Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a public alert about counterfeit mobile phones. The agency is urging consumers to be cautious when buying new phones.
To protect buyers, PTA recommends they only purchase phones from reputable sellers and insist on a warranty. Checking for the PTA stamp on the phone’s box and matching the IMEI number is also crucial. The authority recommends buying phones in their original packaging.
Users should match the IMEI number on the phone’s box with the number inside the phone’s settings menu. IMEI numbers are unique identification numbers tied to a device.
You can also verify your device’s IMEI number at PTA’s website. This will show you whether the phone is PTA-approved or not.
PTA further advises users to watch out for expensive phones selling for suspiciously low prices and vendors offering no warranty.
If you think you’ve been scammed with a fake phone, contact the seller immediately. You can also report the issue to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).