The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) issued a warning on Tuesday, advising consumers against purchasing clone or duplicate mobile devices.

In a statement, the PTA announced that such devices would be blocked to prevent illegal activities. They urged consumers to only buy from trusted sources, ensure the phone is under warranty, purchase boxed devices, check for the PTA stamp on the box, and match the IMEI on both the box and the phone.

The PTA also instructed users to verify their device’s IMEI through the DIRBS website or by texting the IMEI to 8484.

“If you receive a message from the PTA about your device being cloned or duplicated, verify your IMEI by dialing *#06# and compare it with the IMEI mentioned in the PTA message,” the authority advised.

If the issue persists, customers are encouraged to submit proof of purchase and FBR tax payment to the PTA CMS at complaint.pta.gov.pk.

The authority also cautioned against buying expensive devices sold at unusually low prices or without warranty. Consumers were urged to ensure they purchase packaged mobile devices, maintain contact with the seller, and report any fraudulent activity to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).