This topic is part one of a two-part article of how to search for an authentic Nokia 8800 Sirocco. The second part has pictures for illustrations and comparisons. Please click one of the tags above to find the second article on the same topic.
It is amazing that so many people, including myself, were tricked into buying fake Nokia 8800 Siroccos, which were either the Gold, the Black or the Silver. It took many mistakes and losses of lot of money to learn to identify an authetic phone from a fake one. Understanding that many of you don’t have benefits of having both authentic and fake Siroccos in hand to compare to see which is which, below are tips to distinguish an authentic Sirocco from a fake or Chinese version one.
An authentic Sirocco will have its model 8800 end with a letter “d”. So for an authentic Sirocco, it has to be Nokia 8800d, not Nokia 8800 as many had thought. The model Nokia 8800d must be listed outside box and inside the battery compartment, and the IMEI # must match both outside of box and inside the battery compartment.
The authentic Nokia 8800d were made in Germany, Korea, and by Nokia. If by “Made by Nokia” the phone company may imply that it is equivalent to “Made in Finland”, then it is so. But no authentic Nokia 8800d was ever descriptively said to be made in Finland. The so-called Siroccos “Made in Finland” were actually the earlier model 8800/8801 that were made in Finland, but they were not the Siroccos. Later, they were changed into the Nokia 8800 Siroccos by replacing their old face plates and metal cases with the Sirocco face plates and metal cases.
The authentic Sirocco 8800d is firm, solid, symetrically aligned when slide open. It is a little heavier because the metal case is thicker. The 8800d metal back case is easy to slide open. The Chinese 8800 version is flimsy, sometimes crooked when slide open. Sometimes it is lighter because the metal case is thinner.  The back case is somewhat difficult to open.
Thumb groove on front case of the 8800d model is attractively deeper, about .75″. Thumb groove of the 8800 Chinese version is unattractively shallow.
Authentic 8800d has 128 MB internal memory. Its camera has 2 MB pixels. The Chinese version has either 64 or 128 MB listed. Its camera has less than 1.2 MB pixels. Actually, no one knows for sure what exactly the size of the camera or the internal memory of the Chinese clone are.
The authentic Black or Silver Sirocco comes in a box that has a thick metal clasp.  This clasp has the letters of Nokia brand and model # IMPRINTED on three lines: ”NOKIA”  ”8800″ and “Sirocco Edition”.  Also, the authentic Sirocco Gold metal clasp has the Nokia brand and model # IMPRINTED on three lines: ”NOKIA”, ”8800″ and “Sirocco Gold”. The authentic metal clasp is thick and heavy.Â
The Chinese version comes in a box with the letters of Nokia brand and model # printed (not imprinted) on three lines: “Nokia”, ”8800″ and “Sirocco”. The fake metal clasp is thin and light. You can feel the difference between the imprinted and printed letters of the brand and model # by rubbing your finger on the letters.Â
The authentic Sirocco comes with an original CD software that has labels impressed on the surface of the CD.  Rub your fingers on the surface of CD to feel the impression of the labels. Fake CD has copied labels. They are flat.
Authentic Sirocco comes with a CD soflware and several booklets/manuals that have bright and sharp colors of orange, brown, and black. Fake one has colors that are rainy and faded, because it is a copy. Manuals of the authentic phone are printed on high quality papers. Chinese version is printed on cheap paper.
Authentic Sirocco comes with a European wall charger in a square shape and a posible adapter if sold in Europe. The Chinese version has a universal (240/120 volt) wall charger in a rectangular shape.
Authentic Nokia 8800d has firmware listed as RM-165. Press *#0000#, the firmware RM-165 will show on screen. Fake Chinese phone sometimes has firmware listed as RM-07, or RM-13. These numbers of firmware are the earlier versions of Nokia 8801.
