What the blacklist check looks for, and what a result means
The check asks the reported-device block list whether this IMEI was reported lost, stolen or blocked, and returns who reported it, why, when and where. What a clean result does and doesn’t mean.
A blacklist check asks whether this IMEI is on the block list that mobile networks share for devices reported lost, stolen or blocked. The report comes back with the status, the brand and model behind the IMEI, who reported it, the reason, the date and the country, and the date of the check itself. A reported phone is refused service by the networks that honour the list, whatever SIM is in it, and no unlock changes that — which is why this is the one check to run before paying for a used phone.
What the check looks for
Networks and approved device owners report lost, stolen and fraud-linked devices to a shared registry; the GSMA’s Device Check describes it as a block list, with a flagged device marked as not being with its rightful owner. The check queries that list for the IMEI you give it. Which networks report, and how quickly, is up to each of them, so the list is wide but not universal: a phone reported in one country may not be flagged everywhere.
Find and confirm the IMEI
- 1Any phoneOpen the dialer and type *#06#. The IMEI appears on the screen (two on a dual-SIM phone — use the first for a report; a blacklist report checks the one you give it).
- 2iPhoneSettings → General → About, scroll to IMEI. Apple’s page in the sources box lists the other places it is printed (the SIM tray on older models, the box).
- 3AndroidSettings → About phone → IMEI (Samsung: Settings → About phone → Status information).
- 4A phone you don’t haveAsk the seller for the IMEI before you pay, and run the check on that number. The guide to finding your IMEI has the details for every maker.
Reading the result
| Field | What it means |
|---|---|
| Blacklist status | Clean: not on the list at the time of the check. Blacklisted: reported, with the details below. |
| GSMA blacklist | Whether the device is flagged on the shared block list. |
| Reported lost / stolen | The kind of report behind the entry. |
| Reported by, reason, date, country | Who placed the entry, why, when and where — the facts to take to the seller or the carrier. |
| Brand and model | What the IMEI belongs to, so you can see it matches the phone in your hand. |
| Checked | The date and time of the lookup. A result is a snapshot of that moment. |
What a clean result does not say
- It is not a promise about tomorrow: a device can be reported after the check, so check close to the purchase.
- It says nothing about the carrier lock. A clean, locked phone still needs an unlock; a clean, unlocked one may still not support your network’s bands.
- It does not cover unpaid-balance or account issues at the carrier that sold the phone; those are between the seller and the carrier.
- It cannot tell you where the phone physically is or who owns it; it reports what the list holds.
If the phone is reported
Don’t buy it. If you already own it, the only route is the carrier or owner who placed the report: a report is removed by whoever made it, usually after the original owner recovers the phone or the carrier’s claim is settled. We don’t remove block-list entries and nobody else can; a service that says it will is either taking your money or tampering with the phone’s identity. Our guide to what a blacklisted IMEI means explains the options, and checking a used phone’s IMEI before you buy the whole checklist.
Ordering
Type the IMEI in the order card above and pay; the report comes by email within the time shown on the card. Buying an iPhone? Pair it with the Apple Full GSX report for the carrier, warranty and activation details, or the Simlock/Model Status check for the lock alone.