Database Info

IMEI on back different to UI / packaging!

Bought from Tesco, IMEI printed inside back cover is 8 digits away from the IMEI on the packaging! Obviously someone on the line muddled up the rear casings...

jfinnie said:
Bought from Tesco, IMEI printed inside back cover is 8 digits away from the IMEI on the packaging! Obviously someone on the line muddled up the rear casings...
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Click to collapse
It's not unheard of, does happen.. Notify the place you bought it from, ask for a new receipt/invoice with the CORRECT IMEI for you phone. It doesn't really matter, but if you ever lose the phone or there is a dispute over who owns it you would need this to prove it's yours or get the phone blocked on the network (if it's stolen).
Obviously the one on the phone (in the about phone menu) is the real one.. I say this, because if some numpty has the phone with your back/box (IMEI) on, and they lose it, its possibly the dumb network people could block your phone by mistake.. No one wants to wake up to a blocked phone and a load of hassle..

helppme said:
It's not unheard of, does happen.. Notify the place you bought it from, ask for a new receipt/invoice with the CORRECT IMEI for you phone. It doesn't really matter, but if you ever lose the phone or there is a dispute over who owns it you would need this to prove it's yours or get the phone blocked on the network (if it's stolen).
Obviously the one on the phone (in the about phone menu) is the real one.. I say this, because if some numpty has the phone with your back/box (IMEI) on, and they lose it, its possibly the dumb network people could block your phone by mistake.. No one wants to wake up to a blocked phone and a load of hassle..
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Click to collapse
I returned it - I imagine in a multiple like Tesco you have no chance of getting such an ammendment done to the receipt (heck, the receipt doesn't even list the IMEI). There is at least one scenario which could arise even more problematic than above - my unit is actually programmed with the SAME IMEI as the other device because someone scanned another phone back before programming the IMEI. Not worth the hassle really. Annoying though.
It does seem like the quality control is not brilliant - or at least the Tesco got a batch which were made at a time when the factory were pushed or similar. I work in high-end electronics design so I might be fussier than most - but each of 4 phones bought from Tesco within a 3 week period have had some fault or other. Admittedly not massive faults (though the IMEI mix up is perhaps fatal for your phone).

jfinnie said:
I returned it - I imagine in a multiple like Tesco you have no chance of getting such an ammendment done to the receipt (heck, the receipt doesn't even list the IMEI). There is at least one scenario which could arise even more problematic than above - my unit is actually programmed with the SAME IMEI as the other device because someone scanned another phone back before programming the IMEI. Not worth the hassle really. Annoying though.
It does seem like the quality control is not brilliant - or at least the Tesco got a batch which were made at a time when the factory were pushed or similar. I work in high-end electronics design so I might be fussier than most - but each of 4 phones bought from Tesco within a 3 week period have had some fault or other. Admittedly not massive faults (though the IMEI mix up is perhaps fatal for your phone).
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I think it's Tesco at fault. They are given the units they then open them, insert their sim and assign IMEI etc. I think they are clumsy idiots who damage the backs, mess up the packaging etc. during this process. I'm very confident they are unskilled people and this is not being done in a 'clean' environment like where the phones are manufactured. The dead pixel is probably Motorola's fault.

The shop need my phone serial code?

Hello ?
I got my brand new z5 before yesterday and yesterday the shop keeper told me that he need to getthe sticker which the serial code is written when I asked him why he to me because he need it to give it to the sony local retailers to get his profits from selling the device to me
So is he scamming me? Or shall i give it to him?

I don't think there is any issue here. You're right to be cautious but I don't see what he could really do with the IMEI that could be malicious.

Seems weird to me :/ For the 3 xperia's i've bought never had to do this. Moreover this sticker is your proof that you buy the phone for sony and they ask it for example for cash-back offers. And sony can set up way more efficients ways to control retailers sells. Just pull out a sticker can be event if the phone was not sell. Maybe I'm too suspicious but I guess, if he lie, that he will wait for cash back offer and send this so he get the cash. He's maybe honnest but I find this very strange...

