Locked phone in Cameroon: what should you do?

Your phone no longer picks up the network, or a message tells you it is blocked. Before you panic, take a breath: there is a clear procedure, and it starts with a free check. This guide on a locked phone in Cameroon shows how to find out whether customs is involved, what to do next and what to avoid at all costs. It is written by Abdel Gafar Njupouen, CEO of Gafloow Store. It relies on press reports: for your specific case, customs remains the reference.

The answer in 6 steps

To act without making a mistake, follow this order: confirm the cause, check the IMEI, see whether your phone is exempt, gather your proof, call customs, then regularise through the official channel.

1. Rule out other causes (SIM card, bundle, network).
2. Check the IMEI on the customs platform.
3. See whether you are exempt (phone connected before 16 March 2026).
4. Gather your proof of purchase.
5. Call 8044, the customs toll-free number.
6. Regularise through customs or an approved platform.

Step 1: rule out other causes

A phone can lose the network for several reasons. Do not jump to the conclusion that customs has blocked it.

• Test your SIM card in another phone. If it does not work there either, the problem is the card or the bundle.
• Test another SIM card in your phone. If it works, your first card is the problem.
• Restart the phone and check airplane mode.
• Check the network: local outages do happen.

If another SIM card does not work in your phone either, move on to the next step.

Step 2: check the IMEI

Dial *#06# to display the IMEI, your phone's 15-digit number. Then enter it on mpie.camcis.cm, the checking site cited by the Cameroonian press. The check is free. Our guide on how to check a phone's IMEI in Cameroon explains each step.

If your phone has two SIM slots, it has two IMEI numbers. Check both.

• IMEI recognised: it is probably not a customs block. Contact your network operator.
• IMEI not recognised: continue with the next steps.

Step 3: see whether your phone is exempt

According to the announcement reported at the end of August 2026, a phone connected at least once to a Cameroonian network before 16 March 2026 is automatically considered customs-cleared. If yours is in this situation and is still blocked, report it to customs: it is an error.

Some media mention other special cases, such as travellers passing through. The sources do not all agree. Ask for confirmation on 8044.

Step 4: gather your proof

Before you call, prepare whatever proves where your phone comes from. It speeds up every step.

• the receipt or invoice, with the date;
• the phone's box, where the IMEI is printed;
• the seller's name and number;
• the messages you exchanged with the seller;
• the date on which you first put a SIM card in this phone, if you remember.

Step 5: call customs

The Directorate General of Customs has set up a toll-free number: 8044. Explain your situation, give the IMEI and ask:

• whether your phone is really affected;
• what the regularisation procedure is;
• what the exact cost is, before you pay anything;
• how long the procedure takes.

Note the person's name, the date and what they tell you.

Step 6: regularise through the official channel

Regularisation is done with the Directorate General of Customs or through approved platforms, according to announcements reported by the press. The media we consulted give neither amounts nor timeframes: that is why calling 8044 is essential.

Once the procedure is complete, check the IMEI again on the platform. Then restart the phone and test the network.

What you must not do

A blocked phone attracts scammers. Remember four rules.

• Do not pay an "unblocker". Only customs and approved platforms can regularise a phone. A middleman who promises unblocking in a few minutes is a warning sign.
• Do not change the IMEI. Tampering with this number is risky and generally illegal.
• Do not share a code received by SMS or your Mobile Money PIN. No legitimate procedure asks for them.
• Do not use a site sent to you in a message. Type the official address into your browser yourself.

Depending on your situation

Your steps change slightly depending on how you got the phone.

• You bought it brand new, recently. Contact the seller first with your receipt. A serious seller explains the phone's origin and helps you with the procedure. Also read the returns terms: with us, they are on the warranty and returns page.
• You bought it second hand. The seller is harder to reach. Keep all your proof and call 8044.
• You received it from a relative abroad. Ask customs how to declare a phone received this way.
• You have had it for a long time. Check the IMEI: it is probably exempt, but only the platform can confirm it.

A customs block or another kind of lock?

Not every network cut comes from customs. Three other causes give the same symptoms.

• Network (carrier) lock. Some imported phones are locked to a foreign operator and refuse another operator's SIM card. This is not a customs block: the phone must be "unlocked" by the original operator.
• Account lock. A phone linked to its previous owner's account (Apple, Google or Samsung) asks for a login at start-up. It works on the network, but it is unusable without this account. That is a different problem, solved with the previous owner.
• Loss or theft block. A phone reported lost or stolen can be blocked by its IMEI. If you bought this phone second hand, contact your operator and keep all your proof of purchase.

If in doubt, check the IMEI: it is the only test that tells you whether customs is involved.

Prepare your call

A well-prepared call saves time. Before you dial 8044, write down:

• the phone's IMEI, or both IMEI numbers if it has two;
• the brand and model;
• the purchase date and place, or how you received the phone;
• what you are seeing: no network, a message received, the date the problem started;
• your questions: am I affected, what is the procedure, what is the exact cost, how long does it take.

During the call, note the person's name, the time and each answer. Never give your Mobile Money PIN: no official procedure asks for it.

How long does regularisation take?

The media we consulted give no official timeframe. The time depends on the procedure and the channel used. So ask for the estimated time when you call, and never pay a middleman who promises an instant result.

How to avoid the problem next time

The right reflex is to check before you buy. Compare the IMEI on the phone, the box and the receipt, then check it on the customs platform. You will find every check in our guide on how to buy a phone safely and in our main guide on customs-cleared phones in Cameroon.

At Gafloow Store, you can check the IMEI of your order when you receive it: see our 24-hour delivery page.

Looking for a phone that is fully in order?

If you need to replace your phone, compare models first. 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

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

Information last checked: 23 September 2026.