GSMA IMEI Blacklist Check — Is This Phone Stolen?
Enter the IMEI to check whether the phone is on the GSMA blacklist — the database operators worldwide use to block phones reported lost, stolen or fraudulent. You also see the brand and model to make sure it matches the phone in your hand.
- Paid from your wallet
- Sent to the provider
- Waiting for the result 0s
Recommended for this check
What does “blacklisted” mean?
When a phone is reported lost or stolen, or bought on a contract that was never paid, the operator adds its IMEI to the GSMA blacklist. Networks that share the list can block the phone from making calls or using mobile data. Buying a blacklisted phone can also mean buying stolen goods.
What is the GSMA IMEI database (block list)?
The GSMA Device Registry — often called the GSMA IMEI database or GSMA block list — is run by the GSM Association, the body that represents mobile operators worldwide. Operators upload the IMEIs of phones reported lost, stolen or used in fraud, and download the list to block those phones on their own networks. A GSMA IMEI check looks up a single IMEI in that registry and returns its blacklist status.
GSMA blacklist status explained
- Clean / Not blacklisted — no operator has reported the IMEI.
- Blacklisted / Blocked — reported lost or stolen; networks that share the list can refuse it.
- Removed / Previously blacklisted — it was listed and later cleared by the operator (for example, the phone was found).
- The report also shows the brand and model linked to the IMEI’s TAC — if it does not match the phone in your hand, the IMEI may have been changed.
Clean vs blacklisted
- Clean — no lost/stolen report on the IMEI.
- Blacklisted / Blocked — reported lost, stolen or fraud. Do not buy.
- Financed / unpaid (US carriers) — the owner still owes money; the phone can be blocked later. Check with a Verizon or T-Mobile report.
How to check if a phone is stolen
- Dial *#06# on the phone to see the IMEI (it must match the SIM tray and the box).
- Enter the IMEI in the Blacklist Status (GSMA) report below.
- Clean? Also check iCloud / Find My on iPhones — a stolen iPhone is often clean on GSMA but still iCloud-locked.
Why check before you buy
Stolen phones are resold quickly on marketplaces and in phone markets. A blacklisted phone may work for a while and then be blocked, and you lose the money. The check takes seconds.
Example result
How to check if a phone is blacklisted
- Dial *#06# to get the IMEI.
- Enter it in the Blacklist Status (GSMA) report.
- Read the GSMA status: Clean or Blacklisted.
- For iPhones, also run an iCloud check.
Full reports available
- Blacklist Status (gsma) — $0.05 · instant
- Verizon Clean/Lost Check — $0.10 · instant
- iPhone T-mobile USA iPhone/Generic Pro By (imei) — $0.13 · instant
- Carrier + Sim-lock (emergency) ✅ — $0.13 · instant
- All-in-one (basic Info) ✅ — $0.10 · instant
Frequently asked questions
What is a GSMA IMEI check?
It looks up an IMEI in the GSMA Device Registry — the shared database mobile operators use to block lost and stolen phones — and returns its blacklist status (clean or blacklisted) plus the brand and model.
How do I check IMEI lock status?
“Lock status” can mean three things: the GSMA blacklist (lost/stolen), the carrier SIM-lock (network-locked or unlocked) and, on iPhones, iCloud / Find My. Run the GSMA blacklist report for the first, a Carrier + SIM-lock report for the second and an iCloud check for the third.
Is the blacklist check free?
The GSMA blacklist check is a full report from a few cents. Your first check on iSerial — All-in-one Basic Info for Apple devices — is free.
Can a blacklisted phone be cleaned?
Only the operator that reported it can remove the listing, usually at the request of the original owner.
Does the blacklist apply in every country?
Operators in most countries share the GSMA list, so a blacklisted phone may be blocked on networks around the world.
My phone is clean but was stolen — why?
Not every theft is reported to the operator. For iPhones, always check iCloud / Find My as well.
What is a US carrier blacklist?
US carriers (Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T) keep their own lists including unpaid financing. Use the Verizon or T-Mobile Pro checks below.