IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is the 15-digit serial number assigned to every GSM-compatible handset. It uniquely identifies the device on cellular networks globally and is the primary reference number used in wholesale verification.
IMEI is used to verify:
- Blacklist status, whether the device has been reported lost, stolen, or unpaid (queried via GSMA database, CheckMEND).
- Carrier lock status, whether the device is locked to a specific carrier's network.
- Activation Lock / FMI, for iPhones, whether iCloud Find My iPhone is active.
- Warranty status, for Apple devices via GSX; for Samsung via Knox Configure; for others via OEM serial check.
- Country of origin / model number, the IMEI's TAC (Type Allocation Code, first 8 digits) reveals manufacturer and model variant.
Offers often shorten the result of these checks to phrases such as clean LTE, which combines block list status with 4G support.
You can find an IMEI by dialling *#06#, in Settings > About, on the SIM tray, or printed on the original retail box. Wholesale lots are typically delivered with a per-unit IMEI manifest spreadsheet that buyers verify before payment release.