How to Check if a Phone Is Stolen with the IMEI (US, UK, India, Pakistan, Europe)

A stolen or blacklisted phone can look and work perfectly until you put your SIM in, and then it never connects. An IMEI check takes two minutes and is free in most countries. Here is how to find the IMEI, where to check it in the US, UK, India, Pakistan and Europe, and what the result does and doesn’t tell you.

By Ismail FarooqUpdated October 1, 20266 min read

1. Find the IMEI, in three places

The IMEI is a 15-digit number that identifies the phone itself, not the SIM. Networks use it to block phones reported lost or stolen. Find it three ways and make sure all of them match:

Dial *#06# on the phone’s keypad. The IMEI appears straight away. Dual-SIM phones show two IMEIs; check both.
Settings: on iPhone, Settings → General → About. On Android, Settings → About phone, sometimes under Status.
The SIM tray and the box: many phones print the IMEI on the SIM tray, and the box label always has it.

If the number on the box or tray differs from *#06#, the box belongs to another phone or the IMEI has been changed. Either way, walk away. Our SIM and IMEI check walks through finding it on each brand.

Ask for the IMEI before you meet. An honest seller will send it, and you can run the check from home. A seller who refuses is a warning sign on its own.

2. Check it in your country

United States

Enter the IMEI on the free CTIA Stolen Phone Checker at stolenphonechecker.org. It searches phones reported lost or stolen to participating US carriers. It doesn’t cover every unpaid-balance block, so also ask the seller whether the phone was on a payment plan and is fully paid off. Swappa’s free IMEI check is another option.

United Kingdom

Run a CheckMEND report. It checks network blocks, police theft reports and outstanding finance, which matters because phones bought on contract can be blocked if the payments stop. It costs a few pounds, which is little next to the price of a phone you can’t use.

India

Use the government’s free Know Your Mobile (KYM) check: send an SMS KYM <15-digit IMEI> to 14422, or use the Sanchar Saathi app or website. The reply shows the brand and model. A blacklisted, duplicate or already in use status means don’t buy. Our India used phone guide covers the bill, box and EMI checks too, and is also available in Hindi.

Pakistan

Send the 15-digit IMEI by SMS to 8484, or check it on the PTA’s DIRBS website (dirbs.pta.gov.pk) or the DVS app. Dual-SIM phones have two IMEIs; check both. The reply names the brand and model and gives a status:

Compliant (PTA Approved/Registered): the phone can be used on Pakistani networks.
Valid but not approved/registered, or non-compliant: a non-PTA phone. It will be blocked unless someone registers it and pays the tax, which is often a large part of the phone’s price. Price it accordingly.
Blocked (reported stolen/lost/misused) or reported under fraudulent activity: don’t buy it.

Europe and elsewhere

Most EU countries have no free public lookup. Ask for the original receipt, plan to test your own SIM in the phone before paying, and if the price is high, ask a network shop or pay for an IMEI check. Paid services can check some international blocklists, but no single site covers every network in the world.

3. Read the result correctly

Brand and model must match. When a check shows the model, compare it with the phone in your hand. A “Galaxy S24” whose IMEI belongs to a cheaper model has a changed IMEI or is a clone. See how to spot a fake phone.
A clean result is not a guarantee. A phone can be reported stolen after you buy it, for example by a seller who claims insurance. Get a written note with the IMEI, price, date and the seller’s name and number. It protects you if the phone is blocked later.
The IMEI check doesn’t see account locks. A phone can be clean on every blacklist and still be locked to the seller’s Apple ID or Google account. Make sure they sign out and reset the phone in front of you. Our used iPhone guide explains Activation Lock.
Hardware tests don’t see theft reports. An MxMob report, or any other diagnostic, only tells you whether the parts work.

4. Put your own SIM in

The last check costs nothing: insert your SIM, make a call and load a web page on mobile data. A blocked phone usually shows no signal, “SIM not supported” or “Emergency calls only”. A carrier-locked phone can show a similar message, so ask the seller which network it came from. The mobile data test confirms the connection is really working.

5. If the phone is reported stolen

Before you’ve paid: don’t buy it, however good the story. “It’s only blocked because of an old bill” and “my cousin can unblock it” are both common lines.
After you’ve paid: contact the seller and the marketplace straight away. If you paid with a protected method, open a claim. Report it to the police if the seller disappears.
Avoid IMEI “unblocking” or “repair” services. Changing an IMEI is a crime in many countries, including the UK and India, and a blocked phone can only be cleared by the network or the person who reported it.

The full check

The IMEI is one item. Once it’s clean, test the hardware with the free phone diagnostic and work through the rest of the used phone checklist: account locks, battery health, carrier lock and the physical signs of a drop or water damage.