Check if your Android phone is cloned: Phone cloning is very popular in the entertainment industry. Film producers make it one of the easiest things you can do to spy on someone’s activities. In reality, things are a bit different, since phone cloning is not really easy to do.
However, this does not make phone cloning impossible or even improbable in some cases, especially since older phones are more likely to clone than new ones.
Here’s what you need to know about how cloning works, what it may mean for you, and how to check if your android phone is cloned.
What is telephone cloning?
In simple terms, telephone cloning involves copying the identity of one mobile device for use on another. Although there are three main methods of cloning, cloning AMPS, CDMA and GSM, only the latter is more popular.
GSM cloning is based on the identification and copying of the IMEI number or equipment identification number of the international mobile station. This is a unique identifier that can be obtained via hacking. In the GSM cloning schemes, you will also find hardware cloning of the SIM card. In most cases, physical access to the SIM card is required to extract its K code.
While phone cloning is illegal in most countries, phone cloning can still be a thriving industry. However, because of the complexity of some detection methods, such as radio fingerprints, very few users are likely to have their phone cloned. The most modern smartphones are more likely to direct hacking than cloning.
How to check if your Android Phone is Cloned
If your phone has been cloned using a very simple basic IMEI cloning method, you may be able to locate a copy using phone location software such as Find My iPhone (Apple) or Find My Phone ( Android).
- Sign into your account.
- Use the map to locate the phone.
- Look for another duplicate marker or marker.
- If you see multiple devices pinging and you know you only have one phone, then the
- secondary device may be the cloned version of your phone.
Another method that could work is to review all the expenses of your bill. If you find inconsistencies, such as calls to numbers you do not know, your phone may have been cloned. You do not have to wait until the end of the month to do it.
If you contact your operator, you can request a preliminary bill and start checking the expenses. However, keep in mind that not all criminals clone the phone to charge bills.
Some simply clone devices and wait for sensitive information to be sent or received via text, information they can use to gain money.
How to check if you are using a cloned phone
It may be easier to know if you are using a cloned phone than to tell if your phone has been cloned. Why would someone sell you a cloned phone? Well, there could be dozens of reasons, but the main one will always be profit.
To check if you’re using a cloned phone, you can start paying close attention to text messages and incoming calls. Too many incoming calls and text messages from unknown numbers and senders may indicate that you are not the sole owner of your phone and number.
You can also check IMEI numbers and serial numbers online at the manufacturer’s website. If they match, then you should be the sole owner of this phone. In case of discrepancy, it is likely that you use cloning, or at least a fake phone.
You can also check the quality of the construction. Check it against a phone without box of the same model. Look for anything out of the ordinary about weight, accessories, existing software, OS version, and performance.
If your phone does not work as well as it should, or if it’s lighter than it should be, then you could be dealing with a cloned phone. Buying phones from unverified suppliers or Craigslist are just two of the ways you could end up with a cloned phone in your hands.