If you are going to buy a new phone, then check its authenticity like this, Sanchar Saathi will tell whether it is real or fake...

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT)'s "Sanchar Sathi" portal is very useful. It allows you to verify your phone's authenticity using its IMEI number. This helps curb the growing sale of counterfeit phones. This is a great way to protect consumers from fraud. This feature saves time, money, and stress. The market is currently flooded with fake smartphones that look like the original ones. It's difficult for people to distinguish between the original and the fake ones. While these fake phones may look like the original, their quality is poor, they pose security risks, and they offer no warranty support. To protect consumers from these counterfeit devices, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT)'s "Sanchar Sathi" portal is a must. Let's find out.

IMEI number is essential
With the help of Sanchar Sathi, you can verify the authenticity of your new phone. All you need is your phone's unique IMEI number. For your information, IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity.

What is an IMEI number?
It is a 15-digit code that acts like a fingerprint for every mobile phone. When you verify this IMEI number on the 'Sanchar Sathi' portal, the phone's authenticity is revealed. You can also find out the brand, model, and whether it is stolen or blacklisted.

How to find your phone's IMEI number:
Dial #06 on your phone. The 15-digit IMEI number will appear on your screen. You can also view it in the 'About phone' or 'Status' section of your phone's settings.

Follow these steps on the Sanchar Sathi portal:
1. After finding the IMEI number, go to the 'Sanchar Sathi' portal. Then, go to the 'Citizen-centric services' section on the portal.
2. Click on 'Know Genuineness of Your Mobile Handset' here.

3. You will now need to fill in a captcha and enter your mobile number.

4. Then click on 'Get OTP'.

5. An OTP will then be sent to your mobile. Enter this OTP into the portal to verify it.
6. After verification, the portal will ask you for your phone's IMEI number. Enter your 15-digit IMEI number in the box provided and click 'Submit'.

This phone-related information will appear on the screen.
Upon doing so, the portal will display your phone's information, including its brand, model, and registration status. If this information matches your phone, your phone is genuine. If the information doesn't match or the IMEI number is missing, your phone may be fake or stolen.

You can also find out this way.
Also, you can type 'KYM' from your mobile and send it to 14422. This can also help you find out the authenticity of your smartphone.
This short and easy method can help you determine whether your phone is genuine or fake, and whether it is eligible for warranty coverage. Therefore, always verify the IMEI number immediately after purchasing your phone to avoid falling victim to smartphone fraud.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Navbharat Times. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.