Before you buyFor buyers4 min read
Check if a used phone is stolen before you buy
Before you buy a used phone, check its IMEI with the government's KYM service by SMS or on Sanchar Saathi, match it to the box and bill, and spot red flags.
In short
- Send
KYM, a space and the phone's 15-digit IMEI to14422, or use the Sanchar Saathi app or website, before you pay. - Don't buy a phone that shows as blacklisted, duplicate or already in use, or whose details don't match.
- Match the IMEI on the screen, box and bill, and walk away from a seller who can't explain a mismatch.
01Why this check matters
India blocks lost and stolen phones by their IMEI through the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR), part of the Department of Telecommunications' Sanchar Saathi service. A blocked phone stops working on Indian mobile networks, whichever SIM you put in it, and the police can trace it if someone tries to use it.
That makes a stolen phone a bad buy twice over. It can go dead on the network at any time, and you may have to explain how you came to have it. A two-minute check before you pay avoids both.
02Check the IMEI with KYM
- 01
Get the IMEI from the phone itself
Dial
*#06#on the phone you're buying, or look in its settings. Don't rely on a number the seller reads out or writes down. On a dual-SIM phone, note both IMEIs. - 02
Send an SMS to 14422
Type
KYM, a space and the 15-digit IMEI, and send it to14422. You can send it from your own phone; it doesn't have to come from the phone you're checking. - 03
Or use the app or website
The same Know Your Mobile check is in the Sanchar Saathi app and on the Sanchar Saathi website,
sancharsaathi.gov.in, where it's described as checking the genuineness of your mobile handset. - 04
Read the reply
The reply gives the IMEI's status and usually the brand and model it belongs to. Check these match the phone in your hand, then repeat for the second IMEI.
03What the results mean
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Brand and model, with no warning | The IMEI is on record and hasn't been reported or blocked. | Check the brand and model match, then carry on with the other checks. |
| Blacklisted or blocked | The phone has been reported lost or stolen, or blocked for another reason. | Don't buy it. |
| Duplicate or already in use | The IMEI may be shared by more than one device, which points to cloning or tampering. | The government's advice is to avoid buying it. |
| Wrong model, invalid or no record | The IMEI may be mistyped, changed, or from a fake phone. | Re-check the 15 digits from *#06#. If it still doesn't match, walk away. |
04Match the IMEI everywhere
- The IMEI from
*#06#matches the one in Settings (About phoneon Android,General > Abouton iPhone). - Both IMEIs match the barcode sticker on the box.
- If there's a bill, it shows the same IMEI and the details fit the seller's story.
- On iPhone 6s to iPhone 13, and iPhone SE (2nd or 3rd generation), the IMEI on the SIM tray matches too. Trays can get swapped during repairs, so a mismatch isn't proof of theft, but ask about it.
- The brand and model in the KYM reply match the phone.
05Red flags
- The price is far below what similar phones sell for, and the seller is in a hurry.
- The seller doesn't know the screen lock, or won't let you look through the phone.
- The phone is still signed in to someone's Google account or Apple Account, or asks for one after a reset.
- A lost-phone message or someone else's contact details appear on the lock screen.
- There's no box, no bill, and a story that changes when you ask questions.
- The IMEI is missing, shows as zeros, or doesn't match the box.
06At the shop counter
Buying from a shop? Ask for a proper bill with the IMEI on it, and check that number against the phone before you pay. The bill ties the phone to the sale and protects you if it's ever questioned.
When a Recashy partner shop buys a phone over the counter, it records the IMEI along with the seller's mobile number, verified by a one-time code (OTP), and the seller's declaration that the phone is theirs. If the same IMEI was recorded before at that shop or another Recashy shop, the shop is warned so it can ask questions. That doesn't replace your own KYM check, but it does give the phone a paper trail.
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