How to Check If a Phone Is Reported Lost or Stolen

Before you hand over cash for a used phone, one question matters most: has it been reported lost or stolen? The answer lives in the global blacklist.

The blacklist is the source of truth

The blacklist is coordinated by the GSMA and fed by carriers worldwide. When a phone is reported lost or stolen, its IMEI is added and carriers refuse to activate it. Run the GSMA Blacklist Check to see the status.

Do not stop at the blacklist

A phone can be clean on the blacklist but still locked to a previous owner's account. Always also run the iCloud Activation Lock Check for iPhones and iPads.

One report for the full picture

The Full IMEI Check combines blacklist, carrier and device details, so you cover the main risks in a single lookup.

Bottom line

Check the blacklist first, then the lock status. A clean result on both means the phone is safe to buy.