Tag Archives: CheckMEND

CheckMEND

Are you getting the full picture?

CheckMEND is the most comprehensive device history check available; the ‘gold standard’ in due diligence.

So how does it differ from other device history reports and the basic IMEI checks you can find online?

Firstly, it’s important to note that IMEI checks are just for mobile phones. CheckMEND can search not just on IMEIs, but on serial numbers too, so it will check up on the history of tablets, laptops and a whole host of other items, as well as phones.

Most device checks – including CheckMEND – will give you the following information, when you provide them with the IMEI or serial number:

  1. Verification of the manufacturer and model of the item.
  2. Whether the device is blocked (or has ever been blocked); this usually happens after it has been reported to the mobile phone network as being lost or stolen.

Whilst this basic level of information is useful, there is so much more you need to know before buying a device second-hand, whether you’re a retailer, recycler or an individual.

View a Sample CheckMEND Report >

CheckMEND, through its links with the rest of the Recipero crime reduction ecosystem, is in a unique position to paint you a much more detailed picture of a device’s history:

Whether the item has been reported lost or stolen to us

A loss could have been reported to us directly through Immobilise (the national property register) or Report My Loss. Stolen items show up in official police records via the NMPR.

Outcome: Handling of lost or stolen goods. Even if the device isn’t currently blocked, it doesn’t mean it won’t be in the near future.

Whether the item is the subject of a settled insurance claim

A red result would indicate that the item has been shared with us as the subject of a settled insurance claim, via ClaimsCheck.

Outcome: Legal title of the item belongs to the insurer, so you cannot legally own the device.

Whether the device is a suspected clone

Phone cloning is the illegal practice of copying the identification credentials a phone uses in order to connect to a network.

An amber result indicates that the serial checked appears in multiple devices. This is usually restricted to phones. Genuine phones will never share an IMEI. It is amber rather than red because there is no way to determine which of many devices with the same IMEI is the genuine one.

Outcome: Clones are fraudulent handsets with stolen credentials, often sold by criminals to generate revenue. Text messages and calls can also be intercepted.

Whether the device is a reported counterfeit

An amber result indicates that the serial being checked is reported to us as being used in counterfeit devices. It is amber rather than red because there is no way to determine which of many devices with the same IMEI is the genuine one. 

Outcome: Typically, counterfeit goods are of inferior quality to the genuine article. They may not be fit for purpose and fake electrical goods can even be a safety risk. Buying counterfeit goods can be damaging to the economy and the sale proceeds are often used to fund more sinister organised crime.

Whether there are one or more previous owners registered

An amber result indicates that the item has been registered under at least one other previous owner, via Immobilise (the national property register).

Outcome: This would only be a concern if the item is being sold as new.

Whether the device belongs to – and is being monitored by – a corporation

A red result indicates that the device being checked is being monitored by Recipero’s AssetWatch service.

Outcome: The device is owned by a corporation, so while an individual may possess it, they may not have the right to legally sell it.

With any of these additional datasets that are checked against, if a red flag is returned then the item poses a risk to any potential buyer.

In most cases, the item cannot legally be sold on. And if you can’t legally own the item, this could pose real issues for you in the future, either during your use of the device or later down the line, if you try to sell it.

If you are selling an item and a CheckMEND search flags an issue with it that you believe to be incorrect, we are here to help. We are happy to look into records that are disputed and where possible resolve the issue, or advise on the source of a record and what action needs to be taken in order to resolve it. Please contact support@checkmend.com with the details of your search and we will investigate the issue. 

Please note: Specific traders in niche markets or geographies may be configured to include more or fewer data sources. Data sources may also vary with the class of items being checked. For enquiries please contact support.

CheckMEND

CheckMEND: 2022 in Review

As we waved goodbye to 2022, we also took a look back at some of the headline figures from the year.

It’s incredible to think that over 4.7 million users may have bought a compromised device if they hadn’t thought to run a check on it first! 

You can find out more about our data sets and how we help to fight fraud and prevent crime by reading about Recipero’s Crime Reduction Ecosystem.

CheckMEND 2022 infographic - year in review
CheckMEND

How to Sell Your Old Devices

There are many benefits to selling phones, devices and electronics you no longer need.

Why?

Aside from the obvious perk of a boost to your bank balance, there’s more to it than just money. Fuelled by demand and short product lifecycles, e-waste (anything with a plug or battery) is one of the world’s most complex and fastest-growing waste streams.

These items could be given a second lease of life by finding them a new owner. Or the valuable materials within them can be reused and recycled, promoting a circular economy. Either way, you’ll be helping to reduce e-waste and its impact on the environment.

