How to check a phone's IMEI in Cameroon

You are about to buy a phone, or you have just received one, and you want to know whether it is legal to use in Cameroon. The good news: the check takes two minutes and costs nothing. This guide shows how to check IMEI in Cameroon: how to find the number, where to check it and how to read the result. It is written by Abdel Gafar Njupouen, CEO of Gafloow Store. The rules change over time: for a specific phone, the only reference is the customs platform.

The answer in 3 steps

To check a phone, note its IMEI, enter it on the official customs platform, then read the result. If the number is not recognised, do not complete the purchase.

1. Find the IMEI: dial *#06# on the phone.
2. Check it: enter the number on mpie.camcis.cm, in the checking section.
3. Read the result: recognised, you can go ahead; not recognised, ask customs for advice.

Step 1: find the IMEI

The IMEI is a 15-digit number unique to each phone. There are several ways to find it. Use at least two, so you can compare.

• The *#06# code. Open the Phone app, dial *#06#, and the number appears. This is the fastest method.
• The settings. On an iPhone, open Settings, then General, then About. On an Android phone, open Settings, then About phone. Menu names vary slightly by brand.
• The phone's box. The IMEI is printed on a label on the box, with the model and the serial number.
• The receipt. A serious seller writes the IMEI on the invoice or receipt.

Watch out for dual-SIM phones. They show two IMEI numbers. Note both and check both.

Do not confuse the IMEI with the serial number. The serial number is shorter and cannot be entered on the platform.

Step 2: check the IMEI on the customs platform

Go to mpie.camcis.cm, the site cited by the Cameroonian press for checking a phone's customs status. Enter the 15 digits in the IMEI checking section. The check is free.

A few simple precautions:

• Type the address yourself in your browser. Do not use a link you received in a message.
• Copy the digits carefully. A single mistake gives a wrong result.
• Pay nothing to learn a phone's status. A site that asks for money for this information is not the customs platform.

Step 3: understand the result

The result tells you whether the number is recognised in the customs database. Here is how to read it.

• The IMEI is recognised. The phone appears as declared. You can go ahead with your purchase or keep using your phone with peace of mind.
• The IMEI is not recognised, or shows a problem. Do not complete the purchase. That is the advice given by the media that presented the platform: in this case, avoid buying the phone.
• You already own this phone. A phone connected to a Cameroonian network at least once before 16 March 2026 is considered customs-cleared, according to the announcement reported at the end of August 2026. If yours is more recent and not recognised, call 8044.

To learn more about the rules, read our guide on customs-cleared phones in Cameroon. If your phone has already been cut off from the network, see what to do when a phone is locked.

Before you buy: the three numbers must match

Before you pay for a phone, compare the IMEI in three places:

1. the one shown on the phone (with *#06#);
2. the one printed on the box;
3. the one written on the receipt.

If even one number is different, say no. A phone whose box does not match the device is a bad sign: a box from another model, a refurbished phone, or a device of doubtful origin.

You can do this check on delivery, in front of the courier. That is what we recommend on our 24-hour delivery page. A problem? You are protected by our warranty and returns terms.

Mistakes to avoid

• Checking only one IMEI on a dual-SIM phone. Check both numbers.
• Trusting the seller's word. "It is customs-cleared" does not replace a two-minute check.
• Sharing a code received by SMS or a Mobile Money PIN. Nobody needs them to check an IMEI, or to "unlock" a phone.
• Waiting until the phone is blocked. Check before you buy, not after.

Looking for a brand-new phone?

Browse our full catalogue, or choose by brand: iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel. You can check the IMEI of your order in front of the courier.

Our sources

This guide is based on Cameroonian press articles and public information from customs. The main ones (in French):

• Téléphones non dédouanés : le blocage arrive le 1er septembre, allAfrica, 24 August 2026 (republished from Camer.be);
• Comment vérifier le statut douanier de son téléphone à partir de l'IMEI, Le Bled Parle.

Information last checked: 23 September 2026.