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  1. tavenger5's Avatar
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    In short - YES. Depending on how you're giving your IMEI number out, it is bad. Your IMEI number is your phones identification number. It is specific to your phone. It's kind of like your phones social security number. In the wrong hands, someone could steal your phones identity, leaving you with a large phone bill to pay.

    Picture this scenario: You post your IMEI number on a website looking for an unlock code. Several months go by and you get a phone bill for $3,000 and details of calls that you've never made. Someone has cloned your phone and has been using your account, unknowingly to you. Phone cloning is illegal, but that doesn't mean it can't be done.

    Another less serious scenario: Someone (possibly someone that knows and has something against you) reports your phone lost or stolen posing as the finder of the phone, and you are then unable to use your phone until you call your provider and explain.

    What if someone is selling a known stolen phone on ebay and they give the buyer your IMEI, which of course is not stolen. The seller of the stolen phone just made a sale with your help.

    Now, do not confuse this with giving your IMEI to a legitimate unlocking service. You should read the service's privacy policy for what they do with IMEI or ESN information. Legitimate services will not store or use this information for anything.

    So, mind what you do with any information on the internet. There is always someone out there that could use it against you.


    See More: Is it bad to give out your IMEI number?
    Last edited by tavenger5; 07-22-2009 at 09:03 PM.
    gti327, harleypv, Tony E! and 1 others like this.




  2. #2
    Tony E!
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    Re: Is it bad to give out your IMEI number?

    I can't stress this enough, thanks for posting this John.

    And, if you are dealing with a reputable unlocking service, make sure you provide your info via private message, not by posting it here or in any forum.

    Another step we will take is to ban those posting threads asking for IMEI numbers posing to be able to unlock phones.
    Last edited by Tony E!; 08-26-2009 at 01:57 PM.

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  3. #3
    maxwellburrell
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    Re: Is it bad to give out your IMEI number?

    i just bought a blackberry storm 9530 and it is locked. how can i get the unlock code for it?



  4. #4
    Keithed
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    Re: Is it bad to give out your IMEI number?

    Every personal information can be used against the person.
    We all are concerned about our privacy (well, most of us, I guess), but it's important to stress out that we are responsible for it. It's like complaining about privacy on social network sites, but we never take care of the photos and information we share. It depends on how much information we let go outside. The same is with IMEI.
    Of course, someone could steal valuable information no matter how much pracaution we take.
    Last edited by Keithed; 05-17-2010 at 12:11 AM.



  5. #5
    raenman
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    Re: Is it bad to give out your IMEI number?

    no its not



  6. #6
    Keithed
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    Re: Is it bad to give out your IMEI number?

    I worked as a customer service representative, and I used to find out pretty interesting information when having IMEI. I don't want to rush with a claim that it is dangerous to expose IMEI, but people can be tracked, for example, can be sent codes. If this information stays with a provider, it's OK, but I wouldn't give it to someone just like that.



  7. #7
    Hachiko
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    Re: Is it bad to give out your IMEI number?

    It is dangerous, certainly. Some people though are not aware of this and easily post their IMEI on forums or public chats where everybody can see it. Thank you for sharing this and hopefully it enlightens those who weren't aware about this.



    Quote Originally Posted by Keithed View Post
    I worked as a customer service representative, and I used to find out pretty interesting information when having IMEI. I don't want to rush with a claim that it is dangerous to expose IMEI, but people can be tracked, for example, can be sent codes. If this information stays with a provider, it's OK, but I wouldn't give it to someone just like that.

    Oh, this is pretty alarming, we should be more careful



  8. #8
    Keithed
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    Re: Is it bad to give out your IMEI number?

    Quote Originally Posted by Hachiko View Post
    Oh, this is pretty alarming, we should be more careful
    The codes we sent needed to be confirmed, but those codes were meant to require a confirmation, but if someone could send codes that could sneak out, that would be bad.



  9. #9
    Hachiko
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    Re: Is it bad to give out your IMEI number?

    Quote Originally Posted by Keithed View Post
    The codes we sent needed to be confirmed, but those codes were meant to require a confirmation, but if someone could send codes that could sneak out, that would be bad.
    So I imagine..



  10. #10
    Mike C
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    Re: Is it bad to give out your IMEI number?

    yup i agree with you



  11. #11
    dbr07
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    Re: Is it bad to give out your IMEI number?

    no it isnt



  12. #12
    efparri
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    Re: Is it bad to give out your IMEI number?

    The original poster is incorrect. Billing is not linked to the IMEI. The SIM card contains the phone number.
    Earl F. Parrish



  13. #13
    vegaswynn7
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    Re: Is it bad to give out your IMEI number?

    I have a similar question. I have a Sierra Wireless 3g/4g thing from Sprint. I just got rid of Sprint. The device is only 2 months old. I fly out of the US mainly and it wouldnt work so they were nice enough to let me out of the contract and I got to keep the device since I paid for it.

    My question...how to I clear it out so I can sell it on Ebay? The accounts closed. I made sure it doesnt connect to the internet but when you click on the profile you do see the phone number the device originally used. Even though the accounts closed do I need to do anything to clear the thing before I sell it?? Thanks!!!



  14. #14
    smallbus01
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    Re: Is it bad to give out your IMEI number?

    Thanks for the great information. Everyone should know this stuff. And that is why I always tell people to get their phones unlocked by the company they brought it from and not just some guy on a forum. Good job.
    Cheap Gadgets for SALE! check us out @Dailyiphones.com

    http://dailyiphones.com/



  15. #15
    Arminvw
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    Re: Is it bad to give out your IMEI number?

    Oh shoot!! i just did this! crap. the person said they could unlock phone for free.... crap... i knew it was too good to be true. wish i saw this thread sooner.



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