What does a bad IMEI number mean?

What does a bad IMEI number mean?

An iPhone or Android device such as Samsung can have a bad ESN or IMEI number due to a number of things. It’s normally caused by owners who have unpaid bills or outstanding balance which were not paid.

What will happen if IMEI is blocked?

If a phone is blacklisted, it means that the device was reported lost or stolen. The blacklist is a database of all the IMEI or ESN numbers that have been reported. If you have a device with a blacklisted number, your carrier may block services. In the worst-case scenario, the local authorities could seize your phone.

Can IMEI number be erased?

You can remotely wipe devices using IMEI number with a Device Management solution. Usually, when organizations monitor corporate-owned devices with lockdown software , they tend to enroll the devices either using IMEI or other techniques depending upon the scenario.

Is changing IMEI number illegal?

It is illegal under The Prevention of Tampering of the Mobile Device Equipment Identification Number, Rules, 2017 : Tampering mobile IMEI number to attract up to 3 years jail, fine : “It shall be unlawful, if a person, except the manufacturer – intentionally removes, obliterates, changes, or alters unique Mobile Device …

Can a stolen phone be unlocked?

Unfortnately, if you lost your phone, the person who fnds it, if doesn’t return your phone, will be able to unlock it and later on use it. All that person needs to do is a factory reset and bypass Google’s account veryfication. However, it is strongly reocmmneded to report your phone’s IMEI to your local authorities.

Can a stolen phone be reset?

Android’s built-in Android Device Manager allows you to track, lock, and wipe lost Android phones and tablets. Unlike Apple’s solution, Android Device Manager will be wiped after a factory reset — a thief can reset your device and you won’t be able to track it down.

Is sharing IMEI number safe?

Can an Android mobile phone be hacked by using an IMEI number or a device ID? Some SPs keep record of every IMEI associated with the mobile number. But, that doesn’t mean one can hack your mobile number merely by knowing IMEI number.

What does the IMEI tell you?

GSM networks use the IMEI number to identify valid devices, and can stop a stolen phone from accessing the network. For example, if a mobile phone is stolen, the owner can have their network provider use the IMEI number to blocklist the phone.

How do you verify if a phone is stolen?

The US wireless industry, through its trade group the CTIA, has launched a tool called the Stolen Phone Checker, which lets you look up whether a phone has been reported lost or stolen. The site works by looking up a device’s IMEI, MEID, or ESN — unique codes that get assigned to every phone.

Is my phone unlocked IMEI?

You can find out what it is by dialing *#06# on any mobile. Alternatively, if you’ve got an iPhone, you can go into the Settings app and choose General —> About to find it. Once you’ve got the number, just enter it into the IMEI.info web site and you’ll find out if you’re unlocked or not. Subscribe to our newsletter!

Can you unlock a network locked phone?

When a handset is locked it means it will only work with the provider from whom you bought it. If your phone is locked it won’t automatically become unlocked when your contract expires with your provider. You’ll have to specifically ask your carrier to unlock it.