Are You Using an Illegal Mobile Phone? Here’s how to Find Out

Are you using an illegal mobile phone? Here’s how to find out. Following the government’s decision to curb the distribution of black market phones, the Industry Ministry has set up a database of international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) numbers of devices that entered Indonesia legally.

Unsure about the legal status of your phones? Here are two things you can do to check, as compiled by kompas.com:

Check your phone’s IMEI number

Each phone has an IMEI number that can be used to identify the device. 

Mobile network operators use IMEI numbers to identify devices that connect to its network. This is how phones with unregistered IMEI numbers can be singled out and blocked from cellular services as they were likely brought into the country through the black market.

To confirm the status of your device, first find its IMEI number. For iPhones and iPads, the number can be found on the back of the device. As for Android users, go to “Setting” on your phone and choose “About Phone”. If the phone only supports one SIM card, then there would only be one IMEI number. If it supports two SIM cards, you will find two IMEI numbers listed there.

Still have your phone’s box? One of its sides usually has a sticker or label containing the phone’s identity information, including its IMEI number.

Another way to check your device’s IMEI number is by dialing *#06## on your phone.

After you receive a number, simply input the digits into the government database’s search box. If the device is legit, you will receive a notification saying, “IMEI terdaftar di database Kemenperin” (IMEI is registered in the Industry Ministry database). If not, the notification will state that “IMEI tidak terdaftar di database Kemenperin” (IMEI is not registered in the Industry Ministry database).

Check the Postel certification number

Other than checking your IMEI number, you can also validate your device’s post and information (Postel) certification number, which acknowledges that the phone has gone through transmission and radio signal receiving tests conducted by the Communications and Information Ministry’s Post and Information Resources and Devices Directorate General (SDPPI).

The Postel certificate number is usually available on the side of the phone’s box that also contains the IMEI number. The number’s format is “certificate number/SDPPI/year of making”. 

Then type the certificate number into the search bar of this website after choosing “Nomor Sertifikat” (Certificate Number) on the drop-down menu to check the legality of your device.

Several things will appear, including the name of the product’s manufacturer, device and the phone’s model number. If all the information is in accordance with your device, then it’s not a black market product. Are you using an illegal mobile phone? Here’s how to find out (kes, The Jakarta Post)