A comprehensive view on stealth phone scam

Last update: 5th July 2015

A counterfeit stealth phone is a ticking bomb in your pocket. Unfortunately you find out that you have been fulled by the scammer when usually is way too late: you "stealth" phone has been wiretapped and you got busted.

Following our investigations carried out in recent months, we have discovered several vendors that sell fake stealth phones. They sell counterfeit stealth phones both on eBay (using multiple accounts and nick-names) and on independent websites.
We present our investigation results, hoping that the following info will be helpful when you decide to buy a stealth phone.

So, we have identified the following scammers:

1 (location: Cork, Ireland)

Name: Dave H., private individual
Current Status: eBay scammer, online classifieds scammer
Fraud: selling fake stealth phones
Assigned Location: Cork, Ireland
Address Information: temporarily unavailable
Additional Info: temporarily unavailable

2 (location: Dublin, Saggart, Ireland)

Name: Spystore Ireland
Current Status: physical store
Fraud: selling fake stealth phones
Assigned Location: Dublin, Ireland
Address Information: Mc Greggor House, The Fairways, Citywest Complex, Saggart, Co. Dublin
Additional Info: temporarily unavailable

3 (location: Naas, Ireland)

Name: lightning lofts (nick name used on classifieds), private individual
Current Status: online classifieds scammer
Fraud: selling fake stealth phones
Assigned Location: Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Address Information: temporarily unavailable
Additional Info: temporarily unavailable

4 (location: Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland, UK)

Name: Sohail Hussain aka Steven Adams (Jd Mobile Unlocking Service, private held company)
Current Status: eBay scammer, online classifieds scammer, online store scammer
Fraud: selling fake stealth phones
Assigned Location: Newtownabbey, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK
Address Information: 3 Dillons Grange, Dillons Avenue, Newtownabbey, County Antrim, BT370HU
Additional Info: A simple repair shop guy, that watched way too many 007 movies. fix.mobile.to.work, [email protected], jdmobileunlockservice, http://gsminterceptor.co.uk/, [email protected]

SPECIAL NOTE: A "fake it to make it" type of guy. This particular scammer is the actual seller of Siemens S65 stealth phone, on gsminterceptor.co.uk, eBay and other classifieds. Has sold in the past years fake Samsung G600 stealth phones, and now pretends that those phones are good for nothing, totally disregarding his former clients, who have been cheated anyway by buying fake Samsung G600 stealth phones.
This is his newest scam: http://gsminterceptor.co.uk/product/siemens-s65sl75-untraceable-covert-updated-gsm-mobile-stealth-phone/

A funny fact: there is an Youtube movie ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-cl=85114404&x-yt-ts=1422579428&v=jddDwzA2pq0 ) where he is trying to tell us that Siemens S65 phones are the best ones and Samsung G600 (and not G608, as genuine XStealth) are not good at all. But in the same time he contiune to sell Samsung G600 stealth phones on his website (http://gsminterceptor.co.uk/product/imei-phone/).

It seems to be the most unimaginative, the most tricky and the most ridiculous of all scammers. Not confined only to deceive buyers, he steal from original stealth phones manufacturer (XCell Technologies) all that he find to fit his needs: text content, technical explanations, photos. Everything for deceiving his customers. Here's what we have discovered, to his shame: he stole the soundtrack from one of the XCell Youtube clips (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rtnc-5PdJ7I). Please notice the specific sound of XCell original intro clip, on the video below:

And here is the video that use the soundtrack stolen by Sohail Hussain:

Stealth phone scam on gsminterceptor.co.uk

Based on his habits, we expect from him to steal even the soundtracks from our Youtube clips. But by far, the worst thing is that he steals money by cheating his customers, selling fake products.

The question is: can you trust someone and buy security from him (stealth phones, etc.), can you put your calls confidentiality in the hands of somebody that lends itself to such petty theft? Of course not. Our advice: avoid shopping from gsminterceptor.co.uk, and anything that is relate to fix.mobile.to.work and jdmobileunlockservice. If you are in doubt, please contact us.

Seems like his customers start to complain about product that he sell: http://forum.gsmhosting.com/vbb/f88/siemens-s65-imei-change-331494/

5 (location: Birmingham UK)

Name: Chow
Current Status: online shop scam (anti-interceptor.com), online classifieds scammer
Fraud: selling fake stealth phones
Assigned Location: Birmingham, UK
Address Information: Birmingham City Centre, West Midlands, UK
Additional Info: anti-interceptor.com, big-boyz-toyz, [email protected]

Stealtth phones scam on anti-interceptor.com

Stealth phones scam on anti-interceptor.com

Looks like some anti-interceptor.com buyers has finally figured out that the fake phones sold by this scammer does not work:

Complaint against anti-interceptor.com fake stealth phones Click here for more info.