Authentic Sirocco has IMEI # listed outside box and inside battery compartment. Enter *#06# to get the IMEI # shown on screen. Take this number and check with Nokia.com if you are Nokia Club member. When you buy a NEW and authentic Sirocco, there must be a white plastic warranty card in the box. There will be instruction to register the warranty of your phone. The Chinese version has none of this.
Authentic Sirocco comes with a thick paper box with a 3D hologram seal on the front flap. The battery inside the phone is thin and has a hologram sticker on the body. The Chinese version has no hologram seal. Their fake battery has no hologram sticker and is somewhat thicker which may break the two battery pins inside the phone if pressed carelessly into the battery compartment.  The two things they cannot imitate the battery are the thinness of original battery which fits perfectly in the battery compartment, and the reproduction of the 3D hologram seal which is one of the exclusive features of Nokia manufacturer.
Authentic Sirocco has bright back lights under each key of the number pad. The phone has soft clicks for all the keys and the on/off button. Chinese fake phone sometimes does not have soft clicks for all the keys. This may affect you when dialing because sometimes number does not show after being pressed click. Its back lights under the key number pad are not even. It may affect you when dialing in the dark.
Your may not distinguish an authentic Nokia 8800d right away. But you can spot a fake one almost immediately. Here are the things you need to remember:Â
If the phone is NOT listed as Nokia 8800d, either outside box and in the battery compartment, it is a fake. Keep in mind that the Chinese version can fake the model Nokia 8800d too.
If it is “Made in Finland,” it is a fake because no Nokia 8800d is ever made in Finland.
If the metal clasp says: ”NOKIA 8800 Sirocco,” it is a fake. (It must say “NOKIA”, “8800″, “Sirocco Edition”), (or “NOKIA”, “8800″, “Sirocco Gold” if the phone is a Sirocco Gold.)Â
Even if your metal clasp has these correct words: NOKIA, 8800, Sirocco Edition, these words must be imprinted (or impressed) on the metal clasp to be autheticated. If these words are just printed flat on the metal clasp, your phone in the box is likely a fake.Â
If your box carries a Chinese universal (120/240 volt) wall charger in the rectangular shape, chances are your phone is fake. Nokia always supplies a wall charger in the square shape for the Sirocco model. You will see a plug adapter included if your phone is sold in Europe.
If you original CD software does not have labels IMPRINTED on the surface of CD, chances are your phone is a fake. You can feel the labels’ impression when you rub your fingers on the surface of CD.
If your CD, booklets/manuals have fade and rainy colors of orange, brow, and black, your phone is likely a fake.
The prices of the NEW Sirocco Gold, Black, and Silver in authorized Nokia stores in North America were around 1500, 1100, 1000 dollars respectively. The Gold Siroccos have become collectors’ items because of the limited production. There are no more new Sirocco Gold out there on the market. If you buy a new Gold Sirocco in the price range of 300-700, it is a fake.
If your phone is shipped from China, it is likely a fake.
If your Sirocco Gold comes in a Gold box, it is likely a fake, since Sirocco Gold comes in a black box that sometimes has a velvet tray.
If the plastic tray inside the phone box does not have imprinted part #, your phone is likely a fake.
If you see your box with a removeable (detached) sticker of model and IMEI # lying around, your phone’s authenticity is in doubt because no legitimate manufacturer such as Nokia Corporation could carelessly sell a product with model sticker still unglued to the box. (I have seen a (fake) Sirocco box with the model sticker glued upside down. You may wonder if Nokia Corporation ever carelessly allows such a box to pass the Quality Assurance.)
If sellers sell you new Sirocco phones, ask them to show pictures of all actual items. Please do not rely on stock photos. Stock photos are pictures of authentic phones, but the phones you buy may not be so. If sellers are not willing or unable to show you actual pictures, chances are that your phones come from China. Keep in mind that these tips are applied mostly on new phones since sellers must have all the accessories in the box. When sellers sell used phones, accessories are missing. Then, it will be difficult to determine its authenticity.
(Please read the second part to see pictures for illustrations.)
Hope these tips help all of you who love to possess Sirocco phones.