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Is It Legal to Change an IMEI Number?

5 min readUpdated 6/25/2026

IMEI Modification: Legal Status Worldwide

Changing, altering, or cloning an IMEI number is illegal in the vast majority of countries. This guide explains why, what the penalties are, and how to spot a device with an altered IMEI.

Why IMEI Modification Is Illegal

IMEI numbers are the global identifier system for mobile devices. Altering an IMEI enables criminals to:

  • Evade blacklisting after a phone is reported stolen
  • Operate multiple devices on a single carrier account
  • Clone devices for fraudulent insurance claims
  • Avoid detection for criminal activities

IMEI Modification Laws by Country

  • UK — Criminal offense under the Mobile Telephones (Re-programming) Act 2002. Up to 5 years imprisonment.
  • USA — Federal offense under 18 U.S.C. § 1029. Up to 10 years imprisonment.
  • India — Criminal offense under the Indian Telegraph Act and IT Act. Fine and imprisonment.
  • EU — Illegal under national implementations of EU Radio Equipment Directive.
  • Australia — Criminal telecommunications offense under Commonwealth law.

How to Detect an Altered IMEI

  • IMEI check returns "invalid TAC" for a supposedly genuine device
  • IMEI on the device doesn't match the IMEI on the box or SIM tray
  • Device shows different IMEI when *#06# is dialed vs what's in Settings
  • Carrier refuses to register the device due to IMEI conflict

Always verify an IMEI via IMEI Check Pro free before purchasing. A legitimate device will always return a valid TAC and recognisable device model.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal to change an IMEI number?
Yes. In the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and most countries worldwide, tampering with, changing, or spoofing an IMEI number is a serious federal crime.
Why do people try to change IMEI numbers?
Criminals attempt to alter IMEIs to bypass stolen device blacklists and resell barred or financed handsets on the black market.
Can modern smartphones have their IMEI changed by software?
Modern smartphones store the IMEI in cryptographically secured baseband chips with hardware-level write protection, making unauthorized modification nearly impossible.
What are the legal penalties for IMEI reprogramming?
Penalties include heavy criminal fines and prison sentences (e.g. up to 5 years under UK law).