Location-independent approaches are provided for determining, using a mobile device, whether a wireless transmitter has been moved to a new location. An example method includes obtaining at least a portion of a reference radio frequency (RF) signature database; measuring signals from a plurality of wireless transmitters proximate to the mobile device; identifying a candidate wireless transmitter; deriving an observed radio frequency (RF) signature for the candidate wireless transmitter from signals from at least one wireless transmitter of the plurality of wireless transmitters other than the candidate wireless transmitter; determining whether the candidate wireless transmitter has been moved to a new location by comparing the observed RF signature for the candidate wireless transmitter to a reference RF signature associated with the candidate wireless transmitter; and generating an indicator that the candidate wireless transmitter has been moved responsive to the candidate wireless transmitter having been moved.