iPhone Different IMEI number for the same phone

Discussion in 'Jailbreaks and iOS Hacks' started by ren857, May 14, 2013.

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  1. ren857, May 14, 2013
    Last edited: May 14, 2013

    ren857 macrumors member

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    #1
    Hello. I'm a long time lurker but I rarely post, but this has got me perplexed.

    I purchased an iPhone 5 off of eBay that had iOS 6.1 and was jailbroken. It was also unlocked (the seller was using it on Straight Talk) but it is a Sprint phone. (I removed the iPhone 5 nano app to try to activate it on Sprint).

    The "Problem" is that the IMEI number on the back of the phone and the IMEI number in the About section in the settings do not match. They are different numbers.

    I asked the seller about it and he states that the back was replaced because of scratches.

    Does this sound feasible to you? Is it possible the IMEI number could have been changed?
     
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  2. TC25, May 14, 2013

    TC25 macrumors 68020

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    #2
    I am sure the hardware experts will chime in, but I was always under the impression that the IMEI was burned into the hardware and cannot be changed. Also, who changed the back, the owner or Apple? If Apple, they should have a record of this.
     
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  3. ren857, May 14, 2013

    ren857 thread starter macrumors member

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    #3
    I don't know who changed the back.
     
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  4. Applejuiced, May 14, 2013

    Applejuiced macrumors Westmere

    Applejuiced

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    #4
    Yep, sounds like the back was changed.
    The internal phones IMEI of the logic board cannot be altered or changed.
     
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  5. Demonface, May 14, 2013

    Demonface macrumors 6502a

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    #5
    Most likely the back was changed as stated by previous members.
     
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  6. ren857, May 14, 2013

    ren857 thread starter macrumors member

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    #6
    That makes me feel better. I just wanted to make sure that the IMEI in the phone couldn't be changed.

    Thanks everyone.
     
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  7. Samanosuke, May 14, 2013

    Samanosuke macrumors 6502

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    #7
    There are ways to change the imei in the phone but that's illegal... more than likely the back was changed. You'll be fine. I wouldn't really worry about it.
     
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  8. ren857, May 21, 2013

    ren857 thread starter macrumors member

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    #8
    New question: Will this be an issue if the phone needs some kind of repair? From the apple store or sprint?
     
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  9. TC25, May 21, 2013

    TC25 macrumors 68020

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    #9
    No.
     
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  10. canucksfan88, May 21, 2013

    canucksfan88 macrumors 6502a

    canucksfan88

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    #10
    Nope.

    The warranty will be taken off the IEMI number that is on the phone (software). It is only different (i think), because the previous owner changed the back.
     
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  11. ren857, May 21, 2013

    ren857 thread starter macrumors member

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    #11
    Okay. I thought that Apple would not do any repairs because they can claim that the phone was physically altered because of the different IMEI numbers.

    My power button is having issues and I thought about taking it to the Apple store. However, I don't want to lose my jailbreak. Ugh.
     
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