System and method for employing a telecommunications network to remotely disable a SIM or smartcard

For use in a card having a subscriber identity module (SIM) that cooperates with a mobile station to effect communication with a telecommunications network, a method of disabling said card, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting a code uniquely identifying said card from logic circuitry within said card to said telecommunications network via said mobile station, said code employable by said telecommunications network to search a disable database associated therewith;
• receiving a disable command from said telecommunications network if said code is found in said disable database;
• and
• incapacitating said logic circuitry to prevent an operation thereof, said card being incapacitated with respect to said telecommunications network and systems independent of said telecommunications network.

A telecommunications network capable of communicating with a plurality of mobile stations, each of said plurality of mobile stations cooperating with a card having a subscriber identity module (SIM) to effect communication with said telecommunications network, said telecommunications network comprising:

• a disable database that contains a plurality of codes corresponding to a plurality of cards that are to be disabled;
• data communications circuitry that receives a code uniquely identifying one of said plurality of cards, said telecommunications network searching said disable database for said code, said data communications circuitry transmitting a disable command to said one of said plurality of cards if said code is found in said disable database;
• and
• disabling circuitry within said one of said plurality of cards that incapacitates logic circuitry therein to prevent an operation thereof, said card being incapacitated with respect to said telecommunications network and systems independent of said telecommunications network.