Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay to be protected?
No. Registering a device, having it searchable, reporting it stolen, and transferring ownership are all free, forever. A buyer who checks a free-registered device still sees it is yours, and if you flag it stolen they see a clear warning with your police report reference. Active Protection is an optional upgrade, not a requirement.
Then what does Active Protection actually add?
Two things, for up to 5 of your devices. First, you are alerted the moment one of your devices is looked up, including the searcher's approximate location. Second, your contact details appear on the stolen-device result, so a finder or honest buyer can reach you directly. Business adds fleet tools and API access, and covers unlimited devices.
Is the lookup really free, with no account?
Yes. Anyone can check any IMEI or serial number with no sign-up and no payment. That is deliberate: free lookups are what make registering worthwhile. The more people who check before they buy, the more a registration protects you.
Why register before anything goes wrong?
Two reasons that pay off even if your device is never stolen. It is provable proof of ownership, useful when you sell and to settle disputes. And a registered device is a deterrent, because a buyer who checks it sees a real owner on record. If it ever is stolen, it is already there to flag in seconds.
Can a thief just skip the registry?
The thief does not check, the buyer does. Penelope works at the point of sale: a flagged device shows a do-not-buy warning to whoever is about to purchase it. A device nobody will buy is a device not worth stealing. That is the deterrent.
What shows up when someone looks up my device?
If it is registered and fine, they see that it is registered and not reported stolen. If you have flagged it stolen, they see a clear warning with the date you reported it and your police report reference. Your name and phone are shown only if you have Active Protection, so a finder can reach you, and never otherwise.
How many devices can I register and protect?
Register as many as you want, free, with no limit. Active Protection covers up to 5 of your devices. If you need to protect more, the Business plan covers unlimited devices and adds a fleet dashboard, bulk import, and API access.
What happens when I sell my device?
Transfer ownership through Penelope so the record follows the device to its new owner, with full history. That protects you, since it is no longer registered to you, and protects the buyer, who gets a clean, provable record.
My device was just stolen. What do I do?
Flag it stolen from your dashboard, free. It immediately shows a warning to anyone who looks it up. With Active Protection you also get alerted when it is searched, with the searcher's location, and your contact shows on the result so a finder can return it.
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