You've just given the entire world your IMEI number anyway just by posting that picture. Any decent barcode scanner (including ones downloaded onto a phone) can read that and give the user the IMEI.
So don't worry about it.

Warning on buying used Phones - Verizon retroactively blacklisting for prior owner

So I bought a Samsung Galaxy S6 in November of 2015 on ebay for $370. I checked IMEI before buying and it was clear. I received the phone and activated it on my Verizon account and continued to use it on that account for almost 2 years until recently when I attempted to move it to a different account.
After completing the port of my number to the new verzion account I was unable to activate the phone that had been previously working. Sometime between November 2015 and when I ported the person who sold me the phone decided to stop paying their bill and Verizon blacklisted the phone as stolen. I spoke to Verizon's fraud department and they are unwilling to take the device off the black list. Verizon continued to state that since I bought the phone from ebay and not directly from Verizon there was nothing they would do.
As infuriated as I am at losing a device for someone else's financial obligation (rant below) I am mainly writing this as a warning to the many people like me out there who buy used phones. I will likely never buy another used phone from a private seller because of this and I suggest you strongly consider the same. I believe this is going to become more widespread as Verizon introduced the device payment plan a couple years ago and this appears to be a clause in the terms that allows them to black list the device as stolen should the individual not pay.
I've contact ebay but am unable to open a case as the sale was 2 years ago. I contacted paypal and they likewise are unwilling to do anything.
Rant: It is as if Verizon is treating the device like a car and has a lien against it. With a car when you purchase and go to register the car under a new owner this can only happen once the current owner has satisfied the lien. Seemingly although the act of activating it on Verizon's network is the same as registering a car it does not require the former lien be satisfied. This leaves a person like me with no way of knowing if the phone will be black listed after I purchase it. Verizon should either not allow the phone to be activated on another account until the balance has been satisfied or at least provide a way to know if an IMEI has an outstanding balance associated to it.

This is kinda common knowledge though. It is the reason xda stands behind and supports swappa.com
This has been happening for years. The only way to make sure is to not use eBay and use a more reliable and vetted source.
There are ways around this (you will find the results I'm sure) but mind you they are illegal and you won't find help here with it.
I feel bad for you. This is still kinda a new thing in the states and carriers are really coming down on it. Just be careful.
As I said swappa.com is a great source. Just about everyone here uses it.

Spotting new LG G5 using IMEI SV ?

Hi all,
I would really appreciate your help with a question I have.
I just got my supposedly brand new H830 LG G5 which I bought through e-Bay (top seller of course)
I bought in the recent past an LG G5 from Best Buy but I had to return it because it was the RS988 version, they claimed it will have full support of T-Mobile but it didn't (****ty signal)
Anyway, I just got my new H830 and I noticed something weird, it came without a sticker on the screen.
This made me quite suspicious so I checked some guides and my phone current IMEI SV is 09, from what I understand this means that the phone was reset/had his software updated at least 9 times. Usually a new phone comes with an IMEI SV of 00.
Before I start complaining, I wanted to make sure that I'm not missing anything, do you think the device is refurbished?
Thanks!

Check the manufacturing date...sv is the software revision ... the phone would have been manufactured recently ... so since the original date of manu the device would have already got 9 revs...

I did the same thing the OP did. Bought the phone brand new on eBay a couple weeks ago. Mine came preloaded with Android 7.
How does one check the manufacturing date of the phone?

Skipjacks said:
I did the same thing the OP did. Bought the phone brand new on eBay a couple weeks ago. Mine came preloaded with Android 7.
How does one check the manufacturing date of the phone?
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Click to collapse
It's written on the box, or you could contact LG's customer service, send them your IMEI and they'll tell you the phone details.

Thanks!
Mine says manufactured in February 2017 with software version 20c on the label
But the phone has the April 2017 security patch installed and is running 20i (I don't think I did an OTA when I first set the phone up).
Should this be sending up major red flags to me?
I mean the phone I got is working fine and it's a great price. I'm super happy with the phone. But I'll be mildly steamed if I bought it as new and it's not.

