than they feel like it.
If this sounds like paranoia, you might be surprised what big companies will do to you if they can. And so far, I'm the only one harmed, since they probably expected me to stop days ago. In any event, I have to send back a phone to them and hopefully keep one that works somewhere else. Please help me with the steps I need to take.
If you like history, or want to see how the big guys got a stranglehold on the US after the Civil War, then were forced back into decency by Teddy Roosevelt, W. Wilson, and FDR check out the Roosevelt 7 part documentrary recently appearing on PBS. I'm up to Episode 4, and already knew much of the story, but the detailed focus on their private and public lives and how they matured and developed is moving, enlightening, and awe-inspiring.
Thank You in Advance,
Mark
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't really have any info to help you, so I apologize for that.
But out of curiosity, do you have the MyVerizon app (or whatever the name is) installed?
At one point the app requested root permission, which is EXTREMELY sketchy in my opinion. I wonder if you grant it, or even deny it (if they can detect the denial) if they ASSUMED that you installed a custom ROM, because a lot of those that root also install custom ROMs.
Maybe just try at a different time of day to maybe get a call center in a different state or country?
That is extremely unprofessional on their part though...
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
XdrummerXboy said:
I don't really have any info to help you, so I apologize for that.
But out of curiosity, do you have the MyVerizon app (or whatever the name is) installed?
At one point the app requested root permission, which is EXTREMELY sketchy in my opinion. I wonder if you grant it, or even deny it (if they can detect the denial) if they ASSUMED that you installed a custom ROM, because a lot of those that root also install custom ROMs.
Maybe just try at a different time of day to maybe get a call center in a different state or country?
That is extremely unprofessional on their part though...
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Speaking of verizon and apps. My gf when she was on the phone was told by a rep that she had updated an app the previous day through Google play. Talk about sketchy! Yea I remember when the verizon app requested root permissions on my phone, that was it for verizon apps for me
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
ShapesBlue said:
Speaking of verizon and apps. My gf when she was on the phone was told by a rep that she had updated an app the previous day through Google play. Talk about sketchy! Yea I remember when the verizon app requested root permissions on my phone, that was it for verizon apps for me
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, that takes things to a whole new level....
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
XdrummerXboy said:
Wow, that takes things to a whole new level....
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your telling me. She's not rooted or unlocked though but that's still messed up. She got her shiny new S5 yesterday, looks nice
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
ShapesBlue said:
Your telling me. She's not rooted or unlocked though but that's still messed up. She got her shiny new S5 yesterday, looks nice
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm.. I wonder how they knew that then
Nice! I wanted the S5 or Note4, but I'll be hanging onto the S3 for another year. I can't justify buying one when I have a baby on the way
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
XdrummerXboy said:
Hmm.. I wonder how they knew that then
Nice! I wanted the S5 or Note4, but I'll be hanging onto the S3 for another year. I can't justify buying one when I have a baby on the way
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hear that. I have mine until June next year. Not quite sure what I'm doing just yet. The Super power saving mode is quite a nice feature. It basically disables all apps but the essential ones. The battery life then goes way over a day plus on the S5
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
Et tu Verizon
Thanks for the info. I did have the MyVerizon app installed, I believe. I don't remember it requesting root, but I sometimes click through those things without paying too much attention (since I'm fairly careful about what goes on the phone); the reason I install software requiring root is to access it (circular, I know) so, they are doing what they must to run. I appreciate the suggestions about other call centers, etc. I do have the contact information from the single most helpful and polite (funny how that goes together) person I talked to through this debacle. I'll drop him a quick note, but really, since they never even bothered to call back, it's clear to me that they want me to leave. Paying over $200 per month to be treated like crap is not something I could ever do. They are big, very profitable, and don't care about anything but extracting cash from people under contract, or too complacent to leave (I'm in the 2nd category until now). Being in a codependent relationship with Verizon is not only self-defeating, but irrational. Until we have some politicians owned by the people instead of corporations we have no chance of reigning these folks in. Sure, they employ lot's of people, but an army of good people working against the best interest of everyone is not good, it's an uncontrollable menace: just look at the banks that gambled with people's homes, lost their bets, then collateralized them when the bottom fell out of their own septic tank of greed. The entire world economy hit an air pocket, but we're still letting the same greed intoxicated pilots fly. My only regret is believing their lies as long as I did. I deserve better, and it's won't be particularly hard to find it. Since the 4.4.3 G3 (nor the 4.1.2 for that matter) are particularly compatible with the GSM carriers, and Samsung is the lookout for the felonious Verizon, I'll probably get a Nexus 5. I think the G5 is better for several reasons, but that's too bad. All of the tech and marketing in the world will not make me "grateful" to manufacturers or carriers that somehow feel controlling how you use the equipment you buy from them is somehow acceptable. The money Verizon cares about is the corporate contracts, since they can manage that process much better, the revenue is less volatile, and they don't have to take calls from subscribers, wasting the money that could be spent on acquisitions, and expanding their market oligarchy. Public utilities create natural monopolies. There are not 2 sets of power lines, or water lines, or sewers running into your home. And the idea that competition from fiber will for improvements from Comcast is false, prices may move, but service will not get better. Only when barriers of entry are low can new competitors help drive down the price of entrenched utilities. We could all create our own mobile system on meshes of unlicensed 5.0 Gig or other spectrum, but it would be very costly to do that and linking this metropolitan radio webs would be tricky. But probably, someone is already working on that. Ask a HAM radio enthusiast about how they handle phone calls over shortwave. They have licenses, yes, but the technology to connect 2-way voice wireless signals to PSTN phone calls has been around for many years. Big corporations exact huge profits and drag down anyone that needs the services, the trick is to find creative ways around them, most importantly by thinking outside of the feature/function cage they've placed around us. Soon, you'll be able to buy just the cable channels you want, perhaps. I have hundreds and I generally watch less than 10.
