How to spot a fake or refurbished phone
A good clone looks right in a photo and wrong in the hand. These are the checks that catch most fakes and undisclosed refurbishments in a few minutes, before you pay.
Start with the IMEI and the box
Dial *#06# and confirm the IMEI matches the box and the body. A clone often carries a copied or missing IMEI. Then check that number on PTA (8484) and Mobilo — a fake rarely comes back compliant with a clean history.
Then the hardware and software
Open a full-screen white image to catch a tint or dead zones, and a black one for backlight bleed. Check the weight and the port fit — fakes feel light and loose. In Settings, confirm the model number, storage and OS version match what the box claims; a fake often runs a skinned look-alike of the real software.
Test the cameras, the fingerprint sensor and fast charging. A refurbished unit may work but have a worn battery, so check battery health too.
Trust the price
A flagship at a third of its going rate is the most reliable warning sign of all. Check what the model actually sells for on Mobilo first, so you know what “too good to be true” looks like for that phone.
Common questions
- Can a fake pass the *#06# check?
- It will show some IMEI, but it often fails the PTA or Mobilo check, or the number will not match the box. Check all three.
- Is a refurbished phone a bad buy?
- Not if it is disclosed and priced for it. The problem is an undisclosed refurbishment sold as new — check battery health and the screen.
- How do I know the going price?
- Look the model up on Mobilo’s catalogue; it carries current prices for every model in Pakistan.