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Your only remedy is to contact the previous carrier and ask them to unlock the device. When a phone is locked to a particular network, the IMEI number won’t work until the carrier removes the lock. Blacklisted IMEI numbers are shared between carriers and cannot be easily unblocked. If you purchase a phone and learn that the phone is blocked or blacklisted, your options are limited. If an IMEI number is blocked or blacklisted. If you’ve decided to purchase a used phone from a vendor other than Verizon, you will need to understand how to check the IMEI before activating the device on the Verizon network. Manufacturers only use serial numbers internally IMEI numbers are standard across the industry. Phone carriers and manufacturers share IMEI numbers to enable tracking of smartphones that may be stolen or compromised.ĭon’t confuse the IMEI number with the serial number listed on the device. Think of it as your phone’s fingerprint - it’s a 15-digit number unique to each device.
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IMEI number basics.Īn IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. Check out to quick guide on how to check IMEI. But thankfully, there’s one way to find out if the used phone you want to buy is reputable: an IMEI check. Some used phones sold by third-party vendors may have been previously reported as stolen or locked. Before you purchase a used phone, you should know exactly what you’re buying.
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