Your phone’s deadliest secret: The IMEI scam

Image of a mobile phone box with visible IMEI number located on a white sticker. Credit: Shutterstock

You’re exposing your phone to crooks if you keep this sticker on — experts explain why!

That cryptic string of numbers on your phone’s sticker isn’t random gibberish — it’s the IMEI, or International Mobile Equipment Identity, the unique code that makes your phone yours alone.

Networks use it to let your device call, text, and connect to the internet; police can blacklist it if your phone’s stolen; and manufacturers rely on it to verify warranties.

Here’s the brutal truth: if scammers get hold of your IMEI from that sticker, they could clone your phone’s identity on networks, use it to dodge blacklists, and even make calls or rack up charges that leave you facing a costly mess.

Experts warn that while the IMEI is essential for your mobile’s security and service, keeping it stuck on your phone like a neon sign is a flashing invitation to fraudsters — and the first thing you should do is peel it off and store it safely.

What is an IMEI?

The IMEI – that’s International Mobile Equipment Identity, for those not fluent in geek – is like your phone’s personal ID card. Every mobile in the world gets its own unique 15-17 digit IMEI number, just like a passport, only smaller and with fewer embarrassing photos.

According to industry experts, this number is vital for:

letting networks recognise your phone,
blocking stolen devices,
and sorting out warranties or repairs.

It’s the phone’s fingerprint.

Why do phone manufacturers slap the IMEI on a sticker?

Here’s the thing: manufacturers stick the IMEI on the back of phones so shop staff, customs officers, or repair gurus can identify the device without turning it on. It’s a practical move – but one that creates a juicy opportunity for criminals.

Keeping the IMEI visible is a fraudster’s fantasy

Leaving your IMEI exposed is like taping your bank PIN to your wallet. Tech site Andina warned: ‘keeping your IMEI visible boosts your risk of ID theft and fraud.’

Thieves can:

verify a phone’s authenticity to boost its black market value,
clone your device for sneaky calls or texts,
or even trick networks into shutting down your phone while they make merry with your mobile identity.

So… should you peel it or keep it?

You absolutely should peel it off. But don’t toss it away. Keep that sticker safe in the phone’s original box or file it with your receipts – just in case you need the IMEI for warranty claims or to report a theft.

If you’d rather not store a sticky label, jot the IMEI down somewhere secure – like a locked note on your laptop or a well-hidden page in your diary.