HOW TO DETERMINE A FAKE MOBILE PHONE FROM THE ORIGINAL

  In my quest to acquire one of the latest smartphones in the market recently, I found out that there are a lot of counterfeit ones out there which are very difficult to determine.
I therefore conducted some research and came out with the below findings.

STEPS
1.Dial *#06# on your handset. This will display 15 digit IMEI code which must correspond with the one found under your battery.

2.    Check the 7th and 8th numbers

e.g.

1	2	3	4	5	6	7TH	8TH	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
3	5	8	3	6	1	?	?	4	5	7	4	6	9	8

    

3.   If the 7th and 8th numbers are 02 or 20, then the phone was assembled in China which is of
      low quality.

4.   If the 7th and 8th numbers are 08 or 80, then the phone was manufactured in Germany which is
      of fair   quality.

5.   If the 7th and 8th numbers are 01 or 10, then the phone was manufactured in Finland which is 
      of     very good quality.

6..    If the 7th and 8th numbers are 00, then the phone was manufactured in original factory which is
       of the best quality.

7.    If the 7th and 8th numbers are 13, then the phone was assembled in Azerbaijan which is of very
       bad quality and may also be dangerous to health.

There are many other numbers which I'll  publish as soon as they are confirmed.

Below are detailed steps to physically check the genuineness of your phone, courtesy (spotafakephone.com)

How to spot a fake phone?

Counterfeit mobile phone manufacturers imitate all facets of a phone’s appearance to make them appear genuine. The phones outer shell and screen, the printed logos and branding, the packaging and the included accessories can all be copied, making it difficult to identify whether a phone is fake or genuine.
When possible it is always preferable to buy a phone through a registered retailer or reseller who can vouch for a phones authenticity. Yet with the prevalence of internet shopping and auction websites this may not be an option.
Here are a few simple tips to help you identify whether a phone is genuine or fake:

Know the phone

It is important to do a little research before buying a new phone.

You should only buy a phone made by a trusted manufacturer.

Before committing to a purchase you should know the phones specific model number, available colours, features, what software and hardware comes included and what warranty is offered with the product.

Information about a specific model of phone can be found on the manufacturer’s website or through a registered retailer.

Once you have this information it will make the job of identifying a fake much easier.

Appearance

On first glance a counterfeit phone may appear identical to a genuine model. On closer comparison you may be able to identify some obvious differences between a genuine and a fake such as: the colour, location of buttons, size or spelling of the brand name.
Some fakes are less obvious. Counterfeiters are able to mimic design details down to minute details making it difficult to tell if a phone is genuine.
If you are able to view the product in person you may be able to notice a difference in weight, screen size, location of buttons and battery, quality of printing and paint finish, added or missing functions, quality control stickers and holograms and an overall lack of quality.

Differences between a fake Nokia X6 and a real one This colour is not available for a genuine X6. The screen shot shows that the phone supports Dual-SIM when the genuine model doesn't. The 'Slide to Unlock' icons look like Apple's iPhone rather than the Nokia user interface On the genuine product, the Nokia logo is at the top of the screen not below it.

Features

Counterfeit phones can have differing features to genuine models, such as dual SIM cards, analogue TV etc. Check the model number and technical specifications of the genuine phone you wish to buy and ensure they match what is being offered. Counterfeit phones also often appear to offer features that are either just not there or that are not as they are said to be. For example, built in cameras might be said to be 8 Megapixel when they are not - or offer GPS when they don't.
Counterfeit phones may also differ from a genuine in colour availability, memory capacity, camera megapixels, screen quality and operating system.
It is important to compare technical features to ensure the phone is genuine.

Warranty

All genuine mobile phone manufacturers offer a limited warranty that covers the handset, software and accessories.
Most genuine phones are covered for one year from the date of purchase by the original owner. Many registered sellers will offer an additional warranty.
Registered manufacturers and sellers also offer customer support and servicing of damaged products.
Black market phones rarely come with a warranty or offer customer support and servicing of damaged products.
It is important to keep the receipt for any phone you purchase so that you can make a warranty claim if the product is faulty. It is also beneficial to keep all proof of purchase in case you have bought a fake so that you can notify the relevant authorities.

Functionality

Black market phones are made from sub-standard and cheap components and often run on 2nd rate or pirated operating systems.
Counterfeiters use cheap older generation chipsets, which may offer the same functionality as a genuine model but at far slower processing speeds.
If you have unknowingly purchased a fake phone you will realise very quickly once you turn it on. Processing speeds are often much slower, operating systems have missing features and the phone may not be compatible with affiliated software and applications.

Availability

Counterfeit mobile phones tend to pour on to the market when a genuine model is out of stock or unavailable.
Often if manufacturers and registered sellers say a model is out of stock or unavailable, counterfeits begin to appear on auction websites and through unregistered sellers. This is also common when a phone is not available in certain colours.
Beware, counterfeiters take this opportunity to deceive consumers when the genuine product is most in demand.

IMEI number

Every genuine mobile phone has a serial number to register it to a carrier network. This number is called the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. The IMEI number can be used to verify the legitimacy of a phone. Often counterfeit models won’t have an IMEI number or use a fake one.
If you are viewing the phone in person then you can find the IMEI number on the products packaging, under the phones battery or by pressing *#06# on the phone.
If you are not viewing the phone in person then you should ask the retailer for the phones IMEI number.
To check the legitimacy of a phones IMEI number and any information regarding country of production, manufacturer and model type, you can use this tool.

Price

If the price sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
Counterfeit phones are made from cheap substandard components allowing them to be produced at a fraction of the price of genuine handsets.
Also, counterfeiters don’t have to invest in product research, design and safety testing. They don’t pay government taxes, import fees and are not bound by fair trade or minimum wage regulations for their employees.
All these factors mean a fake phone can be sold at a much lower price than a genuine handset.

Posted in: MOBILE PHONE TIPS