6 (location: Thetford, Norfolk, UK)

Name: jaaamm1976 (nickname)
Current Status: eBay scammer, online classifieds scammer
Fraud: selling fake stealth phones
Assigned Location: Thetford, Norfolk, United Kingdom
Address Information: temporarily unavailable
Additional Info: temporarily unavailable

7 (location: Wirral, Merseyside, UK)

Name: mobile.phones.2u (nickname)
Current Status: eBay scammer, online classifieds scammer
Fraud: selling fake stealth phones
Assigned Location: Wirral, Merseyside, UK
Address Information: temporarily unavailable
Additional Info: temporarily unavailable

8 (location: Manchester, UK)

Name: auction2home (eBay nickname)
Current Status: eBay scammer, online classifieds scammer
Fraud: selling fake stealth phones
Assigned Location: Manchester, UK
Address Information: temporarily unavailable
Additional Info: temporarily unavailable

9 (location: Monaco, Monaco)

Name: Vittorio Ossola aka Luca (on italian forums) or Cryptone (on forum.gsmhosting.com)
Current Status: eBay scammer, online classifieds scammer, online shop scam
Fraud: selling fake stealth phones
Assigned Location: Monaco, Monaco
Address Information: temporarily unavailable
Additional Info: www.secretgsm.com, antitap.com, imeichanger.com, Bergamo, Lodi, Swiss.

Stealth phones scam on secretgsm.com

More blog entries about the scams on antitap.com, imeichanger.com and gsmsecret.com:

1. Another seller, busted: fake stealth phones for sale 
2. Anonymous SIM card scam  
   
3. The truth about antitap.com, imeichanger.com and secretgsm.com

10 (location: Ural, Krasnoyarskiy Kray, Russian Federation)

Name: Vasili Loginov
Current Status: online classifieds scammer
Fraud: selling fake stealth phones
Assigned Location: Ural, Russian Federation.
Address Information: Ural, Krasnoyarskiy Kray, Russian Federation
Additional Info: temporarily unavailable

11 (location: Monaco, Italy)

Name: Vittorio Ossola aka Luca (on italian forums) or Cryptone (on forum.gsmhosting.com)
Current Status: eBay scammer, online classifieds scammer, online shop scam
Fraud: selling fake stealth phones
Assigned Location: Monaco, Monaco
Address Information: temporarily unavailable
Additional Info: www.secretgsm.com, antitap.com, imeichanger.com, Bergamo, Lodi, Swiss.
He own www.secretgsm.com, antitap.com, imeichanger.com

Stealth phones scam on antitap.com

We have found a funny marketing strategy used by this particular scammer. Back in 2013, on a strange promotion on his eBay page, Mr. Ossola Vittorio (aka agte062010 or cryptphone - few of his eBay accounts) has offering a funny bundle: a fake stealth phone, a doggy anonymous SIM card and... a t-shirt. We wonder what was the text on the shirt? "I'm cool because I can not be intercepted?" attracting this way the law enforcement agencies attention?
Please notice that we have already warn you about this particular scammer, a while ago. Please read here.

Stealth phones scam on eBay, by antitap.com

This is what we have found on the Internet, by searching data about imeichanger.com:

Stealth phones scam on imeichanger.com

More blog entries about the scams on antitap.com, imeichanger.com and gsmsecret.com:

1. Another seller, busted: fake stealth phones for sale 
2. Anonymous SIM card scam  
   
3. The truth about antitap.com, imeichanger.com and secretgsm.com

12 (location: Czech Republic)

Name: SHX Trading S.R.O.
Current Status: Alibaba.com scammer, online shop scam
Fraud: selling counterfeit stealth phones
Assigned Location: Czech Republic
Address Information: Svatoslavova 17, Praha 4, Czech Republic
Additional Info: http://stealthtronic.com, http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Stealth-Mobile-untraceable-cell-phone-change_170458198.html

Stealth phones scam on stealthtronic.com, by SHX Trading SRO

Stealthtronic.com: stealth phone scam in progress:

Stealth phones scam on Alibaba.om, by Stealthtronic.com

As you can already see, this scammers are using a product picture that is not a Samsung device but a Sony Ericsson, misleading or (better case) confusing their buyers.
On their website, they pretend to "manufactures variety of security and surveillance products", which in fact are not made or at least assembled in Czech Republic.
A brief look at the products list sold on website, will clarify that all products are manufactured by Chinese companies, and not by SHX Trading SRO. When it comes to security products, misleading customers is a practice not only wrong, but also reprehensible.