The accusation flung at me by the enraged employee is little more that hot air. It reflects a corporate culture of mendacity and blame. My fault was to allow him to take control of the conversation, for a millisecond. Whatever I've done to the software on the phone (which, as you noted, was not a ROM change) it's still my phone and not theirs. They don't even provide the "insurance" to replace the failed device, a third party does. I didn't stop my phone from working to get a new phone. Had the replacement worked as well or better as the one it replaced I would have been happy. Now, I'm going over a week with no phone and they will never get paid for that week. The longer it takes to resolve, the less on my final bill, which will be coming up soon. When folks have experiences like this it's best to communicate the problem to the FCC (as if they cared) and their state PUC. Not that they will do anything about it, but it's important to remember they have a duty to regulate whether this group of appointees cares or not. The only thing that affects Verizon is withdrawing my monthly gratuity and when that happens because of abuse, manipulation, and possible fraud, the regulators need to be informed, if only so they can't say they didn't know.
Thanks for the reminder that they have no business asking questions about rooted phones or ROMS. That lingering guilt that one may have done something Daddy Verizon doesn't approve of is there, for sure, but since what I was accused of I didn't do, it was easier to just say, no, I didn't do that.....when I offered to factory reset TWICE during the call and he pretended not to hear me I realized it was all just a manipulative game played by a bully. No, no lunch money for you today, dude. I think they actually hire volatile people and use them as scarecrows. If Verizon didn't want their customers to be exposed to abuse, they'd fire these guys. The second guy was so cold, trying to do the right thing, but hating it. If you've ever been to a time-share presentation and not purchased one, you are familiar with this game. It's not only wrong, but it reflects how truly manipulative and immoral the employers are, they are paying the guy to be insulting, intimidating, and thuggish. So many large companies act this way, it's amazing we let them get away with it. The only way to stop it is to stop paying them and tell them why. I worked in a small hardware store in a small town 30+ years ago. Even when customers were trying some trick, like returning something they didn't buy from us, or a more elaborate ruse (I'll bring the old stuff back tomorrow......), I just explained how it worked and enforced the process; I never shouted, "You are so busted...." These were customers, some making honest errors, some trying to take advantage, but there were none I didn't want to come back again, because it would be bad for business and likely make an enemy. After I leave Verizon I will never give them another dime ever, and I think they honestly don't believe that.
XdrummerXboy said:
I don't really have any info to help you, so I apologize for that.
But out of curiosity, do you have the MyVerizon app (or whatever the name is) installed?
At one point the app requested root permission, which is EXTREMELY sketchy in my opinion. I wonder if you grant it, or even deny it (if they can detect the denial) if they ASSUMED that you installed a custom ROM, because a lot of those that root also install custom ROMs.
Maybe just try at a different time of day to maybe get a call center in a different state or country?
That is extremely unprofessional on their part though...
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

My sister thinks her phone is hacked, and she's being tormented by the hacker(s)

A little bit of back story. Last year my sisters Instagram account was hacked. Following that she believes that they have worked their way into her phone. She has told me they: intercept her calls and voicemails, when she calls Verizon tech support they are intercepting the call to stop her from getting help, they've accessed her camera and speakers turning them on at all hours of the night, cloned her number to respond to her texts, overrode her pictures with a picture of the laughing emoji, cloned her fingerprint to bypass the lock screen, Installed their own version of android to have complete control, etc.
I do not know what I believe, but she believes it whole heartedly. She sent me a whole bunch of phone system logs and screenshots of her system info, but I have only basic knowledge. Can anyone help me read these? To me they look normal, but I'm not an expert. I'm hoping that of I can prove one way or another we can get her help. Either with the hackers, or with her other issues. I don't want to just upload the screenshots because I don't know what personal information they contain, but I can send them to anyone who can analyze them, and is willing to help me.
