this post was submitted on 21 Oct 2024
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Not even unlocked phones can be used on another (us) carrier if reported stolen, all IMEIs associated with the device are blacklisted across all legal carriers in the country.
No, they are not. Blacklists are per carrier, at least when dealing with American primary carriers, and not MVNOs.
No, it's nationwide, all carriers and mvnos are signed on to the US Block Status since IMEI became standard. It's a separate list from the global GSMA and not all carriers in the US report to the GSMA like they should,but if a device is reported lost or stolen in the US it cannot be activated by a US carrier until resolved.
Except I have used unlocked IMEI blacklisted devices on different carriers, so if one exists in theory, it doesn't appear to be there in practice.
Depending on what state you're in, you admitted to fraud or possession of stolen goods, so maybe don't admit that. That aside yeah some carriers can fail to submit to the US Block Status but generally those instances are rare given the activating carrier can be legally liable.
I'm not admitting to any crime. There are other ways to come into possession of blacklisted IMEI devices, and other ways for them to become blacklisted that don't involve either of those scenarios.
Why don't you go pull up all those FCC fines leveied on carriers for activating blacklisted phones.