Hi,
sorry if the question was already placed but honestly I wasn't able to find a unique answer.
I'll try to be direct:
- phone HTC M7 Vodafone branded
- the phone is working correctly but it has the IMEI blocked by the operator (Vodafone) due to the fact the owner didn't execute all the payments related to the contract. So Vodafone blocked the IMEI. I'm very sure about this as I'm sure it isn't a stolen phone.
Ther result is (as you know) the phone can't work as a phone (no call, sms, data via mobile)
That said, is there a way to unlock the phone in order to work again (as a phone indeed)?
Please don't close the topic immediately, at lest an answer, many thanks
sverza said:
- the phone is working correctly but it has the IMEI blocked by the operator (Vodafone) due to the fact the owner didn't execute all the payments related to the contract. So Vodafone blocked the IMEI. I'm very sure about this as I'm sure it isn't a stolen phone.
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Click to collapse
If the first owner didn't made all the payments then it's a stolen phone. Doesn't matters if it was stolen from someone of from a company, it still stolen.
That said, is there a way to unlock the phone in order to work again (as a phone indeed)?
Please don't close the topic immediately, at lest an answer, many thanks
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Click to collapse
It can be illegal in some countries to mess with the IMEI. Iirc, if you manage to change the IMEI there are other mechanisms preventing your radio to be turned on with a modified IMEI on this phone.
Looks like this topic is not welcome on xda (and for good reasons):
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40239081&postcount=21
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=63823557&postcount=13
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=54170058&postcount=2
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2713592
If someone sold you this phone without mentioning it was blacklisted then it's a fraud and should take the required actions to report that fraud.
Thanks Sir
Related
and today when I was looking into unlocking my phone, I noticed that the system IMEI is different from the IMEI label on the back of the phone.
I am using a deep shining ROM. did the ROM flash over the IMEI or was my phone just messed up to begin with?
also is there a soft method of finding out whether or not my phone is already unlocked?
Sorry to say but that guy messed your over by changing the IMEI. Flashing a rom doesn't do anything to IMEI, special tools and software CAN change it, and that is what this guy did. You can't do anything to change that, as changing IMEI is downright illegal and you dont want to get caught up in that.
As for finding out if its unlocked, take another companies SIM CARD, ie if you are with ATT, go and get a Rogers, or whoever else uses a SIM CARD, and find out if it will work in the phone.
so, it is quite possible that this phone is stolen? damn... what are the potential consequences of that? if he switched the original IMEI to the current one that I have, what if someone legitamately uses the imei on the same network, am I going to be screwed?
SUBLIMINALLYINC said:
so, it is quite possible that this phone is stolen? damn... what are the potential consequences of that? if he switched the original IMEI to the current one that I have, what if someone legitamately uses the imei on the same network, am I going to be screwed?
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No you will not get screwed. {Unless you really want to; then I'm sure we can arrange for it}
IMEI {International Mobile Electronics Identification} Numbers are uniqe to every phone, but the network does not {& I believe Cannot} read the IMEI. ESNs {Electronic Serial Numbers} are a different thing, as the CDMA networks use this # to Identify the devices network authenticity {in other words: Whether or not it's authorized to use the network}. GSM {Global SIM Management} Phones rely on the SIM card to authenticate the devices access to the network. An IMEI is never sent thru the network! That's like posting your social security # online {Mine's 420-69-840} About the only time that a false IMEI is a problem, is when you need to get it unlocked {as you are trying to}; or if you need to report it stolen/lost. If the latter is the case then you will need to provide the authorities with both IMEIs. This is in case the person that has it removes the label in the back. For unlocking the device, you need to give the # that's in the software; as this is the only # the phone knows. Oh yeah, You can't send it in to get HTC warranty service either
Have you tried asking the person you bought it from about this? I would!! I would want to know why he did it, how he did it, & where the other # came from. It is a possibility that he had replaced the Mainboard with another unit, but he should have changed the labels at the same time. I have done this with a few phones {combine a couple bad ones to make a good one}, but I always ensure the IMEI or ESN matches on the back & in the software! If you believe you were defrauded, then contact the authorities & explain it to them. If there is another phone with the same IMEI, they should be able to tell you.
It might either be that he changed the main board or the cover itself.. (hopefully he did not steal it..)