Thanks in advance
vanishedsarah said:
A little bit of back story. Last year my sisters Instagram account was hacked. Following that she believes that they have worked their way into her phone. She has told me they: intercept her calls and voicemails, when she calls Verizon tech support they are intercepting the call to stop her from getting help, they've accessed her camera and speakers turning them on at all hours of the night, cloned her number to respond to her texts, overrode her pictures with a picture of the laughing emoji, cloned her fingerprint to bypass the lock screen, Installed their own version of android to have complete control, etc.
I do not know what I believe, but she believes it whole heartedly. She sent me a whole bunch of phone system logs and screenshots of her system info, but I have only basic knowledge. Can anyone help me read these? To me they look normal, but I'm not an expert. I'm hoping that of I can prove one way or another we can get her help. Either with the hackers, or with her other issues. I don't want to just upload the screenshots because I don't know what personal information they contain, but I can send them to anyone who can analyze them, and is willing to help me.
Thanks in advance
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Click to collapse
So she has enough tech know how to produce "logs" but doesn't know how to remove the malware, because if your story is true that whats we're talking about here, malware which can be removed very easily.
The level of control your talking about is only possible via the like of the CIA, FBI or a government backed security service. Then you would have to ask yourself, why your sister? Is she a politician? A spy? Someone with the cure for cancer on her phone?
Why doesn't she factory reset the phone? Go to the police? Install a custom ROM even?
I'm sorry to say i think your sister has mental health issues or is just making it up. What your talking about is practically impossible even for the best hackers on the planet.
cooltt said:
So she has enough tech know how to produce "logs" but doesn't know how to remove the malware, because if your story is true that whats we're talking about here, malware which can be removed very easily.
The level of control your talking about is only possible via the like of the CIA, FBI or a government backed security service. Then you would have to ask yourself, why your sister? Is she a politician? A spy? Someone with the cure for cancer on her phone?
Why doesn't she factory reset the phone? Go to the police? Install a custom ROM even?
I'm sorry to say i think your sister has mental health issues or is just making it up. What your talking about is practically impossible even for the best hackers on the planet.
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I understand what you're saying, and I get it completely. She has gotten a new phone and claims that as soon as she has activated it she got a call from a local number and her system updated when she answered it, there was no one on the line. She believes it could be a group of hackers (target of "gang stalking") or it could be the government (That she is a "targeted individual "). Believe me, I understand how crazy this sounds, and it's completely unbelievable. However, it is also an epidemic that thousands, if not tens of thousands, of people across the globe believe they're a target of. I understand full well that it could be all in her head, but I don't know how to read the system logs she is sending me to be absolutely 100% sure. That's why I'm asking for help. I tried to get her to report it to the local FBI offices cyber crimes unit, but she won't do it in fear that the government is involved or the hacker(s) will retaliate.
I understand that this is completely unbelievable to anyone with a sound and logical mind, but regardless of that, SHE and thousands of American citizens believe this is true, and I don't have the know how to prove/disprove her
Carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to delirium and is more common that you'd expect, otherwise she's got some other kind of mental illness.
Also lot's of people believing something doesn't make it true, and thousands of people is still pretty small compared to the larger population. I'd honestly wager thousands of people are more likely to have paranoia or an undiagnosed mental issue than actually be targeted by group hackers to the accuracy and complexity you've described.
Beanvee7 said:
Carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to delirium and is more common that you'd expect, otherwise she's got some other kind of mental illness.
Also lot's of people believing something doesn't make it true, and thousands of people is still pretty small compared to the larger population. I'd honestly wager thousands of people are more likely to have paranoia or an undiagnosed mental issue than actually be targeted by group hackers to the accuracy and complexity you've described.
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I agree with you completely, it's most likely a mental illness. Possibly some type of paranoid schizophrenia , but that doesn't make it less real to her. The issue I'm having is explaining the logs to her as normal. I can Google most of the information, but some times I can't find the right answer, that why I was hoping someone could help me read them. I don't know how else to get through to her, other than disproving her theories. I know most likely it won't help, but it's something. She is relating to all these people who believe they're being targeted for one reason or another. Her reasoning is her Instagram name, which apparently is a thing. People het their Instagram hacked so the hacker can sell the OG name. That's how it all started at least, but it has spiralled out of control. I can't disprove her without the knowledge of reading these endless logs she's sending me. I'm trying to approach this with a scientific mindset, if I let it get too personal then it's going to effect me more than I want it to
What you are talking about exists (or existed) on a pc, you could download some kind of trojan (usually found on torrent when you searched for porn or (game)hacks lol) and when you clicked it, that installed some files on your pc that could give someone total control over your pc.. What i talk about is from is maybe 20 years or longer ago. I think most virus scanners or even windows itself instantly recognise these kind of trojans now and remove them before you can click them.
