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My gf's old phone broke, and I found a cheap HD2 on craigslist. I went ahead and bought it from the guy. He seemed ok, maybe a LITTLE shady. When I brought it home and told her how I got it, she became worried that if we put her sim card into it, and it IS stolen, a red flag will show up at T-mobile and she might get into trouble.
Is there any way T-mobile can tell who has the phone if it IS stolen? Also, if she ever has to send it in for a replacement through warranty, will she be screwed? I know I shouldn't have bought it off of Craigslist, but it's too late for that now...
Well, you could always call T-Mobile and ask them if it was reported stolen ....
Don't think they will call the police on you , If you tell them you are going to , but I bet they will want to take your name, just in case ...
Lol this whole thread seems shady as hell.
Sounds like the OP might be trying to fish answers for his own endeavors...
lol, i know. it sounds pretty bad, but i assure you, that's not the case.
they can tell if it's stolen. they can tell if more than one person has the same IMEI number. whoever was using the phone will have that IMEI on their account, and if your gf puts her sim card in it, they will be able to see the IMEI from the phone. that's done on purpose, so that if someone does report a stolen phone, and the IMEI turns up on another account, they can flag it. however if it was not reported stolen, then there isn't much they can do as they don't know whether or not the original owner sold it to you or a shady guy on craigslist sold it to you, so reporting to the authorities would be pointless for them, as it may have been a legal transaction. as for calling them, they're probably not going to give you the info if that IMEI is registered in their system, they may not even tell you if it is. but if it has been reported stolen, and the IMEI shows up under a different account it will probably be flagged, I'm not sure what would happen at that point. More than likely rather than calling the authorities they'll just cut off the service to the phone.
Try a prepaid sim card and see if it was IMEI blocked?
well, we put her sim card in it and nothing has happened so far. i suppose it was legit.
If you got it with box, supplies and cables its very low chance that it stolen. Actual price in my local craiglist is really low, but it doesn't mean that most of all are stollen
tmobile dont care if the phone stolen or not. it doesnt really matter.
Slash8915 said:
My gf's old phone broke, and I found a cheap HD2 on craigslist. I went ahead and bought it from the guy. He seemed ok, maybe a LITTLE shady. When I brought it home and told her how I got it, she became worried that if we put her sim card into it, and it IS stolen, a red flag will show up at T-mobile and she might get into trouble.
Is there any way T-mobile can tell who has the phone if it IS stolen? Also, if she ever has to send it in for a replacement through warranty, will she be screwed? I know I shouldn't have bought it off of Craigslist, but it's too late for that now...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If that were possible I would like to think they would have told me when my TouchPro2 got stolen... The fact that they didn't mention anything like that leads me to believe they can't tell just by the sim card.
i buy/sell phones on craigslist almost weekly and put my sim in all of them
when i call t-mobile to change the internet plan they always ask me where i bought the phone. i always say from t-mobile and they never say anything about it. guess they cant really tell
hope this helps
Slash8915 said:
My gf's old phone broke, and I found a cheap HD2 on craigslist. I went ahead and bought it from the guy. He seemed ok, maybe a LITTLE shady. When I brought it home and told her how I got it, she became worried that if we put her sim card into it, and it IS stolen, a red flag will show up at T-mobile and she might get into trouble.
Is there any way T-mobile can tell who has the phone if it IS stolen? Also, if she ever has to send it in for a replacement through warranty, will she be screwed? I know I shouldn't have bought it off of Craigslist, but it's too late for that now...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
I'm not in the US but i always purchase phones from US and UK on ebay.
Always when i buy phones which are doubt to be stolen or reported as stolen i use this site www.checkmend.com.
They are even recommended by ebay. They claim to have a connection to a database that has all the information on Mobile Phones, Laptops, GPS navigators, etc. Which they can track by the serial number.