I wouldnt worry too much about it though. Just go with the IMEI that is displayed on your screen not on the back of the phone.
well i tried to get an unlock code by using the IMEI read off the system page on my diamond and the guy couldnt get aan unlock code; is there anyother way to get the correct code>?
SUBLIMINALLYINC said:
so, it is quite possible that this phone is stolen? damn... what are the potential consequences of that? if he switched the original IMEI to the current one that I have, what if someone legitamately uses the imei on the same network, am I going to be screwed?
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Click to collapse
Hi,
Maybe it is or it isn't (but it is possible). It depends on which country that person bought this phone and maybe he used warranty service. I had this issue myself.After 2 month My Diamond didn't recognize my simcard, i sent it for warranty and when it came back GPS didn't work. so i sent it again , when i received it, at repair center they said that they replace mainboard, so imei changes and i received written document that they replaced mainboard (my back panel imei and the imei that phone shows are different now).
for checking it , Goto this site : http://www.numberingplans.com/?page=analysis&sub=imeinr
enter both imei and check them, if both are for diamond i think your mainboard is changed before, but if the imei that phone shows is belong to another handset (for Ex : a nokia one or another htc model) i can say 99% percent your phone is stolen.
i'd probably bet he's bought an "original" housing from auction site. i've done it many of times but i usually rip the imei sticker off, bear in mind the imei on the diamond is only on a metal plate, he may have forgot to change this part, he may have damaged his old imei sticker/plate, as stated above he may have changed his main board also, there is many possibilities.
don't worry about it, if your still a bit worried try the CheckMEND online service here:
http://www.checkmend.com/uk/
It costs £1.99 per go, (which you'd want to do both imei's) but you get a certificate telling you wahts dodgy or not about your phone.
it a great service if you feel a little worried.
I work at a bar people leave lose misplace phones regularly, I have a galaxy s been sitting there for months, can you root a phone and port a new number to it if it has been locked by the carrier putting aside the stolen or not crap, cause its besides the point, cause I throw away phones on a regular basis and im just looking for an answer not a lecture as I received a fee already in other forums
IMEI locked phones are not unlockable by a finder. The purpose is to prevent theft etc, and would be pretty pointless if a thief could get around the lock with some technical know-how.
I believe it's blocked by the network across all carriers - The true owner can contact their ISP to unlock it when they recover it, so don't throw them away. I'm sure there's some space at your bar to keep a few phones for a month or so.
Normally when I unlock a phone by IMEI from an internet site I use they ask for the IMEI number,carrier,make,model and an e-mail address to send the info to.So if you know the carrier I dont think it would be that hard to do.Ive unlocked phones for my mates using the site I go to and all they do is give me the phone and tell me what carrier it belongs to.I use my e-mail address and all works fine.All you need is the phone,carrier and IMEI number.Its not that hard otherwise you wouldnt be able to unlock a phone that you bought from some else would you.
The OP asked for carrier Blocked situation, not carrier Locked.
Sent from my GT-I9000
it's completely possible, as you can spoof a new IMEI, and I believe ICSSGS is doing that by default. Simply open up ODIN and throw the rom onto it.
Hi to all
I have a Stock AT&T Note 3 on KitKat, And I bought the unlock code from a website and the Code was working fine
I sent my phone to the Samsung repair center in TX to fix the memory card slot problem.
After a week they sent the phone back to me, and Of course the phone is back to the original settings
When I turned on the phone and inserted my T-mobile Sim card, the phone is asking me for the network
unlock code, so I entered the same code that I used before and it is not working ...
Thanks
You probably didn't get the exact phone you sent them. They probably sent a different one. Check for an old receipt, or the original box for the imei code. See if it's different then the new one. It most likely is. If it is, you will need to obtain a new unlock code.
I checked the IMEI number and they matched
I also thought of that it might have to do with the unlock code
so I ordered another Unlock code from a different site
and it turned out to be the SAME Unlock code from the other site !!
Yes there's only 1 unlock code per imei. It doesn't matter where you obtain the code, it will be the same.
I hate to tell you this, but you'll need to contact the warranty dept and probably send the phone back. Again :'(
440bro said:
Yes there's only 1 unlock code per imei. It doesn't matter where you obtain the code, it will be the same.
