> Hadn't realised that wasn't a global system, but not sure this article has really explained what the problem with it is. It is—the first I is 'International'

> Hadn't realised that wasn't a global system, but not sure this article has really explained what the problem with it is. It is—the first I is 'International'! I just checked in the US that *#06# will pull up the IMEI on my T-Mobile Android phone; I have no idea if that's specific to TMo or to Android. Or maybe you mean blocking by IMEI isn't global? > There's mention of fraud, yet this system has been active here for decades, so surely that's either a thing or it isn't? I'm not sure that follows. A lot changes over decades, and what once could be allowed to proceed on the basis that the fraud it enabled was sufficiently low-probability may now be too common a vector of attack, or at least perceived as too high-risk as a potential vector.