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Which is unique to the phone, the serial number or the IMEI number?

M

Mini500

Newbie
Hello, I sent my mobile in for service after it fell and the screen broke but the phone was still working.
I got it back with a total different software! Upon checking the IMEI number, it was correct but checking further I discovered the phone's serial number is totally different.
So my questions are, could a phone's EMEI number be the same but the serial number is suddenly different from my phone? Is this even my phone or was it switched with another with the same EMEI number? Can that even happen?

Which number is unique to my actual phone? I need to be sure so I can contact the insurance company and get my phone back if this isn't it.

Thanks for any advise or info.

M. Lorenz
 
It sounds like they re-flashed the ROM, essentially reloading the operating system. The IMEI is unique to your phone, it's a hardware identifier. That serial number is just relative to the software.
 
The serial number is unique.. IMEI can be changed even by a basic college student... There was a time i used to change my phone IMEI so i can enjoy free data that are specific to other phones with a unique IMEI..

So it's possible they might have changed the IMEI
 
Emmanuel Godwin said:
The serial number is unique.. IMEI can be changed even by a basic college student... There was a time i used to change my phone IMEI so i can enjoy free data that are specific to other phones with a unique IMEI..

So it's possible they might have changed the IMEI
Click to expand...

Thank you.. that's what I was hoping to hear and felt is the case. Apart from the serial number and change in software issue, the feel of this mobile they sent me isn't like mine. Feels more like a cheap imitation somehow. Can't explain really.
 
Actually coming back from a repair with newer software isn't unheard of. Official service centres will commonly update the software (if a newer version is available) while it is with them. So that need not be an indication of anything funny. Of course if it came back with older software that would be fishy.

As for which is unique, they should both be, but the IMEI should be more unique. The serial number should uniquely identify which Galaxy S8 this is, while the IMEI uniquely identifies which mobile phone it is (i.e. you could in principle have 2 phones of different model which by chance shared the same serial number, but there should never be 2 phones in the world with the same IMEI).

Now that's not to say that the IMEI cannot be changed. But there is no legitimate reason for doing so and it's illegal in many jurisdictions (remember that we don't know where on the planet you are). It's certainly not something I'd expect any reputable repairer to do: if they had to replace the motherboard (to pick an example) you'd have a different IMEI, but so what?
 
svim said:
It sounds like they re-flashed the ROM, essentially reloading the operating system. The IMEI is unique to your phone, it's a hardware identifier. That serial number is just relative to the software.
Click to expand...

Actually it is the other way round really. After looking around on the internet I found this

"IMEI number is useful if you want to connect to any mobile network.
Serial Number is useful for device service, replacement or warranty purpose. A serial number allows a company to identify a product and get additional information about it, for replacement, or as a means of finding compatible parts."
So basically, if my serial number is different then this is not my mobile.
 
Hadron said:
Actually coming back from a repair with newer software isn't unheard of. Official service centres will commonly update the software (if a newer version is available) while it is with them. So that need not be an indication of anything funny. Of course if it came back with older software that would be fishy.

As for which is unique, they should both be, but the IMEI should be more unique. The serial number should uniquely identify which Galaxy S8 this is, while the IMEI uniquely identifies which mobile phone it is (i.e. you could in principle have 2 phones of different model which by chance shared the same serial number, but there should never be 2 phones in the world with the same IMEI).

Now that's not to say that the IMEI cannot be changed. But there is no legitimate reason for doing so and it's illegal in many jurisdictions (remember that we don't know where on the planet you are). It's certainly not something I'd expect any reputable repairer to do: if they had to replace the motherboard (to pick an example) you'd have a different IMEI, but so what?
Click to expand...
Thank you for this info. Unfortunately, the software is an older version since my mobile is very recent. It lacks many things and the battery is draining so fast it's crazy. I don't believe they meant to send me a different mobile on purpose. They have different contracts which include an immediate replacement but my contract is only for repairs or theft.
 
svim said:
What you're omitting is spoofing the IMEI is typically used to 'game the system', or in other words, to use some service one doesn't have available to them otherwise.

But I'll stick with what I've learned from previous experience, like MAC addresses for NICs, the IMEI is a hardware identifier.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mobile_Equipment_Identity
Click to expand...
Ok I grant you the experience but how is it that the serial number is suddenly different? Hope you can help.
 
Mini500 said:
I don't believe they meant to send me a different mobile on purpose.
Click to expand...
If they altered the IMEI they did it deliberately. If they'd accidentally sent you a different phone it would not have your original phone's IMEI.