13 (location: Philippines)

Name: AUDIO VIDEO INTELLIGENCE CORPORATION. (AVI)
Current Status: Alibaba.com scammer, online shop scam
Fraud: selling counterfeit stealth phones
Assigned Location: Manila, Philippines
Address Information: 61 WEST CAPITOL DR. PASIG METRO MANILA
Additional Info: http://bobster.fm.alibaba.com/

Audio video intelligence corporation stealth phones scam, on Alibaba.com

14 (location: Lithuania)

Name: danielius2010 (eBay account)
Current Status: eBay scammer
Fraud: selling fake stealth phone firmware
Assigned Location: Lithuania
Address Information: temporarily unavailable
Additional Info: eBay account

eBay scammer danielius2010, selling fake Samsung stealth firmware

15 (location: United Kingdom)

Name: swetroop (eBay account)
Current Status: eBay scammer
Fraud: selling fake stealth phone firmware
Assigned Location: London, UK
Address Information: temporarily unavailable
Additional Info: eBay account

eBay scammer swetroop, selling counterfeit Samsung G600 stealth phones

16 (location: Taiwan ROC)

Name: OneTech International Co. LTD (website)
Current Status: online scammer
Fraud: selling fake stealth phone firmware
Assigned Location: Taiwan, ROC
Address Information: 15F - 7, No.3, Lane 226, Sec 2 of Round West Road , Chungli City, Taoyuan County
Additional Info: selling also illegal software as spy phone generator software

OneTech International Co. Taiwan, selling counterfeit stealth phones

OneTech International Co. Taiwan, using stolen images and text from x-cellular.com

Located in Taiwan ROC, the scam company is selling counterfeit stealth phones on www.onetech.com.tw
Pretending to be a "Worldwide business experience you can trust", this company is selling fake stealth phones, using on the website stolen text and pictures from the original manufacturer, XCell Technologies. All other products sold on the website are also questionable. Our recommendation: just avoid this website.

Update 21.10.2015

17 (location: Germany, UK, The Netherlands)

Name:  blackstone-security.jimdo.com
Current Status: online scammer / eBay scammer
Fraud: selling fake stealth phone firmware
Assigned Location: Germany, UK, The Netherlands
Address Information: 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, WC1N 3AX
Additional Info: related to Mainland & Affiliates AG Limited. Selling fake stealth phones on eBay as www-kpex-de

Stealth phone scam on blackstone-security.jimdo.com

A comprehensive approach on stealth phones scam

What other tricks they use?

1. "Updated version" and "v4" trick

Trying to sell an outdated, unstable and cracked version of stealth phone, a few sellers  are using some ridiculous tricks, thinking that they would fool the buyers.

Borrowing random phrases and words from marketing techniques, they try to present their cracked version of stealth phone as an "updated" one. In fact what they sell it is an old cracked and unstable version. Of course, next to the "updated" you will find the current year, to maximize the scam effects.

"Updated version" trick (gsminterceptor.co.uk)

"Updated" trick on antitap.com

The guy behind antitap.com, imeichanger.com and secretgsm.com has "updated" his scam in May 2015, due to XCell Dynamic IMEI v3 new release. Now he sell no more than "v4" stealth phone version, a nonsense with no factual support.

"V4" cheap trick and stealth phones scam on antitap.com

Why this? Well, there is a simple and straight forward explanation: since XCell Technologies has recently released the real v3 Stealth Phone (please see their promo video), the scammer think that by simply claiming that he sell the newest version (v4), he will boost his sales. Since XCell Technologies - the real manufacturer - is clearly showing what the differences are between previous version (v2) an actual version (v3) on their videos (video 1, video 2) and webpage, the scammer is just stating that he sell v4 version. Only words with no facts behind. Not even a few pictures to support false claims. Moreover, he has used the same stolen pictures on phone description (please note that picture shadow used by XCell Technologies). 
Just to have fun on what he will find appropriate to explain in what exactly consist the changes that his "v4" is having you might challenge him to reply to your questions. Because we did and we had a lot of fun.
Read more here.

As a conclusion, what you should be sure is that there is no real "v4" version, but only words, a ridiculous and strange marketing strategy to sell something fake and obsolete.Please note that the only software updates are made available to the general public on the original manufacturer's website (XCell Technologies), on News section. Actual version: 3.0.

