I got a Verizon Pearl that i lost at a bar or club. I called it at night no answered. Called it this morning it went straight to voice mail. I got it de-activated.

I am pretty sure i am not going to get it back but what is the person who has it going to do with it. I am almost positive that i dropped it and someone picked it up. I dont think that it was stolen, so i am hoping that who ever has is dumb enough to go to a verizon store and try and get it activated.

But can they unlock it and and use it for another carrier.
If they cant then why keep it just to make pics, video and listen to music?
Has anyone ever had their's returned, if so how long should i wait.

I mean it seems like there is no way for them to have a functioning phone, unless they know how to hack it. The smart thing for them to do is sell it and once the buyer tries to activate it, it should show up as lost.

Verizon can block the ESN on it, that is the good thing about CDMA. It isn't like a GSM where you can just put a new SIM card into. Since you have reported it lost/stolen, they should have already put a block on it.

This is also why you should ask for the ESN before buying a used one. I have personally called Verizon before to check and make sure a BB I was going to buy had a clean ESN before paying for it. They were very friendly and happy to check for me.

Welcome to the BBF.

Any of your scenarios are possible.. but if it is deactivated, you will likely never hear back from it now. While that is the wise thing to do, It will probably be sold on eBay and some unlucky buyer will have to deal with the problem.

So if the buyer takes it to Verizon and it is listed as stolen the verizon dealer wont take the phone from them and send it to me? Damn that was my only hope.

They actually might do that... I just don't know.

I just don't trust that with the bureaucracy at VZW it will happen.