Where?

There are many routes to market now available for selling your pre-loved gadgets.

  • Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, eBay etc
  • Specialist websites that buy and sell used electronics – there are too many for us to list here, but a quick Google search will give you the main players. MoneySavingExpert.com also has an excellent guide if you’re thinking of selling your mobile phone this way
  • Or alternatively, you could sell privately to friends or family

If an item isn’t in good, working condition, some websites will offer you a lower amount for it. Otherwise, the manufacturer or retailer may have a recycling programme in place, or you might even be able to put it in your household recycling (check first, though).

There’s an excellent tool on the Recycle Now website that will help you to find the right place to correctly dispose of an item.

Getting Started

As mentioned above, if you’re selling a device second-hand, it’s important that your item is in good, working condition and any damage or issues are outlined to the buyer from the outset.

As the owner, it’s your responsibility to delete any data from the device before you sell or recycle it. If you’re unsure how to, Recycle Your Electricals have put together a handy guide.

It’s worth shopping around, to ensure you get the best price you can for your item. If you’re listing it on an online auction site, or even selling to someone you know, make sure you do your research to ensure your pricing is fair.

How can CheckMEND help?

With CheckMEND, you can run the world’s most comprehensive device check, with real-time checks against billions of records. It allows you to unlock an item’s history, checking that it has not been recorded as stolen, lost, blacklisted/blocked, or had insurance claims made against it.

As a seller, by providing a CheckMEND certificate, you can verify the item isn’t compromised and is eligible for sale. This helps to build trust between you and your buyer and to ultimately achieve your best price.

There is a FREE check available for all new users (£1.99 thereafter).

AssetWatch, CheckMEND, Fraud, Mobile Phones

Beware of ‘Geeks’ Bearing Gifts – A New Type of Fraud

By Les Gray, COO of Recipero

Ok, so not everyone looking to part with valuable used consumer electronics is a ‘Geek’.  The proverb shamelessly mangled for this post’s title does neatly sum up a note of caution though – not everyone trying to sell you an item is acting honestly.

Mobile phones are undergoing a massive increase in fraudulent sales, reflecting a wide-ranging change in the marketplace for how phones reach consumers. Many companies are now providing new or refurbished phones on rental agreements. These are attractive propositions, enabling the consumer to obtain a cheaper handset for a lower monthly cost than the traditional network-subsidised model and the ability to upgrade or cancel almost at will.

The problem for traders with this market shift is the number of phones being fraudulently sold or offered as collateral for pawn or buy-back transactions is increasing rapidly.

The seller of such devices does not have legal title, so the trader cannot acquire legal title. The trader’s perceived security in the device is worthless.

Many traders check whether a phone is blocked on mobile networks. This check identifies a small subset of stolen phones reported to the networks. However, it amounts to shutting their eyes to the presence of loss and theft reports from police, insurers, the public and corporate owners.

Only CheckMEND has access to Recipero’s Crime Reduction Ecosystem, a massive collection of devices (not just phones) that are stolen or will become so if sold. Millions of devices are rightfully in possession of consumers but not owned by them, and they have no right to sell. The shift in market conditions has recently grown this class of phones by 10% month-on-month during 2022 and is accelerating, widening the already significant gap between network-blocked phones and stolen phones.

An analysis of 30,000 phones from one recent month’s trade, found over 1,000 stolen items valued at almost £200,000. Not a single phone was network blocked when offered for sale. Pawn or buy-back transactions may feel more secure as the customer often redeems the phone. However, 40% become blocked up to eight weeks after the transaction; plenty of time for the careless trader to resell the phone, only to have a disgruntled customer return when it stops working. Perhaps worse, that customer tries to sell their phone only to fail because of the stolen record—double trouble and cost for the unfortunate trader.  

CheckMEND is the only due diligence system compliant with the UK Recycler’s Code of Best Practice, and the above should clarify why. The world’s biggest companies that create markets for mobile phones trust us to track their property and detect and prevent its theft. Their trust in us is why CheckMEND’s due diligence service is both unrivalled and growing at an increasing rate.

Are you buying phones without running CheckMEND checks? Are you confident that you are doing enough? Contact us for a free, no-obligation analysis of historical transactions. Every stolen phone we identify that you’ve missed will have the corresponding information provided so you can take action on it to reduce the risk you’ve previously assumed.

Remember, network block checking is not the same as avoiding buying stolen property.

CheckMEND, CheckMEND USA, Crime, eBay, Fraud, Mobile Phones, Police

CheckMEND’s New Look

We thought it was about time CheckMEND had a revamp – we really like it and hope you do too!

