Urgent: How To Tell Difference Between Fake And Real Samsung Galaxy S2?

[davejonesbkk]

I had mine stolen a few days ago here in Phnom Penh, I was just at the central market here (like their version of MBK) looking at phones. There are several stores selling obvious fakes and they do tell you that they are fakes, (plus they are like $65 USD lol) but then their are shops that have the samsung logo and are selling 'originals' for around $400. They have all the box and packaging etc and look the same, I have inspected a few and im not sure if its me being paranoid but I think they could be every so slightly thicker, but of course without my original to test against who knows.

Is there anyway to check for sure that its an original? I intend to do a full demonstration before buying.

[lomatopo]

I might closely examine the box, any bar coding, manufacturing info.

Remove the back cover examine the sticker under the battery

Match the IMEI, *#06# to the sticker, and to label on box.

Use some web-based IMEI look up sites to verify the IMEI matches the model.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYJAyPMrMXo

Look for other Youtube videos.

Or wait and purchase here in Thailand ~ 15,000 baht.

Edited August 19, 2012 by lomatopo

[Jayman]

I noticed on thai craigslist folks from UK selling sg2 and sg3 for like $400 NIB shipped to thailand. Seems awfully cheap to me. I would love a sg3 though.

[davejonesbkk]

thanks, I saw those videos on youtube too. The s2s are about 4k baht cheaper her but like I said Im sure they seemed to be slightly thicker, I dont think its worth the risk for a few k baht savings so will just buy when Im back in Bkk

[Pib]

Here's the Samsung Thailand web site Link that gives specs for the S2 to include physical measurements and weight.

Google Translate is your friend at this web site.

But I expect you need to buy a micrometer and scale to make the measurements. I can just image the shop sales folks reaction if you brought out these measurement devices to checkout the S2...they would think you are a cop for sure and probably run you off...or call a real cop they have on call (on their payroll) to deal with such situations.

Edited August 19, 2012 by Pib

[Jayman]

http://www.numberingplans.com/?page=analysis&sub=imeinr

to check the iemi

http://virgintech.org/how-to-check-the-validity-of-imei-number-of-a-mobile-phone-mobile-security.html

Edited August 19, 2012 by Jayman

[lomatopo]

This IMEI look-up site seems like the best?

http://imei-number.com/imei-number-lookup/

[Jayman]

This IMEI look-up site seems like the best?

http://imei-number.c...-number-lookup/

I just tried that one and seems much better than the one I supplied.....

Thanks.

Edited August 19, 2012 by Jayman

[Pib]

What prevents a gray market provider/manufacturer from just putting some valid/OEM IMEI's on/into the phone? Seems someone with access to real phones, like someone working in a warehouse or store who has real phones, could just provide the valid IMEI's to the bad guys who then use the IMEIs on fake phones. I expect the same IMEI would be used over and over versus being unique for each phone.

[Sayonarax]

Check the IMEI and Serial code under the battery. Also check out them videos of fake vs real, normaly the price gives it away.

Check for poorly colored packaging or cheap quality printing.

Go to high end store and look at one that you know's real and get an idea of what the real one is, then youll spot a fake from a mile away.

[Jayman]

What prevents a gray market provider/manufacturer from just putting some valid/OEM IMEI's on/into the phone? Seems someone with access to real phones, like someone working in a warehouse or store who has real phones, could just provide the valid IMEI's to the bad guys who then use the IMEIs on fake phones. I expect the same IMEI would be used over and over versus being unique for each phone.

Like a fake bank note they don't use a different number on each copy and very quickly the iemi would get known as a copy. I wonder if the iemi listing services would display that. Would be nice if Samsung kept a searchable database for active phones of theirs. Then you could go there to tag it as stolen or whatever,

[Pib]

Seems there is a method to creating valid IMEI numbers...I expect it wouldn't be too hard for the bad guys to figure out the method or even steal a whole database of valid IMEIs. Yea, some IMEIs would start showing up as duplicates, but that's after the sale and the bad guys now have your money. In countries where strong customer protection laws exist (this would not include Thailand and many other countries) a person who bought a fake would probably just be screwed....totally reliant on trying to get a refund from the shop they bought the fake from---good luck.

[trimesh]

Seems there is a method to creating valid IMEI numbers...I expect it wouldn't be too hard for the bad guys to figure out the method or even steal a whole database of valid IMEIs. Yea, some IMEIs would start showing up as duplicates, but that's after the sale and the bad guys now have your money. In countries where strong customer protection laws exist (this would not include Thailand and many other countries) a person who bought a fake would probably just be screwed....totally reliant on trying to get a refund from the shop they bought the fake from---good luck.

IMEI numbers have a simple structure - the first 2 digits tell you who issued the number block ("RBI"), and the next six are either a 6 digit model code ("TAC") or a 4 digit model code and a 2 digit factory identifier ("TAC/FAC") - the next 6 digits are a serial number and the last is a check digit generated using the Luhn algorithm.

So, if you know (for example) that the RBI/TAC "35815004" means "Samsung GT-I9100 Galaxy S2" then you can just put 6 random digits after that and work out what the check digit should be - and you will end up with an apparently valid IMEI that maps to the correct model.

And yes, the people making clones are perfectly well aware of this.

[lomatopo]

Sorry for not being more clear. I forget how pedantic many are here.

I did not mean to imply that the correlation of the IMEI across the outside label, under-battery sticker and inside the phone would indicate a legitimate product. Rather it is one method to potentially identify a fake product, to eliminate it right away or at least take a closer at look at other attributes.

Yes of course it sounds easy to generate a false IMEI number, and clone it onto a phone. The question remains is did the "manufacturer" take the time to carefully match the IMEI across the label, sticker and phone? I'd submit that most probably do not do this but I am not familiar with the copy/clone trade.

A fair amount of units leak into the market via "falling off the truck, or in the case of Khlongtoei, boat" in transit, or from re-worked (scrapped) units. These are legitimate products, but in some cases could have been reported lost or stolen. These tend to sell for ~ 80% of local wholesale price.

[Jayman]

I agree with what Lomatopo is saying. Yes it's easy to generate a valid imei but are the clone manufacturers takin g the time to generate a valid imei for each phone they make and match the information across all the stickers? My guess would be no. They might just use 1 IMEI for all clones or maybe a couple and use them for the run.

How hard do you think it is to generate a serial number on a a fake bill yet the counterfeiter don't take the time to put a diff number on every bill they create. Just can't expect the clone folks to spend the time and money to create a good product and the unique serial number is usually where they skimp.