I hate to tell you this, but you'll need to contact the warranty dept and probably send the phone back. Again :'(
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Do you think this has anything to do with the Region lock restriction ?
No I don't believe it to be related to region lock.
Check one more thing for me please. Verify that the imei of the phone is what you believe it to be. Open settings and in "about phone" check under status and verify the imei is what you think it is. You can also Press * # 0 6 # on your keypad, Press 'Call' or 'Send' as if making a call. Your IMEI number will be retrieved and displayed on your screen.
440bro said:
No I don't believe it to be related to region lock.
Check one more thing for me please. Verify that the imei of the phone is what you believe it to be. Open settings and in "about phone" check under status and verify the imei is what you think it is. You can also Press * # 0 6 # on your keypad, Press 'Call' or 'Send' as if making a call. Your IMEI number will be retrieved and displayed on your screen.
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Yea.. they are the same.. I still have the original box and they matched !!
I am contacting Samsung right now, let see what they can do about it
Ok, keep us posted please. And good luck!
440bro said:
Ok, keep us posted please. And good luck!
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do you know anything about this ?
NOTES: If you have a Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, Note 2, Note 3 or your Android version is Android 4.4 (KITKAT): All SAMSUNG devices manufactured after the date of JULY 2013 and Samsung devices running on Android version is Android 4.4 (KITKAT) are subject to REGION LOCKING. If your phone has been used previously with the original carrier, this will not apply to you. However, if your device is BRAND NEW, your must activate it with the original carrier. If your Samsung device becomes Region locked, you will not be able to fully factory Unlock your Samsung devices so it can be used internationally. Even the correct code will not work anymore. In order for your Samsung device NOT to be region locked, you MUST activate (FIRST USE) your S3, S4, NOTE 2, NOTE 3 with your ORIGINAL carrier at least ONCE to take your region lock OFF. After your Region lock is off, you can Sim Unlock your device via Unlock Code. All Canadian Carriers are NOT subject to Region Locking. All USA and European Carriers ARE subject to Region Locking. Region lock is removed automatically after you activate your device with its original carrier. Make some calls before unlocking. (Insert an active original sim card into the device and make a few calls to activate the phone and bypass the region lock. Once you've activated the phone, you can input the unlock code.)
Well after reading that I'm amazed. I believed region lock was based on where you lived and used the phone. Like a person in Europe couldn't use an at&t phone overseas until it was used in the states. I was unaware a person in the U.S. had to do the same if they were using it in the U.S. but with a different carrier. My apologies.
You wouldn't happen to know anyone on at&t would you? Maybe a Samsung rep in bestbuy can help you with borrowing an at&t sim and making a call or 2 on your phone.
440bro said:
Well after reading that I'm amazed. I believed region lock was based on where you lived and used the phone. Like a person in Europe couldn't use an at&t phone overseas until it was used in the states. I was unaware a person in the U.S. had to do the same if they were using it in the U.S. but with a different carrier. My apologies.
You wouldn't happen to know anyone on at&t would you? Maybe a Samsung rep in bestbuy can help you with borrowing an at&t sim and making a call or 2 on your phone.
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Click to collapse
I tried to use someone's ATT sim and it doesnt work
Also Samsung is telling me that "as you have unlocked the device from third party site , and this is not considered as official unlock for the device"
I might bring the phone to bestbuy and let them check it out.. since the phone is still under Warranty
There's defiantly something wrong if an at&t sim doesn't work. Are you the original owner? If not do you know the original purchaser? It could have been blacklisted.
440bro said:
There's defiantly something wrong if an at&t sim doesn't work. Are you the original owner? If not do you know the original purchaser? It could have been blacklisted.
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The phone is working Fine with an ATT sim card, it has signals
it is just that it is not working after I inserted my tmobile sim card
and entered in the unlock code... So the imei should be fine !
I believe you need approximately 5 to 15 minutes of use on an at&t sim card from my previous readings of other user experiences.
440bro said:
I believe you need approximately 5 to 15 minutes of use on an at&t sim card from my previous readings of other user experiences.