In your case you will need to provide them with the IMEI number of your phone and they will give a report on the status of the phone and past owners if they are registered. (they send this report by email instantly. they charge you USD 2.99 for this service. i thinks its quite worth than the risk.)
in my experience I've tried this service twice and a HD that i bought from the UK was returned with a report that said "This item has been blocked during its lifetime by one or more UK network(s)." which means it was reported lost or stolen.
and i even tried my HD2 which i'm using currently which i got from US cos i didn't get any box or accessory with it. But the report came out clear and i am in peace of mind.
Hope this helps.
ruwan7 said:
in my experience I've tried this service twice and a HD that i bought from the UK was returned with a report that said "This item has been blocked during its lifetime by one or more UK network(s)." which means it was reported lost or stolen.
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Click to collapse
usefull site. does it give any detail? i blocked my last phone thinking i'd lost it, 4 weeks later it turned up in a friends sofa, so i had them un block it and used it for another 18months.
i guess that would give the response you gave above..
Someone mentioned the IEM number that is the way they can tell if its stolen. So when and IF you ever take your phone into the store to have the useless sales people help you solve some problem. That is how they will know if its stolen. If there is a way to tell by electronic signal Tmobile simply doesnt care. I asked when I bought mine and they told me to get insurance. I asked how do you know if I dont just keep the phone and get a new one for 100 bucks. IEM number shows up was their answer.
Your IMEI and sim info are constantly broadcast about the cell network, you don't have to go into a store for this information to be picked up.
http://www.numberingplans.com/?page=analysis&sub=imeinr is one of the most common websites for checking your IMEI number (it's free), but do be careful with posting your IMEI/Serial number online at any site. Some are looking for valid IMEI numbers to use illegally.
Damn those shady Craigslist guys...
c2tmdsn said:
when i call t-mobile to change the internet plan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could be mistaken but I believe that if you select the G1 unlimited data plan, then any smart phone you have after that will not need to be updated...I am using the G1 plan with my HD2 and it works fine. So maybe you can avoid lying to them.
Hello,
I'm hoping someone can help me. I lost my phone (Vibrant - TMobile) and had to go through insurance to get a new one, the deductible was $130, then days later I found the damn thing but insurance won't take the new phone back and refund me now! So my cousin wants to buy it from me but when I went through insurance they placed the IMEI on the lost / stolen list which blocks the IMEI from logging onto the network rendering the phone unusable. I need to flash a new IMEI so that my cousin can go ahead and use the phone.
How can I flash a new IMEI? Please pm me
Thanks so much for the help guys, I'm really in a frustrating jam!!!
ALL YOUR HELP IS APPRECIATED!
---------------------------------------------
I called back and plead with them and they said they are going to review the case and get back to me within 20 hours! Whoo hoo, I hope they will let me send the extra phone back and refund me then my problems would be solved!
i wasn't aware there was such a thing as flashing another imei#
To me it sounds like you were trying to use the insurance to get an extra phone and it didn't work out so you decided to plead and come up with a Story. Changing IMEI numbers is not something legal or easy to do and i dont believe anyone here can help you, or will help you with the whole process.
minogue said:
To me it sounds like you were trying to use the insurance to get an extra phone and it didn't work out so you decided to plead and come up with a Story. Changing IMEI numbers is not something legal or easy to do and i dont believe anyone here can help you, or will help you with the whole process.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you know that's the case. I agree it crossed my mind but never would I lost that.... rude..
temperbad said:
How do you know that's the case. I agree it crossed my mind but never would I lost that.... rude..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"to me it sounds like..." its the way i saw it because i always get people telling me or friends to sell them my phone and get another one from insurance, therefore considering the phone must be brand new, people usually keep it with them at all times, so i came with my own conclusion. HOWEVER it doesnt change anything.
Changing an IMEI number is not legal and while it is possible, it may be a hard proccess...
To the OP:
Google It
minogue said:
To me it sounds like you were trying to use the insurance to get an extra phone and it didn't work out so you decided to plead and come up with a Story. Changing IMEI numbers is not something legal or easy to do and i dont believe anyone here can help you, or will help you with the whole process.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, because it's not possible to lose a phone and then find it later. I'm gonna guess you're a "glass half empty" kind of person, eh?
dex1701 said:
Right, because it's not possible to lose a phone and then find it later. I'm gonna guess you're a "glass half empty" kind of person, eh?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ohh Come on Guys.
