How to Tell if You Have a Fake Phone. According to statistics, every fifth smartphone sold around the world is a fake copy made in China. The most popular brands to copy are Samsung, iPhone, Nokia/Microsoft, and, since quite recently, Redmi and Xiaomi. The easiest way to protect yourself from buying a fake phone is to purchase it from an official retailer. If you still want to take a chance and save some money by purchasing your next smartphone from a smaller shop, an online shop, or from someone else, you have to be super careful. As long as you know a few tricks, you wont have to live with a phone clone! Date: 2022-04-19