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It is a system that holds a database of handphone IMEI numbers that have been reported stolen or lost. This system allows the public to verify if the handphone they intend to purchase has been reported stolen or lost.

IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identification. It is a series of 15 or 17 digit unique identification number assigned to each handphone.

The handphone’s warranty card will have a record of the handphone’s IMEI number. Alternatively, you can key *#06# on the handphone keypad for the IMEI number. It is a series of 15 or 17 numerical digits.

Screening the IMEI number before purchasing a secondhand handphone will safeguard the buyer against the purchase of handphones that are reported stolen or lost, which may constitute an offence of “Dishonestly Receiving Stolen Property” punishable under Section 411 of the Penal Code or “Dishonest Misappropriation of Property” punishable under Section 403 of the Penal Code.

Members of public can perform a screening with HITS using the Internet or Short-Message-Service (SMS) interfaces. Essentially, two modes of screening are made available to members of public.

The Internet screening is accessible by clicking on the applicable hyperlink to Handphone IMEI Tracing System (HITS) via SPF Website URL http://www.spf.gov.sg/epc/index.htm You are required to fill in the mandatory fields such as name, NRIC/FIN or Passport Number, and your contact number (either handphone or residential number). You are also required to indicate whether you are the owner of the handphone. If you are not the owner of the handphone you wish to screen, you are required to fill in the handphone owner’s NRIC/FIN or Passport Number. No password is required.

To perform a screening via SMS, you will have to send the following SMS text message to “74688”:

a) For Singaporean / PR / Employment Pass / Work Permit Holders

SPFHITS <space> Handphone Owner’s NRIC_no <space> IMEI_no

Or

b) For Others

SPFHITS <space>Handphone Owner’s Identity_no <space> O <space> IMEI_no

For screenings performed via the Internet, all costs will be borne by SPF.
For screenings performed via SMS, you will have to pay the normal SMS charges imposed by your Telco.

For all screenings performed via the Internet and SMS interfaces, the system will check the IMEI number against the IMEI database and display a result of “WANTED” or “NO RECORD FOUND”.

A “WANTED" status means that the IMEI number has been reported stolen or lost to the Police and you are advised to proceed to any Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) or Neighbourhood Police Post (NPP) to lodge a police report immediately.

It means that the IMEI number which you have screened has been reported stolen or lost to the Police.

As it is an offence to retain a property that has been reported stolen or lost, you should proceed to any Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) or Neighbourhood Police Post (NPP) to lodge a police report immediately.

For screenings performed via the Internet, you can screen up to four IMEI numbers for one screening request. If you would like to screen for more than four IMEI numbers, just click on the button “Perform Another Screening” at the end of each screening request.

For screenings performed via SMS, you can only screen one IMEI number at a time.

For every IMEI number screening performed via the Internet and SMS, a screening reference number will be generated.

The screening reference number can be used by members of public to make reference to a particular IMEI number screening previously performed.

For any enquiry, please call any NPC or NPP for assistance. Alternatively, you can email your enquiry to “SPF_OPS_HITS@spf.gov.sg”.