Knowing if a cell phone is stolen can be very important when buying a new handset. As not all commercial transactions are carried out in stores that provide an invoice, it's important to pay attention to a few details before finalizing a purchase with a stranger or on websites that may not be so trustworthy.
If you're in a situation like this and want to find out if the device you're interested in is stolen or not, you're in the right place! In today's article we've put together seven tips that will help you find out if a cell phone is stolen and prevent you from ending up in trouble in the future if the real owner manages to track down the cell phone and demand their device back! Follow us to find out everything you need to know about the subject!
IMEI check
Checking the IMEI number is one of the most effective ways of finding out if a cell phone has been stolen. This is because this number works as a kind of "identification serial number" for the device and each cell phone has its own. If a handset is stolen, the original owner can request that it be blocked using this number, making it much easier to find out if it is not legal.
Once the IMEI is blocked, the phone can no longer access the mobile network and this prevents it from making calls, receiving calls and even accessing the internet. Checking this serial number is a simple task: just look on the device's box or, if you don't have one, type *#06# and the number sequence will be shown on the phone's display. Once you have access to the number, go to Anatel's website and check whether or not the IMEI is actually blocked.
Accounts saved on the phone
Another strong clue that will help you know if a phone is stolen is to check if there are any accounts linked to it. A new phone that has just left the store won't have any links to third-party accounts because it will be ready for your exclusive use, so it won't show other accounts before you can log in with yours in the apps.
Checking this factor is not complicated. On Android devices, for example, all you need to do is go to the settings tab, find the account manager and see if there are any apps already using an account. If there are notifications about apps linked to accounts you don't know about, it could also be a big sign that the device isn't new and used to belong to someone else.
Check out the device's accessories
If your device is supposed to be new and fresh from the store, the condition of the accessories it comes with can also be a warning and a way of telling if a cell phone is stolen. This is because a new phone will have new accessories, so if they are damaged in any way, they have probably already been used by someone else.
The compatibility between the brand of the device purchased and the accessories supplied should also be checked. If the cell phone you buy is of a certain brand and the accessories are of another or don't even indicate which brand they belong to, this is an important sign that something is wrong.
Analyze your device's battery
New handsets should also be free of battery damage. It's common for phones that have been used for a long time to end up with a "stale" battery, discharging quickly or taking a long time to recharge. If your newly purchased handset has this type of fault, it could be a sign that someone else has been using it for a long time.
Observing the signals given off by the cell phone's battery can help a lot to know if a cell phone has been stolen due to this type of situation. Used devices that have been used with the correct charger shouldn't have this type of malfunction either, so it's always a good idea to ask for the invoice when buying a second-hand device to check that the time of use is really in line with the useful life of the battery used.
Demand the invoice
And, speaking of invoices, they are the queen of evidence to help you know if a cell phone is stolen or not. Demanding it at the time of purchase is your right as a consumer and can also save you from buying something illegal and contributing to the trade run by criminals.
Every regulated store offers printed invoices or digital means of accessing them. If it's a second-hand device, the seller must present the invoice proving that he bought the device in a regulated store or the purchase may not be as legal as it needs to be. Watch out for the signs!
Blocked accounts
As accounts that are essential to the functioning of the device, such as the Google, iCloud and Samsung accounts, are blocked if there are too many incorrect attempts to access them, it is an extreme warning sign that they are blocked on the device. In this case, always be wary if the advertisement for the cell phone states that one of these accounts is blocked.
This is because unlocking these accounts is very easy if you are the original user of the device. However, if the phone doesn't belong to the person, it will be difficult to recover and the account will remain blocked. This is therefore one way of finding out if a cell phone has been stolen.
Prices too low
This one may seem a bit silly, but it's always good to remember: if an offer is too low or too good by market standards, be wary! Cell phones aren't usually cheap and if someone is getting rid of a device for a much lower price than what you usually see out there, something could be very wrong.
Analyzing the price and the seller's reputation can be two very good ways of finding out if a cell phone is stolen. Look up the market value in reputable stores and compare prices to make sure things are right. A phone sold illegally probably cost its seller nothing, so it won't make much difference to him to sell it for a low price, and that's a big warning sign.
With all these aspects in mind, we believe you should already be able to knowing if a cell phone is stolen and avoid falling for an online scam. Let us know in the comments if this article was useful to you and don't forget to check it out. our guide on how to recover your Instagram password in case you missed it!
Questions that might interest you
What are the risks of buying a cell phone that could be stolen?
In addition to being a legal risk, since receiving stolen goods is a crime, the cell phone can be blocked and rendered useless.
What should I do if I've bought a cell phone and then find out it's stolen?
You should file a police report and block the cell phone to protect your own data.