No i am not that person, and im sure this is by far the first half useless reply i posted in my 400 post count as im usually very helpful with fellow android users. i do lose my phone in the house sometimes, and i know its somewhere in the house, and my friends dont really steal from me or any of us so i can fall drunk on their house and have them take care of my phone and even take my calls..
Point is, Even if you knew how to change an IMEI, you are not allowed to post it here, or in barely any forums or Sites. Therefore the Best Advice is to Google it and see for herself. at the very least. just sell the phone for repair or parts on Ebay and keep the new one....
OR
The IMEI has been blocked by all US GSM Carriers, sell it to someone outside the US using Ebay again and get more $$$$.
Is that helpful enough???
aw geez
minogue said:
ohh Come on Guys.
No i am not that person, and im sure this is by far the first half useless reply i posted in my 400 post count as im usually very helpful with fellow android users. i do lose my phone in the house sometimes, and i know its somewhere in the house, and my friends dont really steal from me or any of us so i can fall drunk on their house and have them take care of my phone and even take my calls..
Point is, Even if you knew how to change an IMEI, you are not allowed to post it here, or in barely any forums or Sites. Therefore the Best Advice is to Google it and see for herself. at the very least. just sell the phone for repair or parts on Ebay and keep the new one....
OR
The IMEI has been blocked by all US GSM Carriers, sell it to someone outside the US using Ebay again and get more $$$$.
Is that helpful enough???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Geez, now you're telling her to sell it? How pessimistic can you get? Always assume the worst, dontcha?!?
Joking aside, if a phone was put on a blacklist, and it's found by the original owner....couldn't the IMEI just be removed from the blacklist in a legitimate (read: legal) manner?
It also doesn't hurt to try this, http://tinyurl.com/2un6urs .
leprasmurf said:
Geez, now you're telling her to sell it? How pessimistic can you get? Always assume the worst, dontcha?!?
Joking aside, if a phone was put on a blacklist, and it's found by the original owner....couldn't the IMEI just be removed from the blacklist in a legitimate (read: legal) manner?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once it is blacklisted, theres no way from getting removed at all.
LordLugard said:
It also doesn't hurt to try this, http://tinyurl.com/2un6urs .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its funny how the first link on Google is this Thread. Probably because you used the exact same question along with the exclamation points.
For some reason I was thinking that US carriers didn't blacklist imei numbers. Used to work with a guy that had access to some hot cell phones, they all supposedly worked with just a sim swap. Just att and t-mobile ones tho, no cdma.
justanothergirl said:
Hello,
I'm hoping someone can help me. I lost my phone (Vibrant - TMobile) and had to go through insurance to get a new one, the deductible was $130, then days later I found the damn thing but insurance won't take the new phone back and refund me now! So my cousin wants to buy it from me but when I went through insurance they placed the IMEI on the lost / stolen list which blocks the IMEI from logging onto the network rendering the phone unusable. I need to flash a new IMEI so that my cousin can go ahead and use the phone.
How can I flash a new IMEI? Please pm me
Thanks so much for the help guys, I'm really in a frustrating jam!!!
ALL YOUR HELP IS APPRECIATED!
---------------------------------------------
I called back and plead with them and they said they are going to review the case and get back to me within 20 hours! Whoo hoo, I hope they will let me send the extra phone back and refund me then my problems would be solved!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
for all those that dont know a sim card phone can be stolen and used no matter what just place another sim card in the phone gsm networks run by the sim not the imei esn or meid
You could always just have your cousin say he bought it from craigslist, unless you have the same last name then it'd be suspicious.
imei problems with registration in turkey
Hi there
I know this will probably yield me a "no its illegal" reply but please hear me out on this. Im a good person!
