[Q] Buying an Android Phone off Someone... - General Questions and Answers

Hello,
I'm looking to buy an Android phone off of someone in my local area and need some questions answered before I go any further. I don't know what phone I want yet, but I'm just worried as to if the phone is going to be stolen or not. Because I don't want it to be registered stolen and locked from the carrier few days later or something. Is there anyway I can prevent this from happening? I called Wind Mobile (That's what I'm planning to get either the phone fully unlocked or at least locked to Wind Mobile) and asked if they can see if the phone is stolen using the IMEI number, and they told me no. Which is odd because I did some research and some suggest to call the original carrier with the IMEI number to see if it's registered stolen. But since that's out of the picture. Is there any other way I can see if the phone is stolen? I'm thinking ask for a receipt of purchase of some kind, but do receipts show the serial number or something to show that it is that specific phone that was bought? Some people are also saying they have Unbranded phones which I know means that it is straight from a manufacturer to the public. So does that mean it is unlocked to all carriers? Is there still an original carrier? And can it still be registered as stolen to the company and remotely locked? I know even unlocked phones can still be registered stolen to the original carrier it was once locked to, but don't know about unbranded since there was no carrier in the beginning. (To my knowledge) Thanks for the help. Sorry for the long post, just need these questions off my back.

A proof if purchase would probably work, and also look at when the device was registered to make sure the receipt isn't forged
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using XDA Premium HD app

Related

[Q]

i have recently had my mobile phone stolen, galaxy s3 i9300, upon completion of the form for insurance for the insurance company asked for proof of handset, blocking and imei code and a few other details, which i got from o2.
however when i got the form my phone was listed on there website as a galaxy i8300, however the imei code on the phone matches the box and from a few website searches on imei info
the website clearly shows i own a white galaxy s3, but o2 will not accept this and categorically say that i was using the i8300.
i have never owned this phone in my life and know nobody with this handset and the dates all match to when i bought the phone sim free in london samsung Westfield and entered the sim, the only thing is the model number, and until corrected the insurance will not pay out.
can anyone please advise
Galaxy phones are all i9xxx models. Someone is being corrupt.
Try your Google play store account and download the app Plan B by Lookout Security. If you're lucky and the thief didn't reset the phone, the app will track it for you.
Sent from my U8150 using XDA
hi mate thanx for the reply, sorry that was my mistake writing galaxy for the mistaken phone, i wrote thhis late at night lol
so basically the phone i owned was sgs3. imei code.********* anyhow the phone company told me .
yes mr lee we have blocked ur phone, imei; *********** then they told me the imei in question belongs to a samsung i8300 (My mistake before in calling galaxy i8300), but they have provided me with the usage dates, being from the 28th may-7th june, the exact time i had my sim in the sgs3 but they insist my sim was in a i8300, i have provided a receipt for them listing the imei and my sim free sgs3 but o2 will not accept this, i dont understand,
i hope i made a bit more sense this time,
thanks in advance
ALWAYS INCLUDE A DESCRIPTIVE THREAD TITLE
Samsung phones come with model numbers i9xxx if it's a galaxy,as in,i9000,i9100,i9103, i9200,i9300 so for them to deny replacing you the phone based on it saying i8300 (this is obviously their error,the 9 is a constant) on their computers is ludicrous, considering you have a valid receipt of purchase and proper insurance, outright fraud! I suggest you insist on dealing with someone else next time your there.
Did you try the app?
Sent from my U8150 using XDA

[Q] Help please!

hello,i'm a new member here and this is my first post.Since my Galaxy ace broke i'm looking to find a new phone and i think i'm going with the desire s.I found this guy on ebay who sells his used desire s as faulty and claims it can't make or receive calls inside the u.k but after i asked him he said that it will work ok outside the u.k.Is that possible or is he lying.I really need some help on whether i should or shouldn't buy this phone.Thank you in advance and sorry for my english!
Well you can try to ask the guy where, more precisely, the problem comes from...
If it's a hardware issue (antenna?), i don't think the phone will be able to receive or send calls, neither in the UK, nor anywhere else. On the other hand, if it's a ROM / settings / software issue, it will probably be possible to fix it by installing a new ROM...
However if you need to change your phone, it's just my opinion but I'd rather go to a more recent model like the One S or One X... Not the same price though I agree.
Hope this helps
It could be the stolen phone and blocked by networks in the uk
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda premium
try flashing the newest Radio Image.
Flashing a new radio won't do a thing if the phone is registered as lost or stolen, which is going to be the case unfortunately.
EDIT: If you get the IMEI number from him you can check it at http://www.checkmend.com/uk/ for a small fee.
If it is not getting signal in the UK only then it is because the phone has been lost/stolen and the owner has rang up the network and they have put a block on it
I would say its stolen and the original owner has reported it to there provider who has blocked the phone.
If you buy it you could be buying stolen goods, mrbishi is right get the IMEI number and check it.

