Re:13,500 Vivo Smartphones found running on same IMEI number
by sudosysgen on Saturday June 06, 2020 @02:33PM
(#23441304)
The vast majority of stolen phones see their parts sold. Of those that don't, I know of a few people in major phone theft hubs that will change your IMEI (to name them, Derb Ghlef in Morocco, though I am sure it is also done in Shezhen and other such similar places). How they do it exactly I am not sure, I imagine that involves flashing the baseband through JTAG connectors. In any case, that is quite a cheap process.
You will notice this happen - If your phone is stolen in Europe, it will almost invariably end up later in North Africa, then disappear entirely shortly after. Similar stories for stolen phones in NA, I'm sure.
As for iOS anti-theft, that also can be defeated in various ways.
In any case, anti-theft is not a proper justification for IMEIs being unique. Any anti-theft in a device that has been integrally stolen will be bypassed. These phones get fenced to people in third world countries with very very good reverse-engineering and electronics skills, and it only takes one to find out how to bypass any given issue. And worse comes to worst, they will sell the parts and still make a few hundred dollars out of your phone.
You will notice this happen - If your phone is stolen in Europe, it will almost invariably end up later in North Africa, then disappear entirely shortly after. Similar stories for stolen phones in NA, I'm sure.
As for iOS anti-theft, that also can be defeated in various ways.
In any case, anti-theft is not a proper justification for IMEIs being unique. Any anti-theft in a device that has been integrally stolen will be bypassed. These phones get fenced to people in third world countries with very very good reverse-engineering and electronics skills, and it only takes one to find out how to bypass any given issue. And worse comes to worst, they will sell the parts and still make a few hundred dollars out of your phone.