I moved to turkey 6 months ago to work here as an IT teacher in an international school. I brought with me my lovely HTC HD2 which i had hacked using XDA software to now run andoid (was very pleased with my phone). registered my phone here with my passport. The phone then broke and while trying to fix it I snapped some of the internal data cables...
I have my old HTC wildfire here but cant use it on the GSM network as im only allowed to register 1 phone to my passport every two years!
I know its not technically allowed but i was thinking of changing the imei on my wildfire to that of my broken (but registered) HTC HD2 and was figuring if i got caught for it that they would see that the imei number is in fact registered to me anyway.
I have searched high and low for solutions for this. I found the Iwizard but I think that this was released in 2007 and my phone was released in 2010 so i am presuming that this will not work. also had some problems and questions about using activesync on my windows 7 computer along with presuming that I cant connect an android phone to activesync.
As I said before. Im not tying to commit a crime here but just trying not to go out and spend lots of money (and phones do cost lots of money here) on buying a turkish phone.
if anyone can help then please let me know
my email is [email protected]
cheers..
From HERE: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=276851
Many people often come up to me in the street and say, you look like a bit of a geezer (their words), do you know how to change my IMEI to clone that of another phone legitimately purchased within the state of my draconian governement?
I will typically retort with a chuckle, and then the following diatribe:
CHANGING YOUR IMEI IS VERY LIKELY TO BE A CRIME IN YOUR COUNTRY
Now, you may well be a pimp or snakehead already, so no worries relatively speaking, but understand that changing IMEIs can result in a prison sentence or castration, not merely a slap of the wrists. One way or the other, you won't be bending over in the shower if this is a crime in your country and you're found guilty. The law is there for a valid reason, if not necessarily a good reason.
Please check the law in your country before considering changing your IMEI.
You should note that in these days of heightened terrorist threats, if your phone is found to have a false IMEI and you also happen to have a beard and a beautiful tanned completion, you're likely to be spending time with wires hanging out of your orifices, so again, think twice.
I have no place to speak for the administrators or other moderators of the board, just for me, but my view is this:
The board is called XDA Developers. We develop.
The fact that you gets newbs, rubes and non-dudes on here is by the by; our raison d'être is to develop. That entails research and development, so for me, researching changing IMEIs may be a legitimate pursuit. Probably not, but maybe.
Next, recall that the administrators of this board researched and released pretty much the definitive solutions for IMEI changing, on older phones at least. That's part of the reason this board exists. I would be a hypocrite to jump on anyone else carrying the same flag. However, anything that will potentially get the board in trouble will be stopped.
So once again, lube yourself up well before considering changing your IMEI.
And please, be nice to each other, eh?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Changing IMEI is NOT illegal in the United States. Just sayin
So I found a person on Craigslist who had a Droid 2 for sale, good deal. So I met up with him, checked out the phone, everything looked good. I called Verizon before making the exchange for the phone and verified the ESN was clear. I get home and try to activate the phone and can't. I called Verizon back and this time I'm being told the phone is still allocated to an account but not active, probably someone who didn't pay a bill would be my guess. It's still early and I haven't tried contacting the person I purchased it from, but providing that falls through what are my options? Or are there any?
I've had verizon for almost 12 years now, can't say I've had the best experience but this just takes the prize. First guy says yes, second person says no, I'm probably out money. ><
Be careful. It could either be stolen or his and he could be filing a claim that the phone was stolen so document everything from the transaction to ensure you don't end up in the wrong. I'm not sure if anything can be done if you have a linked but not active ESN.
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App
newk8600 said:
Be careful. It could either be stolen or his and he could be filing a claim that the phone was stolen so document everything from the transaction to ensure you don't end up in the wrong. I'm not sure if anything can be done if you have a linked but not active ESN.
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea I kinda figure that I'm out some cash and got a nifty paperweight now. I'm calling VZW to raise hell since one person told me it was clean, and the other told me the truth about it. Nothing will probably come of it, but at least I get to ***** at them for it. I did manage to get the guy I bought it from to tell me earlier today that it was on his wifes account and that she needed the money from getting rid of the phone to buy another and have it activated. Of course he hasn't returned any of my follow up calls asking when this is going to happen. Unfortunately this isn't someone I know, but do feel like giving him the ass beating of his lifetime.
Oh well, I should have tried to activate it myself on the spot so I guess you live you learn.
By the way, I've got this new thing called an Android Paperweight that runs OS 2.2 if you're interested in buying it let me know (j/k)
StirCwazy said:
Yea I kinda figure that I'm out some cash and got a nifty paperweight now. I'm calling VZW to raise hell since one person told me it was clean, and the other told me the truth about it. Nothing will probably come of it, but at least I get to ***** at them for it. I did manage to get the guy I bought it from to tell me earlier today that it was on his wifes account and that she needed the money from getting rid of the phone to buy another and have it activated. Of course he hasn't returned any of my follow up calls asking when this is going to happen. Unfortunately this isn't someone I know, but do feel like giving him the ass beating of his lifetime.
Oh well, I should have tried to activate it myself on the spot so I guess you live you learn.
By the way, I've got this new thing called an Android Paperweight that runs OS 2.2 if you're interested in buying it let me know (j/k)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly, if it ends up being a bad ESN and you aren't ever able to activate it you could probably sell it to a developer to recuperate some of the cost. You probably wont get it all but I'm sure you could get a nice chunk back.
kwheel596 said:
Honestly, if it ends up being a bad ESN and you aren't ever able to activate it you could probably sell it to a developer to recuperate some of the cost. You probably wont get it all but I'm sure you could get a nice chunk back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't even know where to start, but good suggestion, thanks.
I called VZW a few minutes ago to complain and found out that the person I spoke with last night didn't log anything in our account indicating a call and regarding what. The person I spoke with earlier today did. I just wish everyone knew how to do their job properly to make sure everyone in my situation ends up with the best possible results, and not out some money that could be used elsewhere.
So if life I guess
How much does it take to buy the phone..... paper weight
rdking said:
How much does it take to buy the phone..... paper weight
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At risk of being ridiculed over what I paid for the said item I'll take offers via PM For the time being I'm still holding out on the dream it will one day soon be functional.
put it on ebay you can still get a couple hundred bucks out of a droid 2 with a bad esn
Good luck man, I hope it will be activated soon!
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App
First things first, never buy a CL phone unless you activate it on the SPOT. Regardless if the 'account is late on payment' or whatever that doesn't mean they can blacklist the phone from activating on the network.
If it is a insurance claim phone it can never be used and you are SOL, but if it's stolen I'd call Verizon again and have them contact whoever owns that phone to call you. You seem like an intelligent person, not some kid posting on here, and having VZW for 12 years confirms that. Do the right thing and contact the owner should it be stolen. Maybe work something out?
You could always use it with a different carrier or sell it to someone who wants to use it on a different carrier..
They flash over to cricket easily, probly to sprint or u.s. cellular also
Doesnt matter what the esn says in verizons system when going somewhere else
If you complain enough they will *SOMETIMES* allow you to swap it for a replacement with a clean ESN, though not always. You could also try going into a store and telling them you got ripped off and seeing if they have a carrier return laying that they might be willing to replace your bad one with, Verizon themselves doesn't care about blacklisted ESN's once they have them, they just simply remove it from the blacklist and sell it off
Streak 7 bad ESN
May be an stupid coment, but just by curiosity: when you change the ROM for some custom ROM , the STK7 is not by default unlocked?.
Mr. Cell Phone Unlocker
If you are willing to pay $75, I stumbled across this site that will do it.
Reputable company, but I make no guarantees of their effectiveness. Never tried it either.
Might be worth a shot
http://www.mrcellphoneunlocker.com/V2/products.php?product=Verizon_ESN
and i am wondering a few things..
i have heard of some shady craigslist people selling IMEI banned phones. If i get one by chance..is it possible to change IMEI? or am i screwed with a paperweight. I have seen some RIFF-box tools claim to be able to do it, but this is a pretty new phone so I am not sure if its supported.