T-Mobile Blocked IMEI

Hey everyone, I have seen someone Samsung Galaxy S3's on craigslist for like $300 and their IMEI is blocked. Meaning either stolen, blocked, or the owner didn't pay a bill.
I honestly can care less, I just want to know if T-Mobile blocks an IMEI if I can still use Simple Mobile on it, or I will have to unlock it to use a AT&T or other GSM carrier. My main concern is for Simple Mobile though since it is my current network.
Also, I have heard of changing the IMEI, can anyone provide information about that?
Thanks.
MasterGGM said:
Hey everyone, I have seen someone Samsung Galaxy S3's on craigslist for like $300 and their IMEI is blocked. Meaning either stolen, blocked, or the owner didn't pay a bill.
I honestly can care less, I just want to know if T-Mobile blocks an IMEI if I can still use Simple Mobile on it, or I will have to unlock it to use a AT&T or other GSM carrier. My main concern is for Simple Mobile though since it is my current network.
Also, I have heard of changing the IMEI, can anyone provide information about that?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would get the ESN and call to see if they would activate it. That's what we used to do when I sold cell phone years ago.
The imei is the gsm equivalent of esn. Anyway, call them before you buy, and simple mobile is a T-Mobile subsidiary so if it's blacklisted on tmo it won't work on simple because the towers refuse to work with you. I say just call tmo and they might help you, but don't tell them you want to use it on simple because they might not.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk 2
No, it won't work on Simple Mobile, because Simple Mobile runs on T-Mobile. You're not allowed to discuss buying phones not owned by the seller. You don't own the phone if you pay the $200 to buy it and then stop paying the bills.
I have purchased CDMA phones on Craigslist for years now. I bought one phone with a bad ESN and learned the most important lesson with regards to buying a cell phone second hand...activate the phone before handing over any cash. If that means taking it to one of these places or meeting the seller at a place that unlocks phones (unless you have a laptop and the means to unlock it yourself prior to purchasing). Also even with the phone not activate it should still call customer service. Verify that the IMEI is good. If a seller acts shady when you tell them you are going to do this...save your gas.
how??
MasterGGM said:
Hey everyone, I have seen someone Samsung Galaxy S3's on craigslist for like $300 and their IMEI is blocked. Meaning either stolen, blocked, or the owner didn't pay a bill.
I honestly can care less, I just want to know if T-Mobile blocks an IMEI if I can still use Simple Mobile on it, or I will have to unlock it to use a AT&T or other GSM carrier. My main concern is for Simple Mobile though since it is my current network.
Also, I have heard of changing the IMEI, can anyone provide information about that?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How can it be blocked when its a gsm? if its stolen you jus pop your sim in it and thats it it still works.
blocked imei i never heard of. can someone please clarify?
intrygue83 said:
How can it be blocked when its a gsm? if its stolen you jus pop your sim in it and thats it it still works.
blocked imei i never heard of. can someone please clarify?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can block an IMEI like you can block an ESN now if the phone is lost, stolen, or has an unpaid balance.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Product F(RED) said:
You can block an IMEI like you can block an ESN now if the phone is lost, stolen, or has an unpaid balance.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a Galaxy S 3 stolen yesterday. There is no way for me to get it back, I can get over that. What I can't get over is someone having my 3 month old phone and being able to use it with no problems.
I contacted T Mobile on 3 separate occasions to see if they could block the IMEI number because I have the original packaging. I was told from 3 different account specialists that T Mobile CANNOT block the IMEI. Whoever stole my phone just has to pop in a new sim card and the stolen phone will work just fine, and there is nothing I can do about it.
If anyone knows how I can get my stolen phone blocked, I'd love to hear how.
Adam
boda05 said:
I had a Galaxy S 3 stolen yesterday. There is no way for me to get it back, I can get over that. What I can't get over is someone having my 3 month old phone and being able to use it with no problems.
I contacted T Mobile on 3 separate occasions to see if they could block the IMEI number because I have the original packaging. I was told from 3 different account specialists that T Mobile CANNOT block the IMEI. Whoever stole my phone just has to pop in a new sim card and the stolen phone will work just fine, and there is nothing I can do about it.
If anyone knows how I can get my stolen phone blocked, I'd love to hear how.
Adam
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Escalate it and tell them you need that phone marked lost or stolen. They do it for non-payment, they can do it for lost or stolen phones.
Product F(RED) said:
