Is that phone genuine? Check its IMEI
Two quick checks before buying a phone: its IMEI and its warranty status with the manufacturer.
From the archive: first published on mohamedsharaf.net in June 2016. Rewritten and checked in 2026; some details may be out of date.
Before buying a phone, especially second-hand, two quick checks tell you a lot:
- Dial
*#06#. The phone shows its IMEI (and on many phones the serial number). The same IMEI should appear in Settings and on the box. If they don’t match, walk away. - Check the IMEI and serial number with the manufacturer: Apple at checkcoverage.apple.com, and most other brands through their official support site. You’ll see the real model, and whether it is still under warranty.
General lookup sites can help too, but the manufacturer’s own check is the one to trust. If the seller won’t let you check the IMEI, that is your answer.