Excerpt from ACMA: Mobile Phone Security Factsheet International...

Excerpt from ACMA: Mobile Phone Security Factsheet

International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) Number

Each mobile phone has an individual serial number called the IMEI number, which can be identified by the mobile phone service provider’s network. It is a 15-digit number on the back of your handset under the battery and can be found on most handsets by pressing *#06# on your phone keypad. The IMEI will appear on the screen. You may need to scroll down to see the whole number.

You should record your IMEI number in case your mobile phone is lost or stolen. Your mobile phone service provider may liaise with the police about a lost or stolen handset and, if found, your handset will be able to be identified by the number.

Thieves have been deterred from stealing mobile phones with the introduction of IMEI 'blocking'. Blocking an IMEI on a mobile phone network prevents a mobile phone from being used with any SIM on any Australian network.

Mobile carriers are able to block the use of lost or stolen mobile phones and unblock recovered mobile phones on their network. They have also agreed to exchange their lists of blocked and unblocked IMEI numbers with other mobile phone service provider so these can also be processed (blocked/unblocked) on all mobile networks.