Just to have a little bit fun with the scammers, you can try to ask about previous versions, in what exactly consists the current updates and bugs that have been fixed. Being neither programmers nor engineers, you will definitely have fun on their responses, as we did ourselves.

More blog entries about the scams on antitap.com, imeichanger.com and gsmsecret.com:

1. Another seller, busted: fake stealth phones for sale 
2. Anonymous SIM card scam  
   
3. The truth about antitap.com, imeichanger.com and secretgsm.com

2. SMS encryption software trick

These scammers claim that they sell some kind of bundle, a "stealth phone" having installed a software application that encrypts SMS. This is not a lie. But think about it: what to do with just a single phone that has an encryption application installed ?! SMS software encryption apps only works in tandem: first one encrypts and the other one decrypts the ciphertext sent by the first app. It's that simple.You will need at least two phones that use the same software, so that one phone will send an encrypted SMS, and the other one will receive it, will decrypt and it will display the SMS in plain text format. By buying a single phone with a single software application, SMS encryption is absolutely useless.

3. Fake product reviews

Proving a poor knowledge of his own website and confusing the website and blog notions (is having mitigating circumstances, being only a repair shop guy), Mr. Chow (anti-interceptor.com owner) has inserted fake product reviews, as blog entries: many "clients" (no doubt, fake buyers) refers in a funny way to blog and not to the product that they eventually bought, (have fun here). But surprise: on the blog page, instead of a proper blog you will find a product presentation page. So what blog are "clients" talking about? How funny can that be? And how dumb can be? You will appreciate. Obviously it is all a hoax, a scam designed to mislead customers who do not have enough information about stealth phones and especially for those that are looking for cheap prices.
By the way, try to post something. Anything. And check up the result. Have fun.

Fake stealth phones reviews on anti-interceptor.com

4. Why there are no videos certifying that the phone work?

XCell Technologies and their authorized resellers are the only ones who have posted videos demonstrating that the special functions of the phone are working.
Why not these vendors do the same? The answer is simple: the fake stealth phones special functions simply does not work as described. It is not hard to find a SIM card that is intercepted and then make a film. Even for us was pretty easy to do that: you can watch the movie made with an authentic XCell Dynamic IMEI v2 Stealth Phone.

5. Siemens S65/SL75/r32 stealth phone legal issue and other problems

Before talking about Siemens legal issues, we have to talk about the phone capabilities. Assuming (pretty unlikely) that the scammer would sell the original version (by the way, the authentic Siemens S65/SL75 version is developed and sold by Endoacustica at 5000 euro) , here are the necessary observations about this phone:
Supposing that this phone works as described, IMEI change being not reversible is not at all an advantage, as it strives to explain the scammer in several of his Youtube films. Here's why:
From technical point of view, for an GSM Interceptor does not matter whether the phones will change its IMEI temporarily or permanently. Called also IMSI Catcher, for an GSM Interceptor are important only the IMEI and IMSI that are "captured". Depending on captured IMEI and IMSI, the phone calls will be intercepted. An GSM Interceptor does not care whether an IMEI is or is not reversible. Simple as that.
Obviously, in this case the explanations about interception and how can this be avoided are being served with "professionalism" by a... repair shop guy. Its ridiculous explanations derives from a very low level of technical understanding of the whole interception phenomenon. The risk of giving ridiculous explanations on the subject of which you have no idea, is a pretty big one. Claiming that irreversible IMEI change is crucial throughout interception equation, the repair shop guy does not know that IMEI and IMSI are captured off the air by any GSM Interceptor, no matter if the IMEI is or is not reversible. He probably imagine that GSM Interceptor will somehow knock on the door and will asks the target to show the phone and the associated IMEI. Only in this case (which is obviously impossible), an irreversible IMEI can save the situation. You can easily recognise the wrong approach of a repair shop guy when it comes about cellular interception.
But let's analyze Siemens S65/SL75, the "Untraceable Covert Updated" phone (as the scammer advertise), assuming that it is not a counterfeit one. All this phone can do is to modify its IMEI at every SIM replacement, or after every call or SMS (actually only the scammer claim this, but these functions are not backed by any video whatsoever). Changing IMEI is pretty much what this phone can do. And nothing more. Compared with Siemens S65/SL75, XCell Stealth Phone has several criterias for IMEI change: it can change its IMEI with the one chosen by the user (user defined), or only at the first connection on the network (on reboot), and original IMEI can be restored anytime, which obviously is a major advantage. Of course, XCell Stealth Phone has more useful features, that makes it a true stealth phone: call interception alert, location tracking alerts, channel blocking function (ARFCN) to prevent eavesdropping by silently sliding to a GSM Interceptor, location spoofing function, displaying the TMSI value (a handy test to detect interception), phone calls audio recording and automatically delete calls list.
It’s hard to argue with this facts, claiming that a Siemens phone is a better choice than an XCell Stealth Phone, which is having more special features, is more secure and is simply the best in branch. No doubt, the repair shop guy marketing strategy has failed.
Our advice for this guy is to limit himself to phone unlocking and repairing (which he does it on a daily basis), and let's interception and phone security related issues on specialists account. And especially to stop selling fake stealth mobile phones.