Escalate it and tell them you need that phone marked lost or stolen. They do it for non-payment, they can do it for lost or stolen phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much for the reply. On all three occasions I escalated the matter as high as I could. Have you had an IMEI blocked personally by calling T Mobile?
boda05 said:
Thanks so much for the reply. On all three occasions I escalated the matter as high as I could. Have you had an IMEI blocked personally by calling T Mobile?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on Straight Talk AT&T. I've never had experience doing that, but I know it's possible because people have been scammed and end up with lost/stolen/non-payment T-Mobile phones that won't register onto the network.
well..
boda05 said:
Thanks so much for the reply. On all three occasions I escalated the matter as high as I could. Have you had an IMEI blocked personally by calling T Mobile?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry your phone was stolen but doing that is not going to stop anything. If it was password protected then they won't has access to it.
until they bring it to someone like myself who can wipe it and reuse it. Its a GSM so all i have to do is wipe it n pop a new sim in it and wola.
That's just how it is
intrygue83 said:
Sorry your phone was stolen but doing that is not going to stop anything. If it was password protected then they won't has access to it.
until they bring it to someone like myself who can wipe it and reuse it. Its a GSM so all i have to do is wipe it n pop a new sim in it and wola.
That's just how it is
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Product F(RED) said:
I'm on Straight Talk AT&T. I've never had experience doing that, but I know it's possible because people have been scammed and end up with lost/stolen/non-payment T-Mobile phones that won't register onto the network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I've read many stories about people buying a used phone from a person and the imei being blocked. I am just confirming/questioning that this isn't possible (whether it's a recent thing or ever) with T Mobile.
This seems like a good way for stolen phones to be blocked, but what about customers that report their phones stolen to t-mobile and then sell it on craigslist (I know a few people that do this)..the poor sucker that bought the phone will have it activated and by the time T-mobile blacklists the number they are left with a worthless phone.
euklid said:
This seems like a good way for stolen phones to be blocked, but what about customers that report their phones stolen to t-mobile and then sell it on craigslist (I know a few people that do this)..the poor sucker that bought the phone will have it activated and by the time T-mobile blacklists the number they are left with a worthless phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People just neeed to do their research and take precautions. If you don't put in the extra time to figure out how to buy a used phone safely, you're going to be taking a chance - and you get what you get.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda app-develope rs app
Blacklisted
I work for a cell phone buy-back firm. Every since November of last year we have been running into blacklisted imeis. We've got phones coming back because the person who sold us the phone quit paying on a subsidized phone. Considering our agents call people all over the country attempting to buy their used or inactive phones, most people see us as way out. This hasn't been an issue with cdma phones because we can check esn. Two days ago checkesnfree.com added imei blacklisted. But what I don't understand is our audit department can put a live sim card in a blacklisted phone and make a successful test call. But when a customer tries to put it on an account, it can't be done. Can someone explain to me why this is. I understand the calls and text are using a different section of the tower than the data network uses. But any more than that I'm at a loss. Thanks
IMEI blocking is only inner company at the moment. If att black lists an imei it will not work on any carrier that piggy backs att towers. Soon it will become cross company and global.
Wayne Tech S-III
zelendel said:
IMEI blocking is only inner company at the moment. If att black lists an imei it will not work on any carrier that piggy backs att towers. Soon it will become cross company and global.
Wayne Tech S-III
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok every one i have you this solved !!!! ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS UNLOCK THE PHONE BAD ESN/IMEI ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS UNLOCK THE PHONE i have gotten 2 Samsung Galaxy S III and a s4 off ebay with "BAD ESN/IMEI" unlocked them and working fine on simple mobile !!
juggalo818 said:
ok every one i have you this solved !!!! ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS UNLOCK THE PHONE BAD ESN/IMEI ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS UNLOCK THE PHONE i have gotten 2 Samsung Galaxy S III and a s4 off ebay with "BAD ESN/IMEI" unlocked them and working fine on simple mobile !!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How would I unlock it, please share, I have a galaxy s3
Put in a sim from another provider and then search for an unlock code and your done its about $15-$20 normally
Sent from my SGH-T679 using xda app-developers app

[Completed] T-Mobile Blocked my IMEI on used phone

Hi Im new here and needed some clarification regarding an issue with my IMEI on my T mobile Note 2. I bought it used back in June off of a facebook buy and sell group to fix it up and sell it. At the time I bought it, it had a clean IMEI, and the people who sold me the phone told me they were the original owners. a few weeks ago, I again checked the imei, and it was still clean.
Now Im about to sell the phone, but I check one more time and now its blacklisted on T mobile and Metro, but clean on ATT and Verizon according ti imeidata.net. I check tmobiles website and it says its been reported lost. Im going to try to contact the people who sold it to me, and if they wont help me, Ill be contacting Tmobile and Asurion. After doing some research about what else I can do, Ive came up with a few options, but I still need some advice.
1. Sell as is and cut my losses
2. Sell on ebay to someone outside of US
3. Sell for parts
If I sell it to someone outside the country, how do I know it will work wherever the buyer is? I have no intention if screwing anyone over and want to make sure they get what they pay for.
How can I protect myself from this happening in the future? Is there a way to get the IMEI numbers of future phones signed over to my name, even if Im not a customer of that phones carrier?
Also, if imeidata.net says its only blacklisted on Tmobile/metro, can it be used on other American networks?
I really appreciate any help with this. Thanks.
One more thing I forgot to mention...when I bought it, it was running android 4.1.2. I downgraded it to 4.1.1 to unlock it and its still running 4.1.1 incase the unlock procedure didnt work and I need to try again. Not sure if this is relevant to the imei issue but Im just putting it out there.
Hi,
If it's blocked, it's blocked. No one can help you with that legally. Sorry.
Whether it works in other carriers.... I would doubt it. Usually blacklists are across all carriers in North America.
And as far as protecting yourself in the future, you can't really. Buying a used phone is always going to be a gamble. Nothing you can do about that except try to buy from a reputable source or individual.
Good luck!
Thread closed.

Help, Tmobile carrier lock, "invalid imei"

Hello,.
I bought a phone, 8t plus (tmobile version). when i try to check imei status it says invalid imei... it came with a deactivated sim card.
i tried paying three different unlock site services for the t-mobile unlock app. but they keep returning to me saying that they could not find the imei or its invalid.
I'm in a real pinch here, I love this phone, what are my options? is there some way to force unlock it with a different firmware or something like this? maybe you've got a clue why my imei doesn't show up anywhere?
many thanks
If it's bought from eBay, you're SOL - invalid IMEI is invalid IMEI. You will want to refund it and buy the virgin OnePlus 8T to ensure you don't run into problem.
It will be tough to remove the IMEI from the blacklist, as it's usually death sentence for that ID number, not to mention it's illegal to mess with it.
Especially for this reason, I don't buy used phone anymore unless it won't see network service (usually as a Linux hacking plaything), and I mainly buy new phones ever since to guarantee that I don't run into any problems.
Sent from my OnePlus 8T using Tapatalk
it doesnt give any error, through the tmobile unlock app it says "not eligible" which all unlock sites say that's what you want to get..
THEY say that they cant find the imei anywhere and that maybe I gave them invalid imei, but I'm sure I did not... this happened with more than 1 service site. any clues? i don't want to return it unless absolutely neccessary
Alright, double check your IMEI to ensure you don't make any mistake. There are three ways to check the IMEI, of course; 1. dial *#06#, browse into Settings, and go through "About phone", and 2. touch "Network Status" if the IMEI is not shown or 3. reboot your phone into Fastboot and scroll the UEFI Fastboot bootloader option down to "Show barcodes". It's easy to make mistakes with long numbers like IMEI - had to triple check mine before submitting the application for the bootloader unlock token.
Sent from my OnePlus 8T using Tapatalk
I checked, the imei i gave them was the correct one, I wish that was the problem. how can an imei be invalid (not blocked/blacklisted)?isn't there any way to flash something on the phone to sim ulock it? thanks
even services that CHECK if its blacklisted doesnt work with phones IMEI. what is going on here?! thanks
This phone is not blocked—it’s ready to use on the T-Mobile network.
Device Name Not Available
IMEI: *****************
that's what the unlock service site sent me, they said that is the reply they received..
Alright, if you have Straight Talk or maybe a T-Mobile SIM, test it to make sure it's alive.
Sent from my OnePlus 8T using Tapatalk
You have to have it so long before T-Mo will unlock the device.
Three days minimum if I recall. I had mine unlocked in a week after the purchase, and only have unlocked its UEFI bootloader a few days ago once the LineageOS 18 ROM matured just enough for my liking. Otherwise it's a 40 days wait.
Sent from my OnePlus 8T using Tapatalk
Proneous said:
Hello,.
I bought a phone, 8t plus (tmobile version). when i try to check imei status it says invalid imei... it came with a deactivated sim card.
i tried paying three different unlock site services for the t-mobile unlock app. but they keep returning to me saying that they could not find the imei or its invalid.
I'm in a real pinch here, I love this phone, what are my options? is there some way to force unlock it with a different firmware or something like this? maybe you've got a clue why my imei doesn't show up anywhere?
many thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey there!
can you PM me a screen shot of your IMEI, please? I really want to look in this. I have a oneplus 8t. Thanks.
​I am outside of the usa at the moment so the T-Mobile SIM card that came with the phone is unable to activate... I'm starting to wonder if that's the only problem
I have found a rather expensive service provider that has full confidence that he can unlock my phone. Will update you further when I have more details.
Is it safe giving my imei to other forum members? can it be used for malicious activity?
Many thanks.
Alrighty, keep us posted.
Sent from my OnePlus 8T using Tapatalk
try this https://www.oneplus.com/unlock_token
---------- Post added at 10:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:30 AM ----------
Why did you buy a t-mobile phone if you're outside of the usa?
Proneous said:
This phone is not blocked—it’s ready to use on the T-Mobile network.
Device Name Not Available
IMEI: *****************
that's what the unlock service site sent me, they said that is the reply they received..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then use it on TMobile for minimum 3days then unlock it via tforce on facebook or twitter T-Mobile help. But this requires you to have TMobile service. That's the only way you will unlock that phone those unlocking site aren't connected to get the 8t from T-Mobile unlocked that's mainly for samsung devices trust me I run a repair shop and use the unlocking sites. If you can't get TMobile service then you best bet is to return the device if you can't return your SOL until a simunlock bypass come
I'm not from the USA . Anyone got suggestion how to get it activated ? Thanks
Hey friends!
i've promised to update as it unfolds, day before I was supposed to return phone I got it unlocked by a vendor claiming he is working with T-Mobile directly or something like this, and said he can do it although not cheaply.
That guy had a handful of troubles to deal with me as I put him on a timeline, and not only that, bombarded him with conflicting messages before I decided to actually use his service. he was extremely polite and understanding.
may I recommend an ebay vendor here? if yes I will put a link to his store.
thanks!
Proneous said:
Hey friends!
i've promised to update as it unfolds, day before I was supposed to return phone I got it unlocked by a vendor claiming he is working with T-Mobile directly or something like this, and said he can do it although not cheaply.
That guy had a handful of troubles to deal with me as I put him on a timeline, and not only that, bombarded him with conflicting messages before I decided to actually use his service. he was extremely polite and understanding.
may I recommend an ebay vendor here? if yes I will put a link to his store.
thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like you purposely bought a phone that was either lost or stolen in the US and was sold to an overseas buyer because the blacklist on devices from US and Canadian carriers does not extend outside of the US and Canada.
jcsww said:
Sounds like you purposely bought a phone that was either lost or stolen in the US and was sold to an overseas buyer because the blacklist on devices from US and Canadian carriers does not extend outside of the US and Canada.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like you're trying to be holier than thou.
I bought it unbeknownst whether it's blacklisted or not. It was brand new and price was great. Where's the problem? Why should I care where it comes from if it works?
Proneous said:
Sounds like you're trying to be holier than thou.
I bought it unbeknownst whether it's blacklisted or not. It was brand new and price was great. Where's the problem? Why should I care where it comes from if it works?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is more of a buyer beware statement about buying cheap devices from other countries.

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