IDENTIFYING AN ILLEGITIMATE BASE STATION BASED ON IMPROPER RESPONSE

Various embodiments include methods, components and wireless devices configured to identify illegitimate base station. The processor of the wireless device may determine that a device in communication with the wireless device is a suspect base station. The processor may send a fabricated message to the device, and may receive one or more response messages from the device. The processor may determine whether one or more of the response messages received from the device is an appropriate response or an inappropriate response to the fabricated message. In response to determining that a response message is an inappropriate response, the processor may determine that the device is an illegitimate base station. In response to determining that the device is an illegitimate base station, the wireless device may perform a protective action.