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Will try that out.. I am running out of solutions !!
ive got a htc m7 sprint model num PN072 on 4.4.3 rooted,and on viper custom rom..bought off ebay,has bad esn,,,i need to sell this phone now..all attempts to unlock sim has failed..buying this was just a bad idea...i need to somehow unlock the sim,or connect to diffrent carriers,so i can sell the phone ,and not rip no one off..i need to be able to upload on ebay,and knowinly be able to tell the buyer it can in fact connect to a carrier or service..i dont care witch one as long as it will work with someone...can anyone help me get this done?..ive tried many ways,read threw several difffrent threads....i cant afford to pay to hook it up.i just need to know for sure it can be done so i cantell the buyer ...if anyone can get it done its XDA save my A.. xda!!!
lucky_515 said:
ive got a htc m7 sprint model num PN072 on 4.4.3 rooted,and on viper custom rom..bought off ebay,has bad esn,,,i need to sell this phone now..all attempts to unlock sim has failed..buying this was just a bad idea...i need to somehow unlock the sim,or connect to diffrent carriers,so i can sell the phone ,and not rip no one off..i need to be able to upload on ebay,and knowinly be able to tell the buyer it can in fact connect to a carrier or service..i dont care witch one as long as it will work with someone...can anyone help me get this done?..ive tried many ways,read threw several difffrent threads....i cant afford to pay to hook it up.i just need to know for sure it can be done so i cantell the buyer ...if anyone can get it done its XDA save my A.. xda!!!
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Blacklisted IMEI/MEID (bad esn) phones can not be repaired by the user. The imei blacklist is an international list which all gsm carriers have access to. Once the IMEI number of a phone is blacklisted, no gsm carriers will activate the phone on their network. Changing the IMEI number is the only solution but its illegal in some countries (check your local regulations). Even if its legal in your country, you can't (afaik) change the IMEI/MEID of the M7 because there is and encrypted key stored on the phone memory to check the authenticity of the IMEI number. If the key doesn't match then the radio will not turn on.
Best you can do imo, is to sell it as is (bad esn)
alray said:
Blacklisted IMEI/MEID (bad esn) phones can not be repaired by the user. The imei blacklist is an international list which all gsm carriers have access to. Once the IMEI number of a phone is blacklisted, no gsm carriers will activate the phone on their network. Changing the IMEI number is the only solution but its illegal in some countries (check your local regulations). Even if its legal in your country, you can't (afaik) change the IMEI/MEID of the M7 because there is and encrypted key stored on the phone memory to check the authenticity of the IMEI number. If the key doesn't match then the radio will not turn on.
Best you can do imo, is to sell it as is (bad esn)
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could it hook up to carriers like stright talk where you buy a code from them?...or like text now they have phone plans as well..or is the phone jus total loss like your saying..either way thanks for your input
Hi. I flashed a stock room with Odin in my Samsung S10 (SM-G973F). The phone is made in Argentina so i installed a free carrier ROM from there, then after i flashed the ROM from my country but in no case i can get my SIM to work on it. What i can do?
Edit: Aparently i have a imei status: NG.
IMEI status NG likely means that the carrier has blacklisted your IMEI, and is refusing the activate it. IMEIs are often blacklisted because the phone is stolen or for various other reasons.
In the USA, carriers will work together on IMEI blacklisting, but I don't know how it works in other countries...
schwinn8 said:
IMEI status NG likely means that the carrier has blacklisted your IMEI, and is refusing the activate it. IMEIs are often blacklisted because the phone is stolen or for various other reasons.
In the USA, carriers will work together on IMEI blacklisting, but I don't know how it works in other countries...
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The phone it's from Argentina. I'm almost sure that it's not stolen, but i supose that it was unlocked by someone else before i got it into my possession, and then when i flashed stock rom i messed up the unlock. The imei doesn't appear in any blacklist page (even the one from my country). There is a way to restore the unlock with Samsung Tool Pro or changing the IMEI? (changing IMEI en my country it is legal)
I don't know about the Samsung Tool Pro. I also don't believe XDA allows discussion about IMEI changing, but yes I think it can be done. You may need to find another place to discuss this.
If you're reasonably sure that the IMEI is fine, you could call your carrier and ask them what is happening. Maybe they just need to fix something on their end?
I got the same problem too when I tried upgrading me S10e G970F to android 12, it started showing "Emergency calls only"
Roi_emeka said:
I got the same problem too when I tried upgrading me S10e G970F to android 12, it started showing "Emergency calls only"
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Have you fixed it yet, I'm having same issue, anyone help pls
bump