Know Your Mobile KYM: Check IMEI Before Buying a Used Phone

Every day, thousands of used phones buy or sell across India, on OLX, Facebook Marketplace, local shops, and among friends. Most of these transactions happen on trust. But what if that “great deal” phone was stolen, cloned, or fake?

That is exactly the problem Know Your Mobile (KYM) was built to solve. It is a free service from the Government of India, under the Sanchar Saathi initiative, that lets anyone verify a phone’s IMEI number before buying. It takes about one minute, costs nothing, and can save you from a serious legal and financial headache.

This guide explains what KYM checks, how to use it three different ways, what the results mean, and what to do if you have already bought a problematic phone.

What is Know Your Mobile (KYM)?

Know Your Mobile commonly called KYM, it is a feature offered by the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR), which runs under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Government of India.

The CEIR is essentially a national database that stores the IMEI numbers of all mobile devices registered on Indian telecom networks. It tracks which devices are genuine, which have been blacklisted (reported as lost or stolen), and which have invalid or duplicate IMEI numbers.

KYM gives ordinary citizens a window into this database. You enter an IMEI, and within seconds you know whether a phone is safe to buy.

Why Your Phone’s IMEI Matters When Buying Second Hand

The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique 15-digit number assigned to every mobile device at the time of manufacture. No two phones in the world should have the same IMEI, it works like a fingerprint for your handset.

When you buy a second hand phone without checking its IMEI, you risk:

• Getting a stolen phone: If the original owner has reported the theft and blocked the IMEI through CEIR, the phone may stop working on all Indian networks, even after you insert your own SIM.
• Getting a cloned phone: Some phones are fitted with fake or cloned IMEI numbers, often to disguise a stolen device or to make a cheap counterfeit look genuine.
• Getting a counterfeit phone: Phones with all zero or all null IMEI numbers are not permitted on Indian telecom networks. If you buy one, it simply will not connect to any network.
• Legal risk: Knowingly or unknowingly possessing a device with a blocked IMEI can create complications with law enforcement.

According to the CEIR dashboard (as of August 2026), over 57 lakh mobiles have been blocked across India through this system. That is a large pool of devices that could potentially be re-sold in the second hand market.

How to Find the IMEI Number

Before you can run a check, you need the IMEI. Here is where to find it:

• Dial *#06# – The IMEI appears on the screen of any GSM phone.
• Check the box – The packaging box usually has the IMEI printed on a sticker.
• Check the purchase invoice – The original bill/invoice typically lists the IMEI.

For dual SIM phones: You will see two IMEI numbers (one per SIM slot). Check both, as each identifies a different radio module in the same handset.

3 Ways to Check IMEI Using KYM

The government offers three methods. All are free.

Method 1: SMS to 14422 (Fastest, Works Offline)

This is the quickest option, no internet connection needed.

1. Open your phone’s messaging app.
2. Create a new SMS.
3. Type: KYM [space] [15-digit IMEI number]
   Example: KYM 123456789012345
4. Send it to 14422.

You will receive an automated reply with the device’s make, model, brand name, and manufacturer along with its status (genuine, blacklisted, or duplicate). This is the official format confirmed on ceir.sancharsaathi.gov.in.

Method 2: CEIR Web Portal

If you want a more detailed check or prefer a web based interface:

1. Go to ceir.sancharsaathi.gov.in → click on IMEI Verification under Applications.
2. Enter the CAPTCHA shown on the page.
3. Enter your 10 digit mobile number and click Get OTP.
4. Enter the OTP received on your phone and click Verify OTP.
5. Enter the 15 digit IMEI number and click Submit.
6. The result will be displayed on screen.

The web portal requires OTP verification, so keep your phone handy. This method works on any browser mobile or desktop.

Method 3: Sanchar Saathi App

The Sanchar Saathi app, developed by DoT and available for both Android and iOS, includes a built-in KYM (IMEI verification) feature. It was launched in January 2025 and is now available in Hindi and 21 regional languages.

To use it:

1. Download the Sanchar Saathi app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store. (Search: “Sanchar Saathi”)
2. Register using your mobile number.
3. Look for the Know Your Mobile / Verify IMEI option on the home screen.
4. Enter the IMEI number and submit.

The app also lets you block a lost phone, check how many SIM cards are registered in your name, and report fraud calls all in one place.

Read our full guide: How to Download and Use the Sanchar Saathi App

I Already Bought a Blacklisted Phone – What Now?

This is an unfortunate but not uncommon situation. Here is what you can do:

1. Stop using the phone immediately.
If the IMEI is blacklisted, the phone may be blocked across all networks in India. Continuing to use it does not help your case.

2. Contact the seller.
Go back to the person who sold you the phone with proof of purchase. If they sold you a stolen device knowingly, that is a criminal offence on their part. Demand a refund.

3. File a police complaint.
If the seller refuses or is unreachable, file a complaint at your local police station. Bring the purchase receipt, the seller’s contact details, and any messages you exchanged.

4. Report through CEIR.
You can register a complaint at ceir.sancharsaathi.gov.in. After submitting the complaint form, you will receive a Complaint ID, which can be used to track the status.

5. Do not try to tamper with the IMEI.
Altering, removing, or changing a device’s IMEI number is a criminal offence under Indian law. Do not approach unofficial repair shops claiming they can “unlock” a blacklisted phone.

If your own phone gets stolen, you can block it yourself through CEIR or through the Sanchar Saathi app to prevent misuse.

Read more: How to Block a Lost or Stolen Phone Using CEIR

Quick Tips Before You Buy Any Used Phone

• Always check the IMEI before paying, not after.
• For a dual-SIM phone, check both IMEIs separately.
• Match the IMEI on the phone’s *#06# screen with the one on the box and invoice, they must be identical.
• Avoid phones with scratched-off or missing IMEI stickers on the box.
• Buy from trusted sources or platforms that offer buyer protection wherever possible.
• If you notice suspicious SIM activity on your own connections, check how many numbers are linked to your Aadhaar using the TAFCOP portal.
• Report suspicious calls or SMS fraud using the Chakshu portal on Sanchar Saathi.

Conclusion

Buying a second hand phone is always a bit of a risk but the IMEI check through Know Your Mobile (KYM) removes the biggest danger. A one minute SMS to 14422, a quick visit to ceir.sancharsaathi.gov.in, or a tap in the Sanchar Saathi app is all it takes to know whether a phone is genuine, stolen, or cloned.

The government has made this completely free precisely so that buyers do not have to rely on a seller’s word. Use it every time. If anything looks off, blacklisted, duplicate, or mismatched IMEI – walk away from the deal.

FAQs: