Short answer: Dial *#06# to get the IMEI, then send an SMS reading KYM <15-digit IMEI> to 14422, or check it on the government's Sanchar Saathi portal. If the result comes back blacklisted, duplicate or already in use, do not buy the phone. The check takes under two minutes and is free.
What an IMEI is, and why it matters in India
The IMEI is a 15-digit number unique to every mobile device. Networks use it to identify a specific handset, independent of whatever SIM is inside it. Dual-SIM phones carry two.
India runs a central database of these numbers called the CEIR — the Central Equipment Identity Register — operated by the Department of Telecommunications. When a phone is reported lost or stolen, its IMEI is blocked in CEIR and the handset stops working on every network in the country. It becomes, functionally, a piece of glass.
That is exactly why this check matters when you buy second-hand. A stolen phone looks identical to a legitimate one. The difference only shows up in the database.
How to find your IMEI number
Any of these work:
- Dial *#06# — the fastest method, works on every phone
- iPhone: Settings → General → About
- Android: Settings → About phone → IMEI
- Printed on the retail box and usually on the invoice
Cross-check the on-screen IMEI against the one printed on the box. If they do not match, stop there — either the box is not the phone's own, or the IMEI has been tampered with. Altering an IMEI is a criminal offence in India, not a grey area.
Three ways to verify an IMEI
1. By SMS (works without internet)
Send KYM <15-digit IMEI> to 14422. You will receive the device status by return SMS. This is the method to use standing in a shop with patchy signal.
2. On the Sanchar Saathi portal
Go to sancharsaathi.gov.in and use the Know Your Mobile (KYM) service. Enter the IMEI and it returns the device's status along with the registered brand and model.
3. Through the KYM or Sanchar Saathi app
The Department of Telecommunications publishes an official app offering the same lookup, plus lost-device reporting and the TAFCOP service that shows how many SIM connections are registered against your ID.
How to read the result
| Status | What it means | Do you buy? |
|---|---|---|
| Valid / clean | IMEI is registered and not flagged | Safe to proceed with other checks |
| Blacklisted | Reported lost or stolen and blocked | No. Walk away. |
| Duplicate | The same IMEI appears on multiple devices — cloning or counterfeit | No. |
| Already in use | The IMEI is active on another handset | No. |
| Brand or model mismatch | Database shows a different device to the one in your hand | No. |
That last row catches a surprising number of counterfeits. If you are holding what is sold as an iPhone 14 Pro and the database returns a different model, the phone is not what the seller says it is.
What happens if you buy a blacklisted phone
You lose twice. The handset will not connect to any Indian network, so it is unusable as a phone. And because the device is stolen property, you have no legal claim to it — the DoT has been explicit that buying a stolen device can make the purchaser party to the offence. There is no refund process, no appeal, and usually no seller left to contact.
This is not a rare edge case. It is common enough that the government has now moved to require businesses trading in used phones to verify every device against the central IMEI database before resale.
If your own phone is lost or stolen
You can block it yourself through the CEIR service on Sanchar Saathi. You will generally need a copy of the police complaint or FIR, government ID proof, and the purchase invoice if you have it. Once submitted, the device is typically blocked within 24 hours and stops working nationwide. If you later recover the phone, the same portal handles unblocking.
File the police complaint first. Everything else depends on it.
Why this check disappears when you buy renewed properly
The IMEI check exists because second-hand buying puts the burden of verification on you. A device sourced, verified and renewed by a brand has already cleared that hurdle before it is listed — sourcing legitimacy is the first gate, long before the quality checks begin.
Every Premium Renewed iPhone we sell arrives with a clean IMEI, a GST invoice in your name, and an 18-month warranty. You can still run the check yourself. We would rather you did.
For the wider picture on buying renewed, start with whether a renewed iPhone is worth it in India, then check the battery health guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a phone is stolen in India?
Get the IMEI by dialling *#06#, then send an SMS reading KYM followed by the 15-digit IMEI to 14422, or use the Know Your Mobile service on sancharsaathi.gov.in. A blacklisted result means the device has been reported lost or stolen.
Is IMEI checking free in India?
Yes. The Sanchar Saathi portal, the KYM app and the 14422 SMS service are all government-run and free to use. Standard SMS charges may apply from your operator.
What is CEIR?
The Central Equipment Identity Register, a national database of mobile device IMEI numbers run by the Department of Telecommunications. It allows lost or stolen handsets to be blocked across every network in India.
Can a blacklisted phone be unblocked?
Only by the person who reported it, through the CEIR service, usually after recovering the device. A buyer who unknowingly purchases a blacklisted phone cannot get it unblocked themselves.
Do dual-SIM phones have two IMEI numbers?
Yes, one per SIM slot. Check both. A phone can have one clean IMEI and one flagged.
Does a renewed phone from Control Z have a clean IMEI?
Yes. IMEI verification is part of sourcing, before a device enters the renewal process. Every device ships with a clean IMEI and a GST invoice.