Skipjacks said:
Thanks!
Mine says manufactured in February 2017 with software version 20c on the label
But the phone has the April 2017 security patch installed and is running 20i (I don't think I did an OTA when I first set the phone up).
Should this be sending up major red flags to me?
I mean the phone I got is working fine and it's a great price. I'm super happy with the phone. But I'll be mildly steamed if I bought it as new and it's not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We're in the same boat, bought the same one.
From eBay, right?
It seems to be legit because the manufacturing date is supposedly February 22nd, but I'm still waiting to hear from the seller and from LG.

fabiansc said:
We're in the same boat, bought the same one.
From eBay, right?
It seems to be legit because the manufacturing date is supposedly February 22nd, but I'm still waiting to hear from the seller and from LG.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I just talked to LG (mainly because you freaked me out and made me question the authenticity here)
I used this number 800 243-0000
Took about a minute to get to a real person. He tried to give me lots of superficial info until I said I wanted him to look up the IMEI then he was glad to do that. And he ended up being really helpful.
The LG rep confirmed the February manufacture date for my IMEI. And he confirmed that LG had never refurbished the phone. (That doesn't mean it wasn't refurbished by someone other than LG, but if it was they did a hell of a good job as there isn't a scratch on it and it runs perfectly fine.) The LG rep also said that it wasn't concerning to him that the phone first booted with software version 20i even though the box says 20c because that small security patch probably updated on first boot without me noticing. All in all the LG rep sounded like he reasonably knew what he was talking about and he said my device looked fine on his end and nothing I said gave him any cause for alarm.
The phone had all the stickers on it. The clear anti scratch stickers on the sides and on the screen and on the little part at the bottom that holds the battery, and it came wrapped in the extra layer of clear plastic that wraps all the way around it. Third party refurbishers don't do all that. Only LG does, and per LG this has never been sent back to LG.
I mean I guess it could have been locally refurbished into brand new perfect working condition and repacked into the box and the security seal diligently pealed off and replaced....but that seems unlikely when it could just be sold as 'new other' or 'open box like new' for $10 cheaper.
I also asked the seller about it before I bought it and they said (this is cut and pasted from their response) "This is a brand new sealed model and is the T-mobile model of the phone which is also GSM unlocked. "
So the seller and LG have both told me it's new. and thus the warranty is still in tact.
If your seller was "buyspry" then we bought the same deal.
Also it's VERY worth mentioning that this eBay seller has dozens of phone auctions. Most of them are for used and refurbished phones. So the seller does a lot of refurbished sales. It seems odd that a seller would be truthful about some listings but lie about others.
---------- Post added at 02:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:27 PM ----------
So this is interesting...
https://slickdeals.net/f/10327428-p...tphone-silver-200-fs-ebay?page=10#commentsBox
This is a discussion about a deal this same seller was offering on eBay. But this page of the discussion is about the authenticity of the phones. Some people are saying theirs came with the 20i software (without doing an update) and the security seal on the box cut and repaired with a clear circle sticker over the original security seal.
Mine definitely had that circular sticker over the security seal, but I checked it up pretty closely before cutting it and it looked like the original seal was intact. I guess I could have just not seen a slice in that.
People on Slickdeals seem to think that that might have been done to unlock the phone since it was sold as unlocked. But if the box was opened, it's illegal to sell the phone as 'brand new' and massively against eBay's rules.
I'm gonna reach back out to the seller.
---------- Post added at 03:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:44 PM ----------
And now that I looked diligently at the seller's feedback I see this (dated after my purchase)
LG G5 was not new. Be careful. The T-mobile seal was broken and resealed! Used!
BRAND NEW LG G5 H830T 32GB T-Mobile + GSM Unlocked 4G LTE Smartphone (#352049253484)
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That's what everyone on the Slickdeals site was saying too. I found photos of the G5 t mobile box with the seal intact and none of them have that extra circular sticker.
So I've changed my mind. I think this phone was NOT new and sealed from LG but was sold as such anyway.
---------- Post added at 04:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:38 PM ----------
And this got worse.
I called eBay to ask about my options here, since if it is fraud I would not trust the seller to refund properly or not play an additional scam like claim they didn't get the phone back.
The eBay rep slipped up and told me that they have multiple reports about the exact problems listed above about this seller. She's not supposed to say that. That's supposed to be proprietary eBay information. But she did.
So this phone does NOT appear to be brand new in a sealed box.