Will T-Mobile work with a customer that accidentally came up on a banned phone? Does t-mobile actually ENFORCE the ban on the IMEI? I know of some people that had a supposed banned IMEI and it worked just fine.
Any information will be greatly appreciated!
Rather than potentially go through all of that, try calling T-Mobile when you meet the seller and verify with them if the phone is able to used without issue and hasn't been banned.
Also, talk of hacking and changing ESN/IMEIs are not allowed in the forums.
ricky05 said:
and i am wondering a few things..
i have heard of some shady craigslist people selling IMEI banned phones. If i get one by chance..is it possible to change IMEI? or am i screwed with a paperweight. I have seen some RIFF-box tools claim to be able to do it, but this is a pretty new phone so I am not sure if its supported.
Will T-Mobile work with a customer that accidentally came up on a banned phone? Does t-mobile actually ENFORCE the ban on the IMEI? I know of some people that had a supposed banned IMEI and it worked just fine.
Any information will be greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bring your sim card with you and slap it in before you hand over the cash. When I sold my Droid on Craigs List I actually met the guy at the verizon store to make sure he didn't have an issue getting it activated. Its not much to ask..
i completely understand about imei changing not allowed..
i was mostly asking if it was POSSIBLE..not how to do it really..but ok
and thanks for the reply about meeting the guy there..thats probably what I will do.
I've worked for tmobile for a long time, they do not block imei's.......that is sprint and verizon which block esn's. Your safe to buy the phone.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk
You'll be fine with any GSM Carrier... Imei doesn't mean anything.
Just be sure your getting a Legitimate phone.
SmartHat said:
You'll be fine with any GSM Carrier... Imei doesn't mean anything.
Just be sure your getting a Legitimate phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless it is on their blacklist an a stolen phone.
I bought a Motorola Cliq from CraigsList about a year ago... Turns out the guy I bought it from was a T-Mobile employee who had stolen the phone. I got a phone call from someone at T-Mobile asking me about the phone. I gave them all the information I had on the guy and then asked what it all meant to me.
I was told that because I had purchased the phone legitimately and had done nothing wrong that I could keep the phone and that T-Mobile had no interest in punishing a customer for someone else being dishonest.
As someone else said, pop your SIM card in the phone when you meet and see if it works.
Make sure you check that speaker phone works. I bought mine from a guy on craigslist for 275 and the speaker didn't work. I could hear out of the phone speaker (the one in front) but not out of the one in the back (above and to the right if the HTC logo behind the phone). So just check that the phone rings, that you can hear speakerphone, and that you can hear music.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
ricky05 said:
i completely understand about imei changing not allowed..
i was mostly asking if it was POSSIBLE..not how to do it really..but ok
and thanks for the reply about meeting the guy there..thats probably what I will do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If u change the imei then u will have one of someone else phone.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Can't the guy just report it stolen after you put your sim in to see if it works? This is the main thing stopping me from getting a G2 or Nexus on Craigslist. Will everything be perfect if it works when you put in your sim?
I would ask the seller to email the IMEI to me, and verify it with TMo. If all is good, double check it when you meet with the dude and you should be OK.
djsinco said:
I would ask the seller to email the IMEI to me, and verify it with TMo. If all is good, double check it when you meet with the dude and you should be OK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the response!
but even after checking the imei with tmobile, couldn't he just write down the imei number and report it stolen after I check it with the sim and buy it?
The concern to me is that the seller stole it. you could have TMo document the IMEI search in your notes, that and a printout of the CL post would cover you.
Youll be ok. I've never hear TMo blacklist any phones...even ones that were reported lost/stolen.
You bought it...just keep records of all your interactions with the seller.
Posted from my HTC Vision via XDA App
I have purchased and sold numerous phones over Craigslist.
I would recommend that you meet in an area that is well-lit and very PUBLIC. I typically try to meet at a coffee shop or something. I have heard of horror stories in my area about people setting up robberies through CL so be careful and aware of your surroundings.
