How to Check a Phone's IMEI Before You Buy a Second-Hand Phone

What the IMEI actually tells you

• The IMEI is not a secret code and the seller will not mind you asking for it. It is used by the phone network to recognise the device. If a phone is reported lost or stolen, the number can be flagged so that it stops working on networks. That is exactly why a buyer should care: a phone that looks perfect today can be blocked later if it has a bad history. A matching IMEI will not prove a phone is clean, but a mismatch almost always means trouble.
• Dual-SIM phones usually have two IMEI numbers, one per SIM slot. Both are legitimate. Don't be alarmed when you see two; just note both.

Step 1: Dial the number yourself

• Ask the seller to open the phone dialler and type *#06#. The IMEI appears on the screen without pressing call. Do this on the seller's phone while you watch, and photograph the screen. Don't accept a screenshot or a number the seller types out from memory, because a screenshot can be edited.

Step 2: Find the second copy of the number

• A genuine phone shows its IMEI in more than one place, and they should all agree:
• Settings → About phone → Status / IMEI information.
• The box label. Most boxes have a sticker with the IMEI and serial number.
• The SIM tray or back panel on many models, engraved or printed in tiny letters.
• The bill or invoice, when the seller still has it. Retail bills often print the IMEI.
• Lay the box next to the phone and read the digits aloud one by one. Swapped boxes are common in second-hand deals, and sometimes harmless (the seller simply lost the original), but you should know about it before you negotiate.

Step 3: Compare with the bill and the warranty

• If the phone is sold as "under warranty", the IMEI on the invoice must match the phone. Many brands have their own service-centre or app checks for warranty status, so ask the seller to show the warranty status inside the brand's app or on the brand website using that IMEI. Treat any "warranty is there, I'll send the bill later" promise as no warranty at all.

Step 4: Check whether the IMEI is blocked

• India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) runs Sanchar Saathi, which has a "Know genuineness of your mobile handset" facility that works from the 15-digit IMEI. You can use it in three ways: on the official portal, sancharsaathi.gov.in (it first asks you to verify your own mobile number with an OTP), in the Sanchar Saathi mobile app, or by SMS: type KYM, a space and the 15-digit IMEI, and send it to 14422. The reply shows the manufacturer, brand and model linked to that IMEI. DoT's advice is to avoid buying a phone whose status shows as blacklisted, duplicate or already in use. Do this check before you hand over money, not after, and compare the brand and model in the reply with the phone in your hand. If the status looks wrong, walk away politely.
• Be careful about unofficial "IMEI checker" apps and websites, especially any that ask for payment or your bank details. The OTP on the official portal goes to your own phone and is typed in by you; never read out an OTP to a seller or to anyone else.

Red flags that should slow you down

• The seller refuses to dial *#06# in front of you.
• The digits on the box, the settings screen and the dial pad all differ.
• The IMEI sticker on the back looks freshly stuck or is scratched out.
• The price is far below what similar phones are listed for, and the seller is in a hurry.
• The seller asks you to pay first and "collect the phone later".
• Settings shows no IMEI, or shows zeros or a repeated pattern.
• One red flag is a reason to ask questions. Two or three together is a reason to leave.

A quick example

• Suppose you are buying a two-year-old phone from a college student. The box says IMEI ending in 4821 and the bill shows the same. On the dial pad you see two numbers; the first ends in 4821, the second in 4839. That is normal: the second number belongs to the second SIM slot, and the box usually lists both. Now imagine the dial pad shows 7710 and the box says 4821. Don't argue. Ask politely where the phone came from, and if the answer doesn't satisfy you, buy a different phone. There are plenty of listings, and no deal is worth a blocked handset.

Keep proof of the deal

• Before you leave, take a photo of the seller's phone showing the IMEI, note the seller's name and mobile number, and ask for a simple handwritten receipt with the date, the IMEI, and the amount paid. If you buy through FastBuySale, you can also keep the chat as a record of what was promised. Payments between buyer and seller happen offline at the meet-up, and FastBuySale does not hold money for trades, so your own paperwork matters.

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Safety tips

• Meet in a public, well-lit place and, where possible, take someone with you.
• Inspect the item before you pay and check it matches the listing.
• Never pay in advance, share OTPs, or move payment outside the agreed meeting.
• Keep contact through the listing page — contact details are privacy-gated in the app.
• Report suspicious sellers instead of continuing the conversation.

Frequently asked questions

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