I got my G5 recently from buyspry/ebay too. I also have the clear circle sticker over the T-Mobile sticker. My phone matched everything shown on this unboxing video of T-Mobile G5 from March 2016. I'm not worried about this being used, refurbished, or stolen. Maybe the seller (or their supplier) got a bunch from T-Mobile. T-Mobile stores will purposely cut the seal so people can't return them for fraudulent reasons. So maybe that's what happened here so people won't try to return to T-Mobile for higher value.
Given the Feb 2017 manufacture date, LG and T-Mobile may have decided to clear them out (i.e., sell to wholesaler) in preparation of the G6. Who would've bought a G5 in Feb 2017 given all the negative press of the prior 6 months? It think it was LG's mistake to continue making the G5 that long.

I already became more relaxed and now I'm suspicious again, the fact that he got many complaints are interesting, he just answered me a few hours ago, I'll get back to him.
Here's the thing, we both bought the phone from the same seller, I was BTW on the Slickdeals post as well.
The phone didn't really come sealed, but if you'll look at LG G5 unboxing guides (and more specifically the T-Mobile model) you'll notice that it arrived well.
I'll tell the seller that it didn't come sealed and we'll see how he answers.
Eventually, the biggest evidence for me that it seems to be real is that we all have as manufacturing date the 02/22/2017 and it seems to be the real one according to LG after giving them my IMEI.
Looking forward to hear what you've did to decide what to do

@fabiansc, your original post mentioned "it came without a sticker on the screen". Mine had a clear film, like a screen protector. I didn't notice it until I accidently peeled it while cleaning in preparation for a glass screen protector. The video below of an AT&T unboxing shows the AT&T version has something printed on the screen film. Plus the bar code sticker on back is larger. I think we're lucky the T-Mobile version is unprinted. I wish I was still using it since glass screen protectors don't lay flat on the G5.
Buyspry sold over 1600 of these units and they've been a Ebay daily deal seller many times before. Apparently Ebay has a heavy vetting process of sellers for daily deals. Buyspry was part of the limited list of sellers who qualified for the 20% coupon (now expired) that dropped the price to $191.19. I don't work for Buyspry nor am I affiliated with them. I feel like I got an amazing deal ($200) for a legit device. You can't expect to pay so little (especially on Ebay) without some sort of concession (cut sticker in this case).

HKSpeed said:
I got my G5 recently from buyspry/ebay too. I also have the clear circle sticker over the T-Mobile sticker. My phone matched everything shown on this unboxing video of T-Mobile G5 from March 2016. I'm not worried about this being used, refurbished, or stolen. Maybe the seller (or their supplier) got a bunch from T-Mobile. T-Mobile stores will purposely cut the seal so people can't return them for fraudulent reasons. So maybe that's what happened here so people won't try to return to T-Mobile for higher value.
Given the Feb 2017 manufacture date, LG and T-Mobile may have decided to clear them out (i.e., sell to wholesaler) in preparation of the G6. Who would've bought a G5 in Feb 2017 given all the negative press of the prior 6 months? It think it was LG's mistake to continue making the G5 that long.
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So you're saying t mobile has extra inventory when the new model comes out. So they sell that inventory cheap. And to keep me from buying it on ebay for $200 and returning it to t mobile still unopened and sealed in the box for full retail they cut the seals so they are officially open boxes (meaning no store would take one back without a receipt).
That makes sense.
Do you know this is T Mobile policy fro a fact? Or are you speculating?
I'm not questioning your logic. This does make sense and makes me feel better even if you're speculating that's what happened. But if you know for a fact T Mobile does that, I'll feel even better.
---------- Post added at 05:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:24 PM ----------
HKSpeed said:
Buyspry sold over 1600 of these units and they've been a Ebay daily deal seller many times before. Apparently Ebay has a heavy vetting process of sellers for daily deals. Buyspry was part of the limited list of sellers who qualified for the 20% coupon (now expired) that dropped the price to $191.19. I don't work for Buyspry nor am I affiliated with them. I feel like I got an amazing deal ($200) for a legit device. You can't expect to pay so little (especially on Ebay) without some sort of concession (cut sticker in this case).
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My phone is working fantastically. Even if it was opened and updated, I'm totally cool with that. I'd just like to know that up front and not be told it's never been opened. It should be listed as "new other" with an explanation of why the box was open but the phone was new. and 100% unused.
My concern was that the IMEI would suddenly turn up bad 3 months down the road. If it's just a cut seal because they opened it to unlock it or update the software...fine. Just tell me that's what you did before I buy it.
I also didn't realize ebay had a heavy vetting process for certain deals. (Or that there even was a daily deal on this phone). Thanks for sharing that.

