By The AsiaOne Techbot

Will dialling a secret code on your mobile phone bring up a special serial number that allows you to track and reclaim  your phone in the event that it gets stolen?

The world of mobile phones is abound with rumours. If you've heard of the one about pressing a secret key to unlock extra battery power, you'll probably know that lots of so-called 'secret codes' out there are simply no dice.

So will pressing *#06# on your mobile phone keypad unlock any of your phone's hidden magical powers? In this case, the answer is a surprising yes, and a no.

Keying *#06# on a mobile phone will allow users to see the device's 15-digit International Mobile Equipment Identity, or IMEI number.

But this code isn't really secret - for most phones, it's also printed on the inside of the handset underneath the battery or found on the warranty card.

That said, the IMEI number isn't going to do wonders, but it might increase your chance of getting your phone back, though it isn't a guarantee.

In Singapore, users can access the Singapore Police Force's HITS (Handphone IMEI Tracing System) website to check if their mobile handset is recorded by the police as stolen device.

The free service will check a user's phone IMEI number against its database, and phone owners who learn through the site that their phones are stolen can then make a police report.

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