Before you purchase a second-hand mobile device, you should use the CTIA Stolen Phone Checker, powered by the GSMA Device Check service, to see if the device has been reported lost or stolen. The rightful owner may have blocked the device from accessing wireless service provider networks or activated device protection features that prevent use of the device.

By using the CTIA Stolen Phone Checker, powered by the GSMA Device Check service. The CTIA Stolen Phone Checker is a public service designed to limit the resale of lost and stolen mobile devices in the United States. To protect themselves, consumers should acquire wireless devices from trusted, reputable sources.

Use the CTIA Stolen Phone Checker to enter the device's unique ID—IMEI. If the device has been reported as lost or stolen, a red status will state: "Reported Lost or Stolen". If the device has not been reported as lost or stolen, the status will be green.

It means:

• The owner reported the device is no longer in his/her possession;
• The wireless carrier confirmed the device was stolen due to fraud; and/or
• The wireless carrier confirmed the owner is not in possession of the device.

When a wireless subscriber reports that the device has been lost or stolen, the wireless carrier can prevent that device from being used on its network. This is generally called “network blocking” or “cellular access blocking”. Other wireless carriers participating in the CTIA Stolen Phone Checker and GSMA Device Check ecosystem may also block the device.

The IMEI, MEID, and ESN are device identifiers. Every cellular device has one of these unique identifiers unless it was tampered with or incorrectly manufactured.

• IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is the 15-digit electronic serial number of a GSM technology cellular device.
• MEID (Mobile Equipment Identifier) is the 14-digit electronic serial number of a CDMA technology cellular device.
• ESN (Electronic Serial Number) is the 8- or 11-digit electronic serial number for CDMA technology cellular phones.

You can obtain your device’s IMEI/MEID/ESN by:

• Dialing *#06# on the device’s keypad
• Checking the device settings
• Looking behind the back cover of the device or underneath the device’s battery
• Examining the device packaging

Devices that can connect to cellular networks to make phone calls or transfer data contain an IMEI, MEID, or ESN. That includes feature phones, smartphones, tablets, laptops, and wireless dongles, among others.

Devices that rely only on Wi-Fi for connectivity – in other words, devices that cannot connect to cellular networks – do not have an IMEI, MEID, or ESN.

It means that at the time the query was made, the device was not flagged on the Block List, a list maintained by GSMA of mobile devices reported lost or stolen.

The device has been reported to a subscriber’s wireless carrier as “lost or stolen” and added to the GSMA Block List. The device has then been blocked by the subscriber’s wireless carrier and likely also blocked on other cellular networks.

You should exercise extra caution since the device status information we receive is provided by wireless carriers and other organizations that own large quantities of devices.

The device description includes the make and model name of the device being queried. If the device description does not match the device, it may have been tampered with and/or may be a counterfeit.

To protect your device, use PINs, passwords and other features that can help protect mobile devices and personal information. There are also a number of apps that can locate, lock and/or erase your wireless device if it gets lost or stolen.

If your device is lost or stolen, your personal information is at risk. Contact your wireless carrier and local law enforcement and follow these steps.

CTIA’s Stolen Phone Checker utilizes the GSMA Device Check service. This provides access to the world’s most accurate registry of mobile device status information, GSMA Device Registry. The GSMA is the global organization representing the interests of the mobile ecosystem, and the official TAC allocation provider (the number that identifies devices on a mobile network), so it is the only true source of this device data.

CTIA represents the wireless communications industry in the United States, while the GSMA has a global remit and includes the whole mobile ecosystem. The two organizations work together on many initiatives, services and events. They both see the CTIA Stolen Phone Checker and GSMA Device Check as mutually beneficial for their members and wider consumers.

There are over 170 contributors providing this information, located in over 45 countries. This is primarily mobile operators but can include some third parties, such as insurance companies or large distributors.

CTIA’s Stolen Phone Checker, powered by GSMA Device Check, helps law enforcement agencies by preventing theft and fraud, as well as helping to catch criminals. The tool can be used in multiple ways:

• Instantly check if a phone has been reported as stolen, when catching a suspect with suspected stolen goods.
• Check that a device is exactly as it’s claimed to be to ensure correct customs or prevent fraudulent devices from being sold.
• Contribute to investigations by creating a permanent record of phone look-up data, leading to arrests and repatriation of devices, even after a sale.
• Deter criminals by reducing the market for stolen devices, particularly as consumers become more aware of this powerful tool.