The Mumbai police Crime Branch’s Unit 6 has busted an IMEI-tampering racket running out of a mobile shop in Saki Naka’s Tunga village, exposing how stolen handsets were being digitally “reborn” before being pushed into the second-hand market. Two men were arrested, and several tampered devices along with electronic equipment were seized.

The accused have been identified as Ram Prasad Sargun Rajbhar, 37, owner of Ram Mobile Service Centre, and Ghulam Rasool Rashid Khan, 21, a mobile repair mechanic from the same area. According to police, the duo would buy stolen phones and reprogram their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers to make them appear as genuine devices.

The two accused in police custody after the raid. Pics/mumbai Crime Branch

Late Thursday night, Crime Branch officials laid a trap at the shop. An undercover officer posed as a customer seeking IMEI tampering services. When the duo agreed, they were caught red-handed by the team led by PI Bharat Ghone.

Police said the accused used a software called App Unlock Tool — meant for technicians to help customers unlock forgotten pattern locks, PINs, or factory reset protection  Instead, the accused misused the tool, accessed via Google Chrome, to alter and rewrite IMEI numbers. This effectively gave stolen phones a new digital identity, making them untraceable in the department of telecommunications’ central equipment identity register.

Tips from Cyber Police on how to protect your phone and its IMEI from tampering

– Buy only from trusted sources — Always purchase mobile phones from authorised sellers, official outlets, or verified resellers. Avoid grey-market deals without proper bills.

– Check the IMEI before buying — Dial \#06# on your phone to view its IMEI number. Ensure it matches the number printed on the box and invoice. If it doesn’t, treat it as a red flag.

– Report theft immediately — If your phone is lost or stolen, file a police complaint and block the IMEI through the CEIR portal ( Acting quickly prevents criminals from reprogramming the device.

– Avoid shady repair shops — Some unauthorised technicians misuse “unlock tools” not only to bypass passwords but also to tamper with IMEI numbers. Stick to company-authorised service centres.

– Secure your phone with strong locks — Use robust passcodes, biometric authentication, and enable “Find My Device” (Android) or “Find My iPhone” (iOS).

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