The Recipero team have been working away on the new look behind the scenes for the last few months. The CheckMEND service remains the same as users are familiar with, while the design of the report has been simplified to make it easier to understand.

New users can claim a free device check report by registering an account, perfect for instances where someone is planning on buying a second-hand piece of tech and the seller doesn’t already have a CheckMEND certificate.

visit the checkmend site

We’re also really interested to hear about existing users’ past experiences with CheckMEND and have a survey open to all users, to help us to improve the service we offer.

Users who complete the 2-minute survey will be given 25% off checks until Friday 29th August 2022.

Take Survey
CheckMEND, Crime, Fraud, Immobilise, Mobile Phones, Recipero

Don’t get hung up with fraud this New Year and check for warning signs when buying a second hand phone

Mobile phone fraud prevention specialist, Recipero, part of the Callcredit Information Group, is urging consumers and retailers to undertake device checks when buying a second hand phone to avoid becoming a victim of fraud during the January sales and beyond.

Recipero’s CheckMEND data* reveals, that the number of device checks made on second hand iPhones has almost doubled in the last four years, highlighting the growth in the size of the second hand phone market and the increased awareness amongst some consumers and retailers of ensuring the legitimacy of second hand phones.

Last January there was a spike in the number of iPhone checks performed via the Recipero CheckMEND service. More than 1.3 million checks took place (more than 400,000 up on the month before) and Callcredit’s analysts are expecting upwards of two million at the start of 2018.

Mark Harman, Managing Director of Recipero, said: “Even though our findings highlight that there has been an increase in second hand iPhone device checks, fraud is prevalent in what is a market for increasingly expensive devices. Latest ONS crime figures, compiled from the Crime Survey for England and Wales, show 401,000 mobile phones were reported as stolen in the 12 month period ending March 2017. It’s important that consumers and retailers take the necessary precautions and check the history of a device.”

The Recipero data also revealed a surge in the number of searches on the CheckMEND database following the introduction of new iPhone models – as it shows the number of device checks being performed increasing by over a third (36.6%)** in the period after a new release.

Mark concluded: “A check on a second hand phone includes a device life history that starts at the point of manufacture, through ownership changes, right up to it being recycled. The device is checked against IMEI, a phone’s unique reference number, loss and theft reports and police crime reports in the US and UK, insurers title information and settled claims.
These checks provide information which will flag up (red) in a CheckMEND report if the device is compromised, helping to protect those purchasing a second hand phone from acquiring a lost or stolen device.”

*Based on CheckMEND UK data of number of checks made on iPhones each month from Jan 2014- Dec 2017 inclusive. Taken from the Recipero database which is part of the Callcredit Information Group.

**Based on the average number of CheckMEND iPhone device checks two months prior to a new iPhone launch and the average for the two months following.

Recipero

Jack McArtney presents at the Wireless Repair Expo: Do IMEI checks matter? Enabling hassle free activation, maximize residual value

‘The Wireless Repair Expo 2017’, the official partner of Mobile World Congress, Americas, is just around the corner!

Running from 12-14th September and offering 12,000 square feet of exhibitors showcasing best of class in wireless repair. The Wireless Repair EXPO will offer live hands-on training and business owner’s workshop sessions onsite. Learn techniques on how to support and improve your business.

On the 12th September Jack McArtney, the VP Industry Relations for Recipero and leading innovator in mobile device fraud and theft will be presenting between 4-5pm.

Jack will be discussing how to improve confidence in buying and selling smartphones by using Recipero’s ecosystem of reliable operators, resellers, consumers and law enforcement showing you how the industry could save billions and strengthen reliability of IMEI data on lost, stolen, blocked or blacklisted phones.

Then join us for a cocktail party to round up the event and network with people in the know.

The Wireless Repair Expo 2017 is being held at the Moscone Center, 747 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103.

For further information please contact us (Recipero website / email) or visit the following site for additional event details: http://www.wirelessrepairexpo2017.com/

CheckMEND, Crime, eBay, Fraud, Immobilise, Lost Property, Mobile Phones, NMPR, Police, Recipero

Beware of the Mobile Phone Moped Muggers!

Thieves who steal mobile phones straight out of people’s hands as they zoom by on their, often stolen, mopeds are becoming an increasing problem for the public and police.

It’s completely shocking to the person being attacked. Martin Lewis, the money saving expert, who was one of the latest victims can confirm this from his recent attack near Oxford Circus. He tweets about his incident: ‘About 40 minutes ago two men on a moped just rode up on the pavement and snatched my mobile out of my hands. The speed and accuracy was frightening.’ To read more on this attack click here.

