Secret Codes guide
Check A Phone Against The Stolen List on iPhone: How It Works
By Muhammad Shahid · · 4 min read
Quick answer
The industry IMEI blocklist, searchable before you buy. When a phone is reported lost or stolen in the US, its IMEI goes onto a shared industry blocklist that participating carriers use to refuse service to the device. StolenPhoneChecker. org is the public front end to that list, run as a service for consumers and law enforcement.
Secret CodesDial codes, SIM & network test · Free on the App StoreDownload free →| What it does | The industry IMEI blocklist, searchable before you buy. |
|---|---|
| Published for | any iPhone, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and UScellular |
| Type | Works on all iPhones |
The industry IMEI blocklist, searchable before you buy. This page explains what it does, how to use it on an iPhone and which carriers it applies to.
I build Secret Codes: IMEI & Carrier, a free iPhone app with 317 checked codes and guides, including this one. If you would rather tap than memorise, get Secret Codes on the App Store.
What is Check A Phone Against The Stolen List?
When a phone is reported lost or stolen in the US, its IMEI goes onto a shared industry blocklist that participating carriers use to refuse service to the device. StolenPhoneChecker.org is the public front end to that list, run as a service for consumers and law enforcement.
The single most useful moment to use it is before handing over cash for a second-hand iPhone. T-Mobile's own anti-fraud guidance says exactly this: check the device IMEI on the free stolen phone checker to make sure it has not been reported stolen. Read the IMEI from the seller's handset yourself rather than accepting a number they type out.
Blocklisting and Activation Lock are separate systems and both are worth checking. A phone can be clean on the blocklist and still be locked to someone else's Apple Account, in which case it is unusable regardless.
Important: A clean blocklist result is not proof the phone is legitimate. Always also confirm it is not Activation Locked before you pay.
How do I do it?
- Dial *#06# on the handset yourself to read its real IMEI.
- Go to stolenphonechecker.org and choose the used device option.
- Enter the IMEI and run the check.
- Separately confirm the phone shows the Hello screen, not Locked to Owner.
- Report your own device to your carrier if it is stolen, so its IMEI is added.
Which carriers does this apply to?
| Published for | any iPhone, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and UScellular |
|---|---|
| Type | Works on all iPhones |
| Good to know | Covers US carrier reports. A device stolen abroad, or never reported, will not necessarily show up. |
Related security and scam reporting
- Apple Account Two-Factor Authentication
- Activation Lock
- Mark A Lost iPhone As Lost
- Stolen Device Protection
- Turn Off Email-To-Text On Verizon
- Report A Call To T-Mobile Scam Shield
See all security and scam reporting or every category of iPhone codes.
How Secret Codes helps
Secret Codes keeps this and every other entry a search away. Pick your carrier once and each entry says whether it is published for your line. You can save favourites, add a private note, and record whether a code worked on your line. This entry is part of Secret Codes Pro.
Frequently asked questions
What is Check A Phone Against The Stolen List on iPhone?
The industry IMEI blocklist, searchable before you buy. When a phone is reported lost or stolen in the US, its IMEI goes onto a shared industry blocklist that participating carriers use to refuse service to the device. StolenPhoneChecker.
What else should I know about Check A Phone Against The Stolen List?
org is the public front end to that list, run as a service for consumers and law enforcement. The single most useful moment to use it is before handing over cash for a second-hand iPhone.
What are the steps for Check A Phone Against The Stolen List?
1. Dial *#06# on the handset yourself to read its real IMEI. 2. Go to stolenphonechecker.org and choose the used device option. 3. Enter the IMEI and run the check. 4. Separately confirm the phone shows the Hello screen, not Locked to Owner. 5. Report your own device to your carrier if it is stolen, so its IMEI is added.
Where do I find Check A Phone Against The Stolen List?
On the website described on this page.
Is there a dial code for Check A Phone Against The Stolen List?
No keypad code is listed for it. The way to do it is: Website.
Which carriers does Check A Phone Against The Stolen List work on?
It is published for any iPhone, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and UScellular. Covers US carrier reports. A device stolen abroad, or never reported, will not necessarily show up.
Is there anything to watch out for with Check A Phone Against The Stolen List?
A clean blocklist result is not proof the phone is legitimate. Always also confirm it is not Activation Locked before you pay.
Does Check A Phone Against The Stolen List work on Android phones too?
These steps are for iPhone. Android phones have their own menus.
Will Check A Phone Against The Stolen List work outside the US?
The iPhone steps stay the same, although some features depend on your carrier and region.
What if Check A Phone Against The Stolen List does not work on my iPhone?
Check that it applies to your carrier first, because carriers decide which services they offer and can change them. If it should apply to your line, contact your carrier.
What is related to Check A Phone Against The Stolen List?
Apple Account Two-Factor Authentication. The prerequisite for most other iPhone security features.
What else is in this category?
Activation Lock. Why a stolen iPhone is worth far less than a stolen Android.
Sources
Secret CodesDownload free