Buyspry should've mentioned the boxes were opened to unlock. That's their mistake. Maybe they knew and purposely tried to hide it with the clear sticker. Or maybe a wholesaler opened them to unlock and resealed them, without informing Buyspry. Someone had to open these phones to unlocked them. I've unlocked many LG phones using codes I purchased on Ebay. I had to input the code using the phone dialer app. Who knows if Buyspry actually did the unlocking.
If you read the Slickdeals thread for the BOGO T-Mobile LG G6 deal ($500 rebate direct from LG) that lasted one day, people wrote how store associates cut the seals on purpose. Store managers were afraid this was some kind of scam, because T-Mobile didn't know about LG's rebate offer. People on Slickdeals were pissed because they planned to sell the second phone on Craigslist/ebay/swappa, and cutting the seal hurt the value.

When I use the T Mobile unlock app that comes preinstalled it says the phone is locked. Then it has errors.
I didn't think much of that before because I don't care. I have no intention of leaving T Mobile in the next year.
Would that app error out if the phone was unlocked manually?
You are GREATLY improving my mood, by the way. So I appreciate you adding this additional info about how T Mobile deals with overstock. (I knew it was overstock from the beginning. I asked the seller specifically is that's what it was before purchase and they confirmed)

Skipjacks said:
When I use the T Mobile unlock app that comes preinstalled it says the phone is locked. Then it has errors.
I didn't think much of that before because I don't care. I have no intention of leaving T Mobile in the next year.
Would that app error out if the phone was unlocked manually?
You are GREATLY improving my mood, by the way. So I appreciate you adding this additional info about how T Mobile deals with overstock. (I knew it was overstock from the beginning. I asked the seller specifically is that's what it was before purchase and they confirmed)
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I get an error too when I try the unlock app. It maybe because I disabled so many apps, include all of T-Mobile's. I don't plan on leaving T-Mobile for a very long time. I'll try an AT&T SIM when I get home later.
Many retailers (any type) get rid of excess merchandise via wholesalers/liquidators. One company buys all of the leftover G5 at once, so T-Mobile doesn't have to worry about having a few dozen or hundred leftovers. Retailers are contractually obligated to sell at prices approved by the manufacturer, so I doubt T-Mobile could sell these phone for $1 each without upsetting LG. A wholesaler/liquidator doesn't follow the same rules. LG (not T-Mobile) could've sold these phones directly to a wholesaler/liquidator for the same reasons.

This morning I popped an old disconnected AT&T SIM into the G5. No error message. The status bar showed showed "searching" for the network name. I then put that AT&T sim in my locked T-Mobile G6. I instantly got an error message saying the phone is network locked and I need to contact T-Mobile. The status bar showed "network locked" for the network name.

Anyone try running Android Pay with this t-mobile unlocked phone? I got an error message saying Android Pay can't be used when trying to add a card.
Does that mean this phone has unlocked bootloader?

