HANDSET THEFT IN LATIN AMERICA
WHAT IS AN IMEI?
In recent years, handset theft has grown strongly due to
the expansion in the adoption of mobile phones, especially
smartphones. Public and private sector are working jointly and
collaboratively to prevent the activation of stolen devices, thereby
restraining the black market and crimes linked to this phenomenon.
The IMEI is a unique serial number assigned to
each manufactured handset. You can access it
by pressing *#06#.
IMEI adulteration enable stolen handsets to
be marketed in the black market.
SCHEMATIC VIEW OF TERMINALS’ BLOCKING
1
2
3
47%
IPHONE
24%
SAMSUNG
GALAXY
4
5
ARE THE MODELS WHICH IMEIS ARE
MOST UPLOADED TO THE BASE
USER 1 REPORTS
TERMINAL THEFT
TO OPERATOR A
OPERATOR UPLOADS THE
STOLEN HANDSET IMEI TO
THE GSMA DATABASE
THE REST OF THE OPERATORS
IN THE REGION DOWNLOAD
THE BLOCKED IMEIS
THE HANDSET STOLEN FROM
USER 1 CANNOT BE USED IN
OTHER COUNTRIES
UNITS STOLEN DAILY/PER DAY
18 LATAM COUNTRIES CONNECTED
TO THE GSMA DATABASE
ON AVERAGE, LATIN AMERICA
OPERATORS DOWNLOAD
DATA FROM AT LEAST
34 OPERATORS OF THE
GSMA DATABASE
BRAZIL (4.8M) COLOMBIA (2.8M)
PERU (1.6M) ARGENTINA (1.4M)
REPRESENT
ARGENTINA
COLOMBIA
BRAZIL
ECUADOR
6500
2700
2500
1400
50 OPERATORS IN THE REGION
(140 WORLDWIDE)
15M IMEIS UPLOADED SINCE THE
COMMITMENT SIGNATURE IN JULY 2012
OPERATORS
USERS
CONNECTION
TO THE GSMA
DATABASE
REPORT
STOLEN
TERMINALS
GOVERNMENTS MANUFACTURERS
PENALIZE
IMEI
ADULTERATION
IMEI—2:8688170142592285
67%
OF ALL IMEIS FROM THE REGION UPLOADED
TO THE GSMA DATABASE
IMEI Device Check
Enables real-time
access to the global IMEI
database. It enables
users, recyclers, mobile
network operators
and law enforcement
agencies to identify
suspect devices,
minimise loss and
combat crime.
COMBATTING THEFT: A COMMON TASK
PILLARS TO APPROACH HANDSET THEFT
UNITED
AGAINST
HANDSET
THEFT
IMEI 2:8688170142592285
—
IMEI—2:8688|
#$%"#!*!!
HANDSET THEFT
FROM USER 1 OF
OPERATOR A
IMEI
DESIGN
SAFER
TERMINALS
TACKLING HANDSET THEFT FULLY AND EFFECTIVELY REQUIRES A
COORDINATED APPROACH IN ACCORDANCE WITH EACH PILLAR
RESPONSIBILITY: USERS, OPERATORS, REGULATORS AND
MANUFACTURERS. SUCCEEDING IN REDUCING THIS SCOURGE
WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT A JOINT EFFORT.