This archive report was first published on 19 May 2020.
On May 19, 2020, the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) launched a mobile messaging service to aid consumers in verifying the authenticity of their mobile phones.
The service, which is part of the CA's consumer protection mandate, allows users to check if their mobile phones are genuine or not.
According to Acting Director-General Mercy Wanjau, the service is a crucial step in protecting consumers from counterfeit mobile phones.
To verify the authenticity of your mobile phone, follow these four simple steps:
- Dial #06# on your mobile device to display its international mobile equipment identifier number (IMEI).
- Copy the IMEI number and send it to 1555 via SMS.
- CA will respond with details about your phone, including the make and model.
- Compare the details displayed in the response SMS with those of your phone. If they match, your phone is genuine. If they don't, it's likely counterfeit.
Counterfeit mobile phones can pose serious threats to personal health and national security, and the CA advises the public to report such cases.
Recently, the Anti-Counterfeit Agency (ACA) conducted a sting operation in Nairobi's CBD, arresting seven people and confiscating counterfeit mobile phones worth over Sh10 million.