So Buyspry emailed me back and said
Dear Buyer,
Please be advised these phones are brand new and have been sealed by the manufacture.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So they are full of malarkey, unless they know how to update and unlock a phone that's powered off in the box.
But I do feel better after reading this thread that despite it being an open box it's probably not a huge deal. I still don't like being misled though.
To everyone else who bought from this eBay listing, did yours come with a new T Mobile SIM card? T Mobile usually includes a new SIM card in the box with every phone they sell, even if you already have a SIM. The G5 I got didn't have the card. I wonder if T Mobile opened them to remove the SIM cards when they sold them wholesale so they could be used for other customers.
On that matter, I needed a new SIM because the one I had was a mini SIM, not a micro SIM. So I needed a new one to make my G5 work. I went to the T Mobile store, told them what happened and why I needed a new SIM. They activated a new one for me and sent me on my way at no cost in 5 minutes. This kind of thing is why I'm not leaving T Mobile for the foreseable future. Customer service is outstanding.
I also wondered if T Mobile has to unlock them themselves to sell them wholesale. There are some weird laws around unlocking phones.

Question Trade in lock bypass?

So I bought a S22 Ultra off Facebook marketplace for $900 I did an imei check with my carrier and confirmed it wasn't stolen or anything of that nature and we set it up on my account in store with the guy present and confirmed it worked. Fast forward a week I wake up to a nice message on my phone that Samsung has blocked my device due to incomplete trade in and that I need to contact Samsung to fix it. Cant use the phone at all. I have a $900 paper weight. Does anyone know of a bypass for this? Will rooting it give me the ability to get around this?

That's a new one to me. Sorry can't help, post a photo of the message the phone is showing.

The reason that happened is probably because the guy purcahased the phone from Samsung with a Trade-in discount. He did not send his phone in as part of the agreement. Then they tried to bill his card for the amount of the Trade-in and it didn't go through for whatever reason. After that they blocked his phone which you purchased from him. He most likely hated the phone kept his old phone and now you are screwed until you contact Samsung and resolve it. They specifically state on the Trade-in info they send you with the shipping label that if you don't send them the Trade-in phone within 2 weeeks the new phone will be locked out. The other reason they do that is if it's reported stolen. So your only two options are 1) Contact Samsung or 2) Throw it in the trash.

i think its unlikely, you could try to flash a new firmware with unbranded csc , im not saying that WILL fix it, but it wont do u any harm to try if your not planning on seeking help from samsung, i would recommend trying to fake an imei in an efs and load that, i couldnt advise you how though im afraid

That's the new way, they allow multiple trade in devices so the scumbag will select devices with the highest trade in to bring down the purchase price to the lowest possible level and sell it on arrival making hundreds in profits. Possibly the only way to avoid this would be to remove any samsung stuff BEFORE they initiate a lockdown.
We can't have nice things because of this and if it keeps up I see (Samsung) wanting to put a full purchase price hold at time of purchase and then release it when they get the trade ins. :-(

thats why i like to pre order and buy my devices for cash, no waiting and you know your phone is bnib

cpufrost said:
That's the new way, they allow multiple trade in devices so the scumbag will select devices with the highest trade in to bring down the purchase price to the lowest possible level and sell it on arrival making hundreds in profits.
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I read about this somewhere just recently. The bad guys are sure creative in figuring out how to game the system. Around here we have to be very careful of FB Marketplace. Sometimes it seems there are way more sketchy stolen items on it than legitimate items.

The other thing is you probably should get a screenshot of the persons drivers license when making a purchase for such a large amount of money. That way the Police know where they live and they got a photo as well. If the seller is not willing to provide that info to you then stay away. I am not gonna send somebody $900 on the internet and just hope they willl send me what they promised without fully checking them out first.

Nobody would accept that. They can simply say don't buy it then. How would he now you wouldn't be a dodgy guy and use his driving licence for scams? The safest way of this kind of trade in risks is to request the purchasing invoice where you could see if it was purchased with trade in option. If the seller doesn't provide it then i would recommend not to buy the phone for the first 3 months of phone's releasing date when trade in would have been completed already.

Always a risk when you guy items from individuals. The one thing for sure, if the deal is too good to be true, it usually is sketchy.

