How to Check if Phone is Original or Fake in Ghana (5 Proven Ways)
By Prince Royal Tech, Phone Repairs & Website Design, Kumasi | WhatsApp: 0597882757 | 2026 Guide
Last week, a man came to our shop at Kejetia with iPhone 14 Pro Max he bought at 1800 GHS at Adum. He was happy until we checked - it was FAKE! Original iPhone 14 Pro Max is 8500 GHS minimum in Ghana. He lost 1800 GHS.
Every day in Kumasi, Accra, many people buy fake phones because they don't know how to check. Today I will show you 5 easy ways to know original vs fake phone in Ghana.
1. Check IMEI Number (Most Important)
Every original phone has unique IMEI number like human fingerprint.
How to check:
- Dial *#06# on the phone. IMEI will show (15 digits). Write it.
- Go to imei.info on Google, enter IMEI.
- If it shows same model (e.g., Samsung A54) as phone, it's original. If it shows different model or "Invalid IMEI", it's FAKE.
- Also check IMEI on box - must match phone IMEI. If box IMEI different from phone IMEI, it's refurbished or fake.
Bonus: On iPhone, go to Settings > General > About - IMEI must match *#06#.
2. Check Price - Too Cheap = Fake
Real 2026 Prices in Ghana (Original):
| Phone | Original Price Ghana | Fake Price (Scam) |
|---|
| iPhone 13 | 6000 - 7000 GHS | 1500 - 2500 GHS |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | 8500 - 11000 GHS | 1800 - 3000 GHS |
| Samsung S23 Ultra | 9000 - 11000 GHS | 2000 - 3500 GHS |
| Infinix Hot 30 | 1500 - 1800 GHS | 600 - 900 GHS |
If someone sells you iPhone 14 Pro Max for 2000 GHS, RUN! It's fake.
3. Check Box, Accessories & Build Quality
Original Phone Box:
- Printing is sharp, not blurry
- Box has IMEI, serial number, barcode that matches phone
- Charger is heavy and quality. Fake charger is light, cheap plastic
- Original iPhone doesn't have charger in box again, but has quality cable. Fake iPhone includes heavy fake charger.
- Check font - Fake box uses different font, spelling mistakes like "Applle" instead of "Apple"
Phone Body: Original screen is bright, sharp. Fake screen is dull, yellowish. Original phone camera takes clear photo, fake camera takes blurry. Try opening heavy game - original won't lag, fake will lag.
4. Check Software & Features
- Dial *#0*# on Samsung: If it's original Samsung, secret testing menu appears. Fake won't show.
- iPhone - Check Apple Store: Open App Store, try downloading app. Fake iPhone (Android pretending) will open Play Store, not App Store.
- Check Storage: Go to Settings > Storage. Fake phone shows fake storage (e.g., shows 256GB but real is 16GB). Install app "CPU-Z" from Play Store - it shows REAL specs.
- Check Google Account: Fake phones often don't have Google certification. Go to Settings > About Phone > Google Play certification - must say "Certified".
5. Buy from Trusted Seller in Kumasi
Best way to avoid fake is buy from trusted shop that gives receipt and warranty.
At Prince Royal Tech, Kumasi we help you check phone for FREE before you buy. Just bring phone to our shop or WhatsApp us IMEI.
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