The legal issue

It is illegal to use this change IMEI phone in UK and in most of the EU countries.
Why? Because there is a law saying that you can not modify phones IMEI. And Siemens S65 is not preserving the genuine IMEI as XCell phone does. You cannot restore the original IMEI (as XCell Stealth Phones does), which will put you straight on the other side of the law.

Just have a look what Staffordshire Police says about changing IMEI: this practice is illegal and only the manufacturers are allowed to alter it. We quote from what Police say:

" 1(1) A person commits an offence if:

• he changes a unique device identifier,
• he interferes with the operation of a unique device identifier,
• he offers or agrees to change, or interfere with the operation of, a unique device identifier, or
• he offers or agrees to arrange for another person to change, or interfere with the operation of, a unique device identifier.

2(1) A person commits an offence if:

• he has in his custody or under his control anything which may be used for the purpose of changing or interfering with the operation of a unique device identifier and
• he intends to use the thing unlawfully for that purpose or to allow it to be used unlawfully for that purpose.

2(2) A person commits an offence if:

• he supplies anything which may be used for the purpose of changing or interfering with the operation of a unique device identifier, and
• he knows or believes that the person to whom the thing is supplied intends to use it unlawfully for that purpose or to allow it to be used unlawfully for that purpose.

2(3) A person commits an offence if:

• he offers to supply anything which may be used for the purpose of changing or interfering with the operation of a unique device identifier, and
• he knows or believes that the person to whom the thing is offered intends if it is supplied to him to use it unlawfully for that purpose or to allow it to be used unlawfully for that purpose.

2(4) A unique device identifier is an electronic equipment identifier which is unique to a mobile wireless communications device.

2(5) A thing is used by a person unlawfully for a purpose if in using it for that purpose he commits an offence under section 1."

Please note that using XCell Dynamic IMEI Stealth Phones is perfectly legal since this phones does not change IMEI for good, this process being reversible by "Stay original" IMEI function.

6. What other products are being sold by scammers?

In addition to stealth phones, these scammers sell so-called "encrypted" phones. What are these? Well, these are simple Android phones having installed various software applications (many of them are even free), and which have been encrypted by the seller by a simple and free operation. Encrypting an Android phone is a simple operation that anyone can do without having to pay anything extra. More information here. You can find plenty of free voice and SMS encryption applications by simply visiting Google Play Store. Some examples here. Why pay thousands of euro if you can do it for yourself, for free? Why buy a Blackberry encrypted smartphone (encrypted by other person) and paying a thousand euro, when you can simply use Blackberry Enterprise Service, directly from BlackBerry website?
One more thing: an encrypted cell phone is not at all a stealth phone. Does not have any stealth features, as scammers are trying to convince you, by wrongly using terms as "encrypted stealth phone".

We are going to post a separate thread about anonymous (pre-paid) SIM card scam.

7. No customer service, no technical support, no after sales support, no product guarantee, no user manual

It's a kind of hit and run business. These scammers have no theoretical or practical knowledge about methods, ways and means of cellular interception, nor the principles of a GSM network. Most of them are simple repair shop guys, they only know about phone unlocking, firmware flashing, minor repairs, parts replacement, and that's pretty much all they know. Try to ask them about how the cellular interception work and how stealth phones that they sell, detects interception. You will be amused by the replies coming from them, if you will be lucky enough to get a reply. You may ask them about how location spoofing work (Channel lock function). Being a sensitive topic, XCell Technologies didn't make public this information which is available only for those who bought an XCell Stealth Phone. For this reason the customer service that scammers should deliver to the buyers, is nonexistent. Also, there is no user manual, nu support for any customer questions. Nothing else but lies or silence.

Because of scammers lack of knowledge regarding cellular interception techniques, we have discovered a funny fact: both scammers ( Sohail Hussain - gsminterceptor.co.uk and Vittorio Ossola - antitap.com) has copied one from another the description of the product they sell, or (most likely) both of them has copied the text content from the original manufacturer's website, XCell Technologies. Have a look on pictures below.

Copied text on both scammers website