I honestly cannot see a reason to do this. If it was a CDMA handset then you might want to alter the MEID so that it would be accepted by the network as the phone linked to your number, but since for GSM-based technologies (including LTE) the SIM does that you would not need to alter the IMEI for a different phone to work with your account (unless you have some control-freaky carrier there who refuses to use SIMs properly and insists on the IMEI being registered to an account in addition? That could be technically done, but it isn't normal and would fundamentally miss the entire point of the SIM card).
 
Hadron said:
If they altered the IMEI they did it deliberately. If they'd accidentally sent you a different phone it would not have your original phone's IMEI.

I honestly cannot see a reason to do this. If it was a CDMA handset then you might want to alter the MEID so that it would be accepted by the network as the phone linked to your number, but since for GSM-based technologies (including LTE) the SIM does that you would not need to alter the IMEI for a different phone to work with your account (unless you have some control-freaky carrier there who refuses to use SIMs properly and insists on the IMEI being registered to an account in addition? That could be technically done, but it isn't normal and would fundamentally miss the entire point of the SIM card).
Click to expand...
Thank you... I'll have to call them again tomorrow and see what's up with all this. If it is my phone, then I need my old software or use latest and they should check the battery. I sent it in prime condition except for the partially shattered screen. Just want it back in good order.
 
Mini500 said:
Thank you.. that's what I was hoping to hear and felt is the case. Apart from the serial number and change in software issue, the feel of this mobile they sent me isn't like mine. Feels more like a cheap imitation somehow. Can't explain really.
Click to expand...

Authorised Samsung Service wouldn't send you an imitation or fake. They might send you a refurbished phone though, as a replacement. Assuming that's who you're dealing with?
 
mikedt said:
Authorised Samsung Service wouldn't send you an imitation or fake. They might send you a refurbished phone though, as a replacement. Assuming that's who you're dealing with?
Click to expand...
My insurance coverage is not Samsung. It's through my provider that is also the same place I bought it from (& am still paying the mobile cost)... so annoyed o_O.
 
Well we can't know the reason. Maybe the repairer your carrier contracted to is an incompetent who damaged the motherboard in the process of replacing the screen?
 
Hadron said:
Well we can't know the reason. Maybe the repairer your carrier contracted to is an incompetent who damaged the motherboard in the process of replacing the screen?
Click to expand...
So is there no way for me to check via a device ID or anything else, whether this is my mobile or a replacement? Before I raise hell with them and demand my mobile back or replaced with a new one?...
 
If it has come back with older software and a different serial number I think you've all you need to argue that this is not the same phone (or at least not the same motherboard). And the IMEI having being altered to match yours means it wasn't an administrative mistake. What you don't know is why they did this.
 
Any mobile serial number is unique. IMEI is not unique because you can change this anytime. So you can Change your IMEI number anytime.
 
Paul Adam said:
Any mobile serial number is unique. IMEI is not unique because you can change this anytime. So you can Change your IMEI number anytime.
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Well IMEIs are supposed to be unique, and the only times I've heard about any duplicate ones, is where they've apparently been illegally cloned.

Someone posted on here once with an IMEI check. Phone was supposed to be a Samsung Galaxy S6, but it's IMEI apparently belonged to an old Nokia Synbian phone. And I've even seen it myself at Cash Converters in the UK where someone was trying to sell a Sony Xperia, but the Check-Mend IMEI database had it as something else, so they declined it as suspect.

Another thing, if carriers becomes aware of duplicate IMEIs or ESNs on their network, they'll pretty much block them immediately. They've been that for a very long time now, since the days of TACS and AMPS analog, because cloning was a serious problem for those
 
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mikedt said:
Well IMEIs are supposed to be unique, and the only times I've heard about any duplicate ones, is where they've apparently been illegally cloned.

Someone posted on here once with an IMEI check. Phone was supposed to be a Samsung Galaxy S6, but it's IMEI apparently belonged to an old Nokia Synbian phone. And I've even seen it myself at Cash Converters in the UK where someone was trying to sell a Sony Xperia, but the Check-Mend IMEI database had it as something else, so they declined it as suspect.

Another thing, if carriers becomes aware of duplicate IMEIs or ESNs on their network, they'll pretty much block them immediately. They've been that for a very long time now, since the days of TACS and AMPS analog, because cloning was a serious problem for those[/QUOTE

Is there anywhere I could check if the IMEI on this returned phone is cloned or doesn't belong together with the serial number this mobile has now?
Click to expand...
 
Emmanuel Godwin said:
The serial number is unique.. IMEI can be changed even by a basic college student... There was a time i used to change my phone IMEI so i can enjoy free data that are specific to other phones with a unique IMEI..

So it's possible they might have changed the IMEI
Click to expand...

I just bought new open box from Ebay and also the same issue.. same IMEI but different Serial#. Sorry I'm not clear about this explanation, should I be worry since they might be able to use my data plan after I install my simcard inside?
 
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