IMEI Check
Also known as: IMEI lookup, phone blacklist check, CEIR check
Looking up a phone’s 15-digit IMEI number to verify it is not blacklisted, stolen, or reported lost before buying a used or refurbished device.
Every mobile phone has a unique 15-digit IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number — visible by dialling *#06# on the device. The IMEI is what carriers use to identify the phone on the network. If a phone has been reported lost, stolen, or unpaid, the carrier blacklists the IMEI and the phone cannot connect to any network in that country.
Before buying a used or refurbished phone, always check the IMEI through an official service: the carrier’s online IMEI status check, the CEIR portal in India (sancharsaathi.gov.in), the GSMA Device Check, or the manufacturer’s own checkup tool. A blacklisted IMEI means the phone is essentially a paperweight — it will refuse to connect to any operator in the region.
The IMEI check is the single fastest way to avoid the most common used-phone scam: receiving a phone that looks perfect but is blacklisted because the previous owner never paid the EMI or reported it stolen for insurance.