Can my IMEI number be blocked?

Question

Can my IMEI number be blocked?

I recently purchased an iPhone 5 (haven't paid for it yet) from eBay. The seller, however, has listed the IMEI number in the description. I did a little of looking around and discovered that apparently it is possible to clone an IMEI number which will result in that particular IMEI number becoming blocked. I was wondering is this is possible with an unlocked iPhone 5. Could someone have taken that IMEI number and cloned it? Will me iPhone become blocked later down the track as a result of this?

Thanks

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Aug 8, 2015 10:18 PM

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Answer 1

modular747

Level 6

19,674 points

Aug 8, 2015 10:27 PM in response to abdurfromsydney

IMEI numbers can be blocked (not all carriers recognize blocked lists), most often because the phone was reported as lost or stolen. Cloning is nearly impossible with digital phones just by knowing the IMEI number, unlike what you see on TV.

That said, you're always taking a big risk buying phones on eBay - many are stolen.

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Answer 2

Aug 8, 2015 10:35 PM in response to modular747

What else would need to be known to clone? Would the serial number do the trick too? Is it possible for some random internet goer to report this IMEI number after seeing it on eBay as stolen resulting in my phone becoming blocked?

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Answer 3

modular747

Level 6

19,674 points

Aug 8, 2015 10:42 PM in response to abdurfromsydney

Cloning can't be done without physical access to the phone, if at all. The only people who can report a stolen phone are the owners who have an account with the carrier.

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