Techniques for secure mobile device recognition are disclosed. An IOT edge device determines, based on a network message received at the IOT edge device, that a mobile device is not recognized. The IOT edge device transmits a token request to the mobile device. In response, the IOT edge device receives an encrypted token from the mobile device. The IOT edge device transmits the encrypted token to a server. The server is configured to determine an identifier corresponding with the mobile device, based on the encrypted token. A recognition task is initiated for the mobile device, based on the determined identifier.