TAC Phone Number And Digital Forensics

The Meaning of TAC Phone Number

What’s TAC Phone Number?

The TAC number, short for Type Allocation Code, is a standardized identifier used in mobile telecommunications. It consists of the first eight digits of the 15-digit IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) or 16-digit IMEISV code. This code plays a key role in identifying the manufacturer and model of a wireless device.

According to Wikipedia, “The Type Allocation Code (TAC) is the initial eight-digit portion of the 15-digit IMEI and 16-digit IMEISV codes used to uniquely identify wireless devices.”

The TAC ensures that each mobile device can be accurately recognized across networks and databases, making it a critical component for network management, device authentication, and digital forensics.

How to Read TAC Phone Number?

The Type Allocation Code (TAC) is the first 8 digits of the 15-digit IMEI or 16-digit IMEISV number.

Here’s how to break it down:

• Locate the IMEI/IMEISV number
  You can typically find the IMEI on the device box, under the battery, or by dialing *#06#on the device.
• ·Extract the first 8 digits
  These digits represent the TAC. For example, if your IMEI is 356938035643809, then 35693803 is the TAC.
• ·Interpret the TAC
  The TAC itself does not explicitly show the brand/model, but it can be matched against a TAC database (maintained by GSMA or law enforcement) to identify the device make and model.

TAC Phone Number in Digital Forensics

In the context of digital forensics, the TAC phone number serves as a crucial identifier that aids investigators in profiling mobile devices involved in an investigation. Since the Type Allocation Code (TAC) reveals the manufacturer and model of a phone, it helps experts link devices to specific activities, users, or networks. This becomes particularly valuable when the device lacks other metadata or when investigators need to verify the authenticity of a device.

Forensic tools can extract the TAC from a seized device’s IMEI and cross-reference it with known TAC databases to uncover patterns, trace device origins, or identify counterfeit hardware. This process supports tasks such as detecting cloned devices, mapping the distribution of specific device types in criminal networks, or corroborating timeline and location data.

In short, the TAC phone number is a foundational element in mobile forensics workflows, offering insight into device identity even when data is sparse or deleted.

The role of TAC phone number

The Type Allocation Code (TAC) plays a valuable role in mobile device forensics. Here are several practical applications of TAC numbers in digital forensic investigations:

• Device Identification
  TAC identifies the manufacturer and modelof a mobile device by extracting the first 8 digits of the IMEI. This helps investigators quickly recognize the type of device involved, even if it has been tampered with or lacks visible branding.
• Source Attribution & Traceability
  By linking TAC to known manufacturing data, forensics experts can trace the originof a device, which is useful when mapping its supply chain or identifying stolen goods.
• Detection of Counterfeit or Illegally Altered Devices
  TAC codes help spot cloned or black-market phones, which often use fake or invalid TAC numbers that don’t match known manufacturer records.
• Cross-Case Correlation
  Forensic teams can match TAC data across multiple cases to identify common device types or distribution patterns, aiding in network analysis or identifying criminal trends.
• Filtering & Prioritization
  In large-scale investigations, TAC allows analysts to filter devices by model or suspected risk level, streamlining case handling and lab processing.

Applications of TAC in Digital Forensics

The Type Allocation Code (TAC) is used in a variety of digital forensics case types due to its ability to identify device make and model. Common use cases include:

• Device Attribution in Criminal Investigations
  Linking a mobile device found at a crime scene to a suspect based on its TAC data.
• Combating Fraud and Telecom Abuse
  Identifying phones commonly used in SIM box fraud, phishing schemes, or anonymous call setups.
• Tracing Illicit Device Supply Chains
  Detecting patterns in TAC numbers across seized devices can help map out black market device distribution.
• Cross-border Cybercrime Investigations
  Associating TAC data with origin countries or regions to assist in international cooperation and intelligence sharing.
• Uncovering Device Spoofing or Cloning
  Comparing IMEI-TAC patterns can help detect cloned or spoofed devices used in cybercrime or impersonation cases.

These use cases highlight how TAC data supports attribution, pattern analysis, and source tracing in forensic contexts.