Spend a few minutes using the phone... I.E. make a test phone call, send a text message, test sound output, etc. If the seller is not okay waiting a few minutes while you do these things, hand them the phone back and find a different seller. If there is nothing to hide, this process is reasonable.
Thanks for all the responses guys but my main concern is with the imei number. What is a sure way to know that it will not be blocked later on by a person?
Bbe1367 said:
I've worked for tmobile for a long time, they do not block imei's.......that is sprint and verizon which block esn's. Your safe to buy the phone.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is nothing you can do to prevent a seller from calling customer service and giving them the IMEI saying that its stolen, BUT that doesn't have any impact on you.
ESN's are used on CDMA phones and those can be blocked to prevent service reaching a device. IMEI's do not work the same way. Regardless of whether or not the phone is reported as stolen, it would continue to work.
Just keep a record of your communication with the seller in case he tries to scam you down the road saying you stole it from him, but that is highly unlikely. Just be sure to check the device and make sure everything is working.
I take a gun with me when I go pay/pick up my item.
johnnyham89 said:
Thanks for all the responses guys but my main concern is with the imei number. What is a sure way to know that it will not be blocked later on by a person?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-mobile DOES NOT block IMEI numbers AT ALL,
Sprint and Verizon use CDMA networks, hence you have to give them your ESN number.... which they CAN block.
Since you are with T-Mobile... this scenario DOES NOT, I repeat DOES NOT apply to you.
just be careful about the phone itself, Making sure EVERYTHING works fine, scratches, dings.
Like somenone said... if there is nothing to hide than he WILL wait for you to test out the phone until you are satisfied. Meeting in a coffee shop or a public spot will do you good!
Hi everyone,
I'd like to share a word of caution so hopefully you don't have to go through what I have.
About a month and a half ago my phone was having touchscreen issues so I was looking around and happened upon repair shop in Orlando, FL that was selling screen repairs on ebay for $80. They had good positive feedback from other people who had sent their phone to them so I decided to do it.
Long story short, for an entire month they had my phone and kept making excuses on why my phone wasn't fixed yet and informed me that the digitizer was not the problem but a cable between the digitizer and the motherboard was, but they had already fixed it and needed $30 more bucks and were going to drop it in the mail as soon as they got the money for the extra part, they had got a shipping code and everything.
Given the choice, I would've told them to send it back without fixing it but they already had, and since I had been a month without my phone I just said fine and I paid them again. And that's when they ceased all communication with me. I opened a case with eBay and after a week they decided I deserved a refund of my $80, however there was nothing they could do but politely ask the ebayer to return my phone.
So, as a warning, do not deal with this ebayer
and if you're living in Orlando, don't take your phone here:
Orlando Cell Phone Repair
6521 E.Colonial Dr
Orlando Fl 32807
their email: [email protected]
phone number: 407-455-8133
Also if you want to sign any of the above addresses up for your favorite spam site, that would be fine with me
thewarhawk said:
Hi everyone,
I'd like to share a word of caution so hopefully you don't have to go through what I have.
About a month and a half ago my phone was having touchscreen issues so I was looking around and happened upon repair shop in Orlando, FL that was selling screen repairs on ebay for $80. They had good positive feedback from other people who had sent their phone to them so I decided to do it.
Long story short, for an entire month they had my phone and kept making excuses on why my phone wasn't fixed yet and informed me that the digitizer was not the problem but a cable between the digitizer and the motherboard was, but they had already fixed it and needed $30 more bucks and were going to drop it in the mail as soon as they got the money for the extra part, they had got a shipping code and everything.
Given the choice, I would've told them to send it back without fixing it but they already had, and since I had been a month without my phone I just said fine and I paid them again. And that's when they ceased all communication with me. I opened a case with eBay and after a week they decided I deserved a refund of my $80, however there was nothing they could do but politely ask the ebayer to return my phone.
