People who buy used mobile phones can verify its authenticity by searching up its IMEI number. Consumers can find out the device’s origins (including the country and network it was manufactured for), as well as warranty details, carrier info, and more by looking up what is IMEI. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies may also use an IMEI number to track a device to within a few metres.
By using the reported stolen device’s IMEI, the service provider can create a blacklist. When a customer reports their stolen phone to their service provider, the company can place the stolen device’s IMEI number on a blacklist and block it from using their service. The Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) and all other networks must be notified within forty-eight hours of an operator blacklisting a handset. A voluntary charter run by UK-based mobile networks aids in the dissemination of such data.
Techniques of the IME and their Functions
The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) can be shown on the screen of most mobile communications devices by entering the sequence *#06# (star-pound-zero-six-pound) onto the keypad. The vast majority of the time this is correct. IMEI numbers may be printed inside the phone’s battery cover. If a phone is lost or stolen, its owner can get in touch with the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) and have it blacklisted using the IMEI number. Assuming the SIM card is replaced, the gadget is useless afterward. However, a skilled, self-motivated hacker can sometimes alter the IMEI number and make calls from a stolen set. While not an easy undertaking, it is possible for someone to complete it.
To What Extent Does an IMEI Number Matter?
The primary purpose of the IMEI is to supply a unique identifier for your device. This means that the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) serves a purpose not dissimilar to that of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) in the automobile sector. Although the IMEI and SIM numbers are sometimes confused with one another, they are in reality completely different. There is no way to change the IMEI number.
If your cellphone is ever lost or stolen, you should get in touch with your carrier so that they can disable its IMEI number and prevent it from being used to connect to their network in the future. Your service provider might contact other networks and request that they impose the same restrictions on the device. Following these instructions, you can utilise your phone’s built-in features to track down your missing device.
Law enforcement organisations commonly use the International Mobile Equipment Identity number (IMEI) to keep track of stolen and recovered mobile devices. Changing the IMEI of a device is deemed illegal because there is no justification for doing so.
Changing the IMEI of a device is probably illegal, yet it happens all the time. To make their stolen smartphones usable again, thieves often try to utilise numbers that are not on the blacklist. For this reason, you should never share your IMEI number publicly, as doing so could lead to your device being cloned.
Do You Have Your IMEI Number Recorded Somewhere?
One of the most crucial and one-of-a-kind ways to identify your device is through its unique International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. If you haven’t already done so, you should immediately go in search of it and make a note of its location.
It’s a good idea to write down your IMEI and store it somewhere safe in case you ever need it. Your needs for a digital safe could be met by a password manager.