Scotland Yard claims that moped muggers are snatching 20 phones an hour and that thieves mainly go for iPhones. If the phone is still switched on then they reset it and sell it on, if not then they will trade it for parts.

If the owner has been astute enough to register their phone on immobilise.com, the National Property Register, they would immediately be able to change the status of the device flagging it as stolen to traders, as well as report it to the Police*. UK Police officers are the ONLY people with authorisation to access the Immobilise database to check the status and ownership of a mobile phone and repatriate it if it is recovered. The Metropolitan Police advise mobile users to activate their phone’s security features when they receive it and to register valuable possessions with immobilise.com for free, pre-loss or theft.

In this increasingly common crime the phone’s owner is often not the only victim. If you are buying a second hand mobile phone, whether that be an iPhone, Samsung, HTC or any other smartphone, then CheckMEND can help you avoid stolen property. An online check costs as little as £1 and will highlight if a phone is blocked, stolen or compromised in someway.  CheckMEND is the most comprehensive device check available helping consumers, traders, recyclers and retailers buy and sell second-hand goods with confidence.

The moral, however of this post is not to give thieves opportunities to steal your possessions or profit from your loss. Try to avoid using your smart phone in public, be cautious, and to be on the safe side always register new phones or mobile devices on immobilise.com.

* Flagging an item as stolen on Immobilise means that information is immediately available to the Police when they conduct searches for it on the Police only NMPR system. In the event of a crime, a report should also be made directly to Police so they are able to investigate it appropriately and request additional details when relevant.

CheckMEND, Crime, eBay, Fraud, Immobilise, Mobile Phones

How to buy and sell phones and mobile devices online safely

Online shopping has rapidly become the easiest way to buy goods. With only a click of a button or tap of a screen between us and our next purchase, it’s no wonder that 95% of British people buy goods via the internet. According to The Daily Mail, 1 in 4 British people now shop online at least once a week, although this way of shopping is more convenient it does increase our exposure to fraudulent activity.

By this, I mean that although you may feel ‘safe as houses’, sitting at home on your laptop browsing your favourite sites, you can’t be quite as confident that what your buying is completely legitimate. There are more and more scams to be aware of and avoid especially when buying or selling any mobile devices in the second-hand market.

Many great bargains can be found in online auction and classified ad sites, and in turn you can, as a seller, make some money on the items you no longer need. It’s true what they say ‘one man’s rubbish is another man’s treasure‘.  However without knowing the seller is reputable, it is very hard to be confident that a device is genuine or compromised. One well established way to put your mind at rest is to purchase a CheckMEND report.

A CheckMEND mobile device check costs as little as £0.99p per device and can help inform your buying decision by reporting on a devices current status and history including if it is blocked, marked as lost or stolen, plus many other important data checks. It’s like getting a clean bill of health when your device comes back clear, a green flag to proceed!

If you are selling an item, it is a great idea to sell it with a CheckMEND history report to build trust with your customers, achieving faster sales and higher prices in the process.

Trade with confidence when buying or selling second-hand goods, run a CheckMEND device check now.

CheckMEND

CheckMEND adds new data to help avoid contract blocked phones

Do you trade phones?
If so we’ve great news for CheckMEND users…

do-they-have-legal-title-41The problem is all too familiar. A seller assures a trader that they have legal title when in fact they are selling a phone recently acquired on a contract and the network still owns the phone.

The seller defaults on the contract at some point after selling the phone to you and because ownership of the phone is actually with the network they block it, completely legitimately.

The phone is not being blocked because someone didn’t pay the bill, it’s being blocked to prevent it from being sold while it still belongs to the network.

Depending on the defaulter’s behaviour this process can take several weeks to manifest as a block. By that time you may well have invested in refurbishment or even resold the phone which creates problems for your customer as well.

New data helps you avoid the cost of contract-bound phones

Recipero, the providers of CheckMEND are now adding hundreds of thousands of records each month for phones that are owned by UK network operators meaning subscribers cannot sell them. This data means that a very large portion of phones sold to you which later become blocked can now be avoided.

Nationwide in the UK, this data set will save CheckMEND users millions of pounds each year!

This data set protects you and your onward customer from this risk.

Will the cost of checks increase? 

If you’re buying checks via the website, this data has been included in the price since 2 Nov 2016.

If your use of CheckMEND is via a central contract such as a franchise or group purchasing scheme, your managers will be contacted separately as there may be a small additional charge to access this data depending on your contract conditions.

If you have any queries about CheckMEND or require help please visit the support page for contact and knowledge base options.