Paul_Deemer said:
The reason that happened is probably because the guy purcahased the phone from Samsung with a Trade-in discount. He did not send his phone in as part of the agreement. Then they tried to bill his card for the amount of the Trade-in and it didn't go through for whatever reason. After that they blocked his phone which you purchased from him. He most likely hated the phone kept his old phone and now you are screwed until you contact Samsung and resolve it. They specifically state on the Trade-in info they send you with the shipping label that if you don't send them the Trade-in phone within 2 weeeks the new phone will be locked out. The other reason they do that is if it's reported stolen. So your only two options are 1) Contact Samsung or 2) Throw it in the trash.
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This is the most likely reason, and the only thing you can do is to contact Samsung. You could offer to pay the trade in value discount that was applied at the time of purchase, but that could be up to £570 (here in the UK) as that was the top tier (S21Ultra) trade in if I remember rightly.
I think there must of been some genuine trade in purchase, as a valid IMEI number is required at the time of ordering the new phone....Unless there is a way of generating IMEI numbers I'm not aware of.
I would contact Samsung before doing anything else with the phone, as I wouldn't be surprised if Samsung have locked the phone through Knox or something.

That phone is locked via knox. Nothing you can do unless you contact samsung and give them proof of your transaction then from there it's either they will help you or wont care at all.

That's samsungs fault at first. Here in Turkey, you pay full price. After they receive trade-in device they refund discount amount to you. This is the only way to stop such thing.

rroyy said:
That's samsungs fault at first. Here in Turkey, you pay full price. After they receive trade-in device they refund discount amount to you. This is the only way to stop such thing.
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Right, and too, because of folks not playing nice and taking advantage of others, they will wind up doing the same thing here in USA. At the very least placing a merchant hold for the full device price on the method of payment and releasing it upon successful redemption of trade in value.

Samsung locked the wrong phone. They should be locking the new phone. Call them

Will_T said:
I read about this somewhere just recently. The bad guys are sure creative in figuring out how to game the system. Around here we have to be very careful of FB Marketplace. Sometimes it seems there are way more sketchy stolen items on it than legitimate items.
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Agree with you, FB\Meta is a mess.
I've had nothing but stellar results selling and buying using Swappa. They are pretty stringent with phone condition and both buyers and sellers.
My favorite transaction was about 4 yrs ago when I dropped a very well protected Nexus 6 just wrong while waiting on a lift, and the screen broke. If it were newer I would have replaced the screen, but 10 minutes into a business meeting I found a replacement for $150 in my city on Swappa. I pinged the seller and he was sitting across the street from me. When I got out of the meeting 30 minutes later, I walked across the street and he handed me the like brand new phone in box and waited for me to boot up! All pre-checked IMEI on Swappa for free to ensure not stolen, etc.

armst433 said:
Samsung locked the wrong phone. They should be locking the new phone. Call them
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It's an S22U. It is the new phone....

I'm hoping OP updates us, I wanna know whats going on with this rather strange story.

Parzival__ said:
So I bought a S22 Ultra off Facebook marketplace for $900 I did an imei check with my carrier and confirmed it wasn't stolen or anything of that nature and we set it up on my account in store with the guy present and confirmed it worked. Fast forward a week I wake up to a nice message on my phone that Samsung has blocked my device due to incomplete trade in and that I need to contact Samsung to fix it. Cant use the phone at all. I have a $900 paper weight. Does anyone know of a bypass for this? Will rooting it give me the ability to get around this?
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the phone turns on? it comes in wi-fi where are the wi-fi networks? if you get high is there a bar? if it exists write www.youtube.com done do glue in the copy bar open Youtube go to click and see Youtube Terms of Service in the bar write this E-FRP site addresses appear and there is e-frp click open and see for Samsung and other functions for you you are interested in ftp and test account or Samsung it would be better to have another phone active go to Youtube and in the bar write e-frp for Samsung because there are several steps. Good luck

Paul_Deemer said:
The other thing is you probably should get a screenshot of the persons drivers license when making a purchase for such a large amount of money. That way the Police know where they live and they got a photo as well. If the seller is not willing to provide that info to you then stay away. I am not gonna send somebody $900 on the internet and just hope they willl send me what they promised without fully checking them out first.
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Well the crazy part is it was a in person purchase. Dude met me at spectrum mobile and they verified it was unlocked and would work and that's when the transaction happened.