Buying a secondhand telephone? Here's how to check whether it's been reported lost, stolen or is blocked earlier yous purchase. Plus: How to find a telephone'south IMEI. As well meet: Best old phones - best phones to purchase secondhand

What is an IMEI?

All phones feature a unique IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity), which is a string of fifteen or xvi digits that identifies the device on a mobile network. It is transmitted to the mobile operator every bit soon equally you switch on your phone.

How to tell if a phone is lost, stolen or blocked before you buy

If your IMEI has been reported lost or stolen, or the IMEI is blacklisted, yous won't be able to register it on the mobile network. The same applies if your phone's IMEI is lost or missing, which can happen when flashing a custom ROM.

Network operators use this IMEI to verify whether a phone has been reported lost or stolen. For this reason you may choose to bank check whether any secondhand telephone y'all are considering buying has a dodgy IMEI. You lot can practise this via a service such as Checkmend, and all you need is the IMEI from the seller. Also see: How to find my phone: How to rails a lost iPhone, Android or Windows phone.

CheckMend

Checkmend will tell you whether a phone is EE-, Vodafone-, Iii-, O2- or Global GSM/LTE blocked, has had multiple registered owners, has been reported stolen to the UK Police, has previously been recycled or refurbished, has been filed as function of an insurance merits or has outstanding finance on it. It will also confirm the make and model, which may help you lot work out whether the phone is a clone or counterfeit. Checkmend charges £1.99 for a unmarried device, but bulk discounts are available.

To check a phoneusing CheckMend simply navigate to the website and click on 'Create a unmarried CheckMend history report now'. On the side by side page enter your electronic mail address, the telephone's brand and model and IMEI. Enter the Captcha, tick the box to say you lot accept the T&Cs, and so click to pay by menu or with PayPal.

CheckMend too lets you check a phone past text message, although this service is more than expensive at £3 (plus your standard network charge). To bank check a telephone transport a test bulletin containing the discussioncheck followed by the phone'sIMEI followed past your email address to 83010. For example, check 123456789123456 [electronic mail protected].

How to find a phone's IMEI

At that place are several means to find a phone's IMEI.

• Dial *#06# on the keypad

• Get to Settings, Most device, Status, IMEI information, IMEI

• The IMEI should be printed either on the back of the telephone or underneath the battery, if the rear is removable

• It volition as well be printed on the box information technology was sold in, provided you still have it

• If you still have the receipt for the phone the IMEI may also be printed here

If your Android phone is missing its IMEI and y'all no longer accept the box information technology came in and cannot access the internals to read the printed code, a good identify to check is Google Dashboard. If you've used that device to sign into your Google account then the IMEI should be listed hither.

Go to Google Dashboard, sign in with your Google business relationship, then click on the drop-downward beside Android to meet a list of devices that have been signed into using your account.

Google Dashboard

Read next: How to spot a tech fake

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