But something like that on a phone?? that would blow my mind because that app would have to able to bypass every security system in android and go unnoticed.
Ask your sister if she downloads apk's from torrent or from suspicious/illegal sites
And like mentioned before in here, let her do factory reset. If she cannot reset to factory settings in her phone let her go to recovery and reset her phone, that uses hardware buttons at startup phone and is hardcoded into her phone.
And aks her how and where she got those logs, take a screenshot of a part of the log, look at it if her name shows up or private stuff and post it. You make it sound like science fiction and we don't even know what logs you are talking about

I need help from an Android expert for my identity theft case

Hello:
I have a Galaxy Note 10+ on Android 12. I recently woke up to find an extra checking account added to my name at Navy Federal Credit Union. Money was transferred into then back out of that account, amongst other things that they did. Long story short, NFCU denied my fraud claim. Their security team told me the reason for the denial was that a "device of historical record was used" to open the account and process the transactions. Which is impossible, as my husband of twenty years was in the ICU when this was happening and I was with him, and phones are prohibited in an ICU. Also, the month before, I had started getting notifications on my phone that Amazon was charging my Capital One cards for purchases I did not make. I contacted Amazon, they had me change my password, got refunded, and the intrusions stopped. Interestingly, there were two names and addresses added to my Amazon account, I am guessing those were the names and addresses from the fraudulent purchases. Anyway, i am working now on an appeal to NFCU to get my money back after they debited my checking account for their loss after I called to report the fraudulent account. Is there any way possible that someone would be able to use a different device that appears via the network to be my device? I was told that they could tell because of "unique identifying codes" so i am assuming either the IMEI or MAC address.
I did have three things happen, any of which could have potentially granted access. One, I tried to root my phone using an app purporting to be Kingoroot, but the root was unsuccessful. Two, I did one time download and try to install an app via APK Downloader app store. It didn't work and I uninstalled it and have not tried again, nor wlll I ever try again. Both of those things happened in the summer of 2022. The last was actually from my Windows laptop - an Asus ZenBook - also in the late summer of 2022. I have been getting fake emails from Navy Federal for a long time, and usually you can tell right away it is fake because there will be something that doesn't look quite right or something misspelled, etc. I received an email one day however that looked perfect and legitimate, saying I had a message from NFCU, and I was actually at the time expecting a message in reply from NFCU so I didn't think and clicked on the link and attempted to log in. Right after I hit submit, I noticed the URL was resolving to nfcu.org (or maybe nfcu.com) and not to navyfederal.org like it should be, so I immediately closed the tab before it did whatever it was going to do.
NFCU argues that because of 2FA and the transactions being from a device of historical record that it was me that did the transactions, even though I am wholly innocent and had no idea this was happening until after the fact. They at first said that I must have been the victim of my email being hacked, so I changed that password, but not before I suddenly started getting literally hundreds of spam emails to that account, all from vendors thanking me for signing up to their marketing email distribution list. I am assuming the device NFCU is talking about was my Note 10+, but they will not tell me "without a subpoena" which device was used. I had also traded in a smartphone to Samsung in the past year, had sold a smartphone to a guy overseas via eBay, and had sent in the laptop I had for an insurance claim, which they kept and issued me a check instead, with which I oourchased the ZenBook I now have refurbished off eBay. So there are other possibilities, but even with those, it would have required somehow being able to resurrect my identity on those devices as they were wiped before sale/sending them off. My current laptop got a clean install of Windows immediately when I got it so I doubt that is the source. I also do nt install pirated software on it or use torrents, etc. If anyone has any information on what could be possible in this case, I would greatly appreciate anything you can tell me. My husband passed away in the middle of all this, so having funeral expenses on top of loss of income has been very, very difficult financially, and losing one's spouse of twenty years is devastating mentally, so I really truly need to recover these funds and put this issue to rest. To do that I must figure out how someone could do transactions on a device that appears to be my device but it isn't mine. How is this possible?
Thank you for your time and assistance, I am very grateful for any information you may have that could help me with my appeal.
I'm very sorry to hear this happened to you. I have some experience with this. Most likely, you will need to hire an attorney who specializes in this to get your money back. If you haven't talked to NFCU corporate in VA. I would also recommend doing so. Keep logs of everything you do. Record pertinent conversations.
Best of luck you to you!
defcondoc said:
I'm very sorry to hear this happened to you. I have some experience with this. Most likely, you will need to hire an attorney who specializes in this to get your money back. If you haven't talked to NFCU corporate in VA. I would also recommend doing so. Keep logs of everything you do. Record pertinent conversations.
Best of luck you to you!
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Thank you very much for the reply! I planned to assemble my appeal and fire it off via the regular channels plus as you suggested send a copy of everything to NFCU corporate.
Have a great week!

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