Photo by Dan Nelson on Unsplash
India's secondhand phone market has grown fast enough that the government has started treating it like a market that needs rules, not just a bargain aisle. New requirements from the Department of Telecommunications now compel recommerce and trade-in platforms to check every device against a central IMEI database before it changes hands, part of a broader push to squeeze out phone theft, cloning, and identity fraud from the resale chain.
Here's what actually changed, why it matters if you're shopping for a refurbished or unboxed phone, and how to run the same check yourself before you buy from anyone.
What Changed: India's IMEI Verification Push
According to TechCrunch, the telecom ministry is now requiring firms that buy or trade used phones to validate every unit against a central IMEI registry, and is piloting an API that would let those platforms submit customer and device details directly to the government. The stated goal is to cut down on IMEI duplication, device cloning, and fraud that has crept into the fast-growing secondhand phone trade.
The government initially wanted every new smartphone sold in India to come with its Sanchar Saathi security app pre-installed, but dropped that specific mandate within a day of announcing it after pushback from manufacturers and privacy advocates, as TechCrunch reported. Sanchar Saathi itself stays voluntary for individual users. What did not get walked back is the IMEI-verification obligation on recommerce and trade-in businesses -- that requirement remains in place.
Why This Matters for Refurbished and Unboxed Phone Buyers
India is already the world's third-largest market for secondhand smartphones, and by most industry estimates the majority of that trade still runs through informal, unorganised channels rather than platforms that check anything at all. That gap is exactly where cloned IMEIs and stolen devices tend to surface -- a phone that looks fine in hand but is flagged, blacklisted, or tied to someone else's lost-device report the moment you try to activate it on a network.
A verified IMEI doesn't just protect you from fraud, it's the difference between a phone that works on day one and one that gets blocked by your carrier weeks later. Buying from a seller that already checks this, rather than finding out the hard way, is the whole point of the new rule.
How to Check a Phone's IMEI Before You Buy
1. Get the IMEI
Dial *#06# on the phone itself, or check the box/invoice -- both numbers should match exactly.
2. Verify it isn't blacklisted
Look the number up through the government's Sanchar Saathi/CEIR portal, which is the same registry recommerce platforms are now required to check against.
3. Match the invoice
A seller who can produce a proper invoice with the IMEI printed on it is a seller who has nothing to hide about where the device came from.
4. Film the unboxing
Keep an unboxing video. On getlikenew.in it's required to claim transit-damage coverage, since we don't offer change-of-mind returns but do cover genuine transit defects when the unboxing video backs up the claim.
Every unboxed phone we sell carries a 6-month brand warranty, and if it's not right for you, our buyback program refunds 80% of the purchase price within 15 days -- built-in reasons an IMEI check should never be the only safeguard you rely on.
The Same Due Diligence Applies to Laptops
Phones aren't the only category where "who did you buy it from" matters more than the price tag. The same logic -- verified serials, a real invoice, a seller who stands behind the warranty -- applies when shopping refurbished laptops, where grading (Good vs Fair) and documented specs do the job IMEI verification does for phones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sanchar Saathi mandatory on my phone?
No. After backlash, India dropped the mandate to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on every smartphone sold in the country. It remains voluntary for individual users, though recommerce and trade-in platforms are still required to verify devices through the central IMEI database.
What is an IMEI and why does it matter when buying a used phone?
An IMEI is a unique 15-digit number that identifies a specific phone on mobile networks. Checking it before you buy confirms the device isn't reported lost, stolen, or cloned, and that it will actually activate on your carrier.
How do I check a phone's IMEI myself?
Dial *#06# on the handset to display the IMEI, confirm it matches the box and invoice, then look it up through the government's Sanchar Saathi/CEIR portal to confirm it isn't blacklisted.
Does getlikenew.in verify IMEIs on the phones it sells?
Every unboxed phone we sell comes with a proper invoice and a 6-month brand warranty. We recommend every buyer independently confirm the IMEI as an extra safeguard, on top of any seller's own checks.
What if I receive a phone with transit damage?
We don't offer change-of-mind returns, but transit damage is covered under our defect remedy policy provided you have an unboxing video documenting the condition on arrival.