So, as a warning, do not deal with this ebayer
and if you're living in Orlando, don't take your phone here:
Orlando Cell Phone Repair
6521 E.Colonial Dr
Orlando Fl 32807
their email: [email protected]
phone number: 407-455-8133
Also if you want to sign any of the above addresses up for your favorite spam site, that would be fine with me
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this may help a lot of people !!
i feel sorry for your loss !!
I was born and raised in Orlando and live in Tampa now. I'm not back often, but next time I'm in town I'll try to stop by and raise hell with them.
Any news on getting your phone back?
Sent from my MB860 using xda premium
borgib said:
I was born and raised in Orlando and live in Tampa now. I'm not back often, but next time I'm in town I'll try to stop by and raise hell with them.
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Thanks alot, I appreciate that
msd24200 said:
Any news on getting your phone back?
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Nope, as always they're not replying to any emails and not answering my calls
Don't suppose you know your IMEI number, or S/N of the phone? I wouldn't be surprised if it wound up on EBAY for sale again.
Frrrrrrunkis said:
Don't suppose you know your IMEI number, or S/N of the phone? I wouldn't be surprised if it wound up on EBAY for sale again.
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unfortunately not I forgot to write them down before I sent it off..and yeah I've been keeping an eye out for it, but I'm sure they would be smart enough to do it through a different account..
have you tried notifying the carrier you use? sometimes they save the imei of the device you use when you make a purchase or even just trading sim card, although few do it that way.
el_venga said:
have you tried notifying the carrier you use? sometimes they save the imei of the device you use when you make a purchase or even just trading sim card, although few do it that way.
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Thanks, I'll try contacting them to see if they have it on record, I did buy it from them
thewarhawk said:
Thanks, I'll try contacting them to see if they have it on record, I did buy it from them
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Treat the situation as a stolen phone. Contact your carrier and tell them it was stolen.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA
ar31791 said:
Treat the situation as a stolen phone. Contact your carrier and tell them it was stolen.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA
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I would definitely do the same thing as well. Theft has all forms so if you are prepared to do some work then you should even call the police on them.
Have you read their Terms and Conditions? Is there anything that you can go to the police with? Do you have a record of your shipment to them?
I was very sorry to hear about you experience.
It's difficult when this 'shop' had good reviews on Ebay. That typically says it's okay to send something to them as you're going to get it returned, but what I read is ridiculous. Since I haven't seen anyone else recommend it, why not A) report the phone as stolen and B) report your stolen phone to the police.
Granted it's just a phone, but even then it's property and it sounds like this repair place is in the same area you're in, though I could be wrong.
I hope you get your phone back. Sorry to hear it even happened. :-(
-Dave
Well now that we have the phone number we should all call and tell them to return this guys phone.
dratsablive said:
Well now that we have the phone number we should all call and tell them to return this guys phone.
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Don't know the shop and don't know the guy posting this problem. We should trust what the OP says because? Just saying! Nobody should go calling anyone. If what the OP says is in fact true, then there is legal recourse if he has proof someone has his phone.
Sent from my MB860 using xda premium
ar31791 said:
Treat the situation as a stolen phone. Contact your carrier and tell them it was stolen.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA
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Just called my carrier and they said they can't really do anything except suspend my service, but since I took my sim out before I sent the phone, I don't need that. They didn't have record of my atrix's IMEI number, so no luck there.
Anyways, I'm saving up money to get another atrix(because I just love this phone) so I'll be getting another one soon..
Thanks everyone for your support, I just started this thread to warn anyone else against dealing with these people, so don't worry too much about calling them up, like Caelan says, you don't really know me, and it probably won't help too much either way.
Thanks again
I don't suppose you have the box of the phone saved somewhere do you?
both IMEI and SN numbers are on there.
Tratious said:
I don't suppose you have the box of the phone saved somewhere do you?
both IMEI and SN numbers are on there.
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Thanks for the suggestion, but those are long gone
Should have installed avast and enabled the anti theft option.
at this point you could have totally locked the phone down and even if he factory reset somehow it wouldnt matter
Just always remember karma is a really you know what and what goes around comes around