01Immediate red flags
Stop immediately if any of these apply. The device should be treated as compromised.
- A recovery phrase came pre-printed or pre-filled in the box. Genuine devices always generate a new phrase on the device itself.
- The device was already set up, or asks for a PIN you were “given”.
- Any instructions telling you to type your phrase into a website, app, or form.
- The manufacturer’s authenticity / attestation check fails.
02Weigh it
Added boards, cellular modems, SIM/eSIM modules and their antennas all add mass. Use a jewelry scale accurate to 0.01 g.
- Calibrate or zero the scale, then weigh the bare device (no cable, no lanyard) at least three times.
- Compare with the reference data for your exact model.
- Photograph the device on the scale with the reading visible.
03Inspect the exterior
- Seams that are uneven, gapped, scratched, or show glue residue.
- Screws with tool marks, or screws where the genuine model has none.
- Ports that look loose, misaligned, or re-seated.
- Fonts, logos, colors and button feel that don’t match official product photos.
- Shrink-wrap or tamper seals that look reapplied. Some manufacturers don’t use seals at all, so check what yours should have.
04Check how it connects
Look at what appears when you plug it in. Unexpected extra devices such as a modem, network adapter, or storage are a serious warning sign.
macOS
System Information → USBWindows
Device ManagerLinux
lsusb -vAlso notice whether the device gets warm or draws more power than expected while idle.
05If you open it
Opening a device usually voids the warranty and may make it unusable, so only do it if you’ve already decided not to trust it.
- Photograph both sides of every board in sharp, even light.
- Compare with teardown photos of known-good units.
- Look for extra chips, small daughterboards, SIM holders or eSIM chips, flex antennas, or hand-soldered wires.
06Buy safely
- Buy directly from the manufacturer or a reseller they list as authorized.
- Avoid marketplace listings below retail, used devices, and “gifts” from strangers.
- Always generate a brand-new recovery phrase on the device itself.
07Posting here safely
- Never post your recovery phrase, PIN, or passphrase. Nobody here needs them. Text that looks like a recovery phrase is rejected automatically.
- Photo metadata, including GPS location, is stripped automatically.
- You can delete your own submission from the same browser you used to post it.
- Everyone here is anonymous. Only comments with a moderator badge come from this site, and no manufacturer staff post here. Ignore anyone who asks you to “verify” your phrase.