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Phone registry for Zimbabwe

Is this phone stolen?

Check any phone's IMEI before you buy it. Register your own, so that if it is ever taken, whoever finds it can tell you where it is.

  • Free for everyone
  • No account needed to check
  • Owners are never named

Check an IMEI

Dial *#06# on the phone to see its IMEI. It's also on the box and under Settings → About phone.

How it works

Protect it before. Find it after.

Three steps, all free. The first one is the one that matters.

  1. 01

    Register it

    Add the IMEI to your free account the day you get the phone. Dial *#06# to see it.

  2. 02

    Report it

    If it is ever taken, mark it stolen. Anyone who checks it is told not to buy it.

  3. 03

    Hear back

    Whoever has it or sees it can tell you where. It reaches you by email, without the phone.

Register my phone

What to do

Stolen, or about to buy one

If your phone is stolen

  1. Mark it stolen on MutapeSign in from any device. Buyers who check it are warned at once.
  2. Report it to the policeTake the IMEI to the nearest ZRP station and keep the reference number.
  3. Call your networkAsk Econet, NetOne or Telecel to block the SIM and move your number.
  4. Secure your moneyChange your EcoCash or OneMoney PIN, and your banking, email and WhatsApp passwords.
  5. Lock or erase itUse Google Find My Device or Apple Find My from another device.

Before you buy a used phone

  1. Dial *#06# on the phoneThe IMEI on screen should match the box and the SIM tray.
  2. Check it hereReported stolen means walk away. Registered means the seller should transfer it to you on Mutape.
  3. Ask for the box and receiptPeople who bought a phone usually still have them.
  4. Make sure it is signed outA phone locked to someone else's Apple or Google account may never be yours to use.

Selling a phone

Hand it over, record and all

A registered phone moves to its new owner with a one-time code, so the registry follows the phone and the buyer knows it was yours to sell.

  1. 1
    Open My phonesFind the phone you are selling and choose Hand over.
  2. 2
    Give the buyer the codeRead it out or send the link. It works once, for 24 hours.
  3. 3
    They accept itAfter checking the IMEI against the phone, the buyer accepts and it moves to their account.

Privacy

About the phone, never the owner

If you report a phone, its owner receives only what you choose to write.

A check shows

  • Whether the phone is registered
  • Whether it is reported stolen, and when
  • The make and model

It never shows

  • The owner's name, number or email
  • Where it was taken
  • The police reference

Mutape passes reports to owners. It does not track phones, and recovering one is a matter for the police. Please never confront anyone over a phone.

Questions

Good to know

How do I check if a phone is stolen in Zimbabwe?

Dial *#06# on the phone to see its 15 digit IMEI, then enter it in the check on this page. Mutape tells you whether its owner has registered it and whether they have reported it stolen. The check is free and needs no account.

What should I do if my phone is stolen?

Mark it stolen in your Mutape account, report it to the police and keep the reference number, ask your network (Econet, NetOne or Telecel) to block the SIM, change your mobile money PIN and passwords, and use Find My Device or Find My to lock or erase it. Anyone who then checks its IMEI on Mutape is warned and can tell you where it is.

Can Mutape track my phone?

No. Mutape is a registry, not a tracker. When someone who has your phone, or has seen it, checks its IMEI, they can send you where it is. To locate a phone that is still online, use Google Find My Device or Apple Find My.

Is it free?

Yes. Creating an account, registering phones, reporting one stolen, checking an IMEI and telling an owner where their phone is are all free.

How do I buy or sell a used phone safely?

Check the IMEI first. If the phone is registered on Mutape, the seller can transfer it to you: they choose Hand over in My phones and give you a code, you enter it in your own account, check that the IMEI matches the phone, and accept. A seller who cannot transfer a registered phone may not own it. Transfers are free.

Where do I find my phone's IMEI?

Dial *#06#. It is also under Settings, About phone, on the box and on most receipts. Register it while you still have the phone, because after a theft the box is often the only place left to find it.

Does a clean result mean the phone is not stolen?

Not on its own. It means no owner has reported it stolen on Mutape. Ask for the box and a receipt, and check that the phone is signed out of the previous owner's Apple or Google account.

Who sees what when I check or report a phone?

A check shows whether the phone is registered, whether it has been reported stolen and when, and the model the owner entered. It never shows the owner's name, number, email, location or police reference. If you report a phone, the owner receives only what you write and the contact details you choose to give.

The best time to register your phone is today.

It takes a minute, while the phone is still in your hand.

Register my phone