Buying a phone in Flipkart or Amazon sale? Simple ways to spot if it’s genuine or fake

Amazon and Flipkart are gearing up for their mega festive sales starting September 23, with massive discounts expected on popular smartphones. While buyers are excited to snag great deals, past sales have shown a darker side; several users reported receiving fake, refurbished, or even non-functional phones instead of brand-new devices.

To tackle this growing concern, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has provided a quick way for consumers to verify whether their smartphone is original or counterfeit. This can be done through the Sanchar Saathi portal, which allows users to check the authenticity of their device in just a few steps.

Here’s how you can do it.

How to verify your smartphone’s authenticity

Every smartphone carries a unique 15-digit IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number. By checking this number via the Sanchar Saathi portal, users can instantly confirm if the phone is genuine. Here’s how:

1. Visit the official portal: sancharsaathi.gov.in
2. On the homepage, select Citizen Centric Services
3. Click on Know Your Mobile (KYM) / IMEI Verification
4. Enter the captcha and your mobile number to receive an OTP
5. Submit the OTP to continue
6. Enter the 15-digit IMEI number of your smartphone and hit Submit

The system will then display details such as the device status, brand, model, manufacturer, and type.

Alternative ways to check

Download the Sanchar Saathi app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Send an SMS in the format KYM <15-digit IMEI number> to 14422 or dial *#06# on your smartphone to instantly see its IMEI number.

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With festive sales just around the corner, buyers are advised to verify their purchases immediately after delivery. This small step can help avoid fraud and ensure that the device you buy is 100% genuine.