Hello there XDA! I have a dilemma I bought a used Samsung galaxy s4 i337 from a guy locally and I tried to downgrade the firmware using Odin and I somehow missed up the Wifi because it would not turn on. Long story short I sent the phone to Samsung because it was still under warranty and they replaced the motherboard and sent it back. Upon receiving the device I went to pop in my buddy's AT&T similar (I have metro pcs) and it gave the MM#2 error. I checked the IMEI online and it shows blacklisted/stolen on checkesnfree. So pretty much this guy sold me the phone reported it stolen then used the money to get another through insurance probably. What are my options at this point. I know IMEI change is illegal but is it easy to just swap out motherboards on these devices? Anybody have a suggestion?
Someone was trying to do that with my S5 I had posted for sale. He was asking for the IMEI, serial, receipt, etc... he was for sure going to try to insure it, then report it stolen.
Related
All,
I recently purchased a Galaxy Note III in Australia.
A few hours later, I left my phone in the local KMART counter by accident. After searching for the phone for a whole day. I reported my phone as lost to my carrier and they IMEI blocked my phone.
2 days later, the local KMART store called me to let me know that someone has handed in my phone in.
I called up my carrier to let them know I found the phone, unfortunately however I was advised after 24 hours of the phone being reported as lost or stolen and IMEI blocked it cannot be restored/undone.
I am now stuck with a dead Galaxy Note III that I cannot use to make calls and a 24 month contract I cannot cancel with my carrier.
Can someone please help guide me the process I need to follow in order to change IMEI number on my phone permanently?
I have seen several guides on the internet however they are related to the S3/Note II and nothing on the Note III.
I'm really needing someone to help me with this. I appreciate the help.
gekrem said:
All,
I recently purchased a Galaxy Note III in Australia.
A few hours later, I left my phone in the local KMART counter by accident. After searching for the phone for a whole day. I reported my phone as lost to my carrier and they IMEI blocked my phone.
2 days later, the local KMART store called me to let me know that someone has handed in my phone in.
I called up my carrier to let them know I found the phone, unfortunately however I was advised after 24 hours of the phone being reported as lost or stolen and IMEI blocked it cannot be restored/undone.
I am now stuck with a dead Galaxy Note III that I cannot use to make calls and a 24 month contract I cannot cancel with my carrier.
Can someone please help guide me the process I need to follow in order to change IMEI number on my phone permanently?
I have seen several guides on the internet however they are related to the S3/Note II and nothing on the Note III.
I'm really needing someone to help me with this. I appreciate the help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is illegal to change the IMEI of a phone in Oz... No-one here on XDA will give you those instructions....
If u are the ph owner with proof ...then go shout bang and whatever at yr carrier and ask them to fix or replace the unit.
Teleported from my SM-N9005 from the Enterprise
They wont do it. It's my fault and it can't be unblocked.
Can be unblocked
Since You Purchase the Handset on Contract, Just go back to the original Store of Purchase and explain the situation to them.
They will have all your details on the Computer. (Your Name, Address, IMEI of Handset.) They can make a call or give you the Information to prove Ownership.
I saw this on many occasions. Customers misplacing handsets and having them Blocked only to find them after a frantic search.
If You can show Proof of Ownership IT CAN BE UNBLOCKED.
I used to work for Telstra and know for a fact that they can be unblocked. Just need to prove that You are the Original Owner and have a Store Receipt and/or Contract Details.
More Info here - http://www.amta.org.au/pages/amta/FAQs.on.mobile.security
Mod Edit
Discussing,advertising,advocating changes or replacement of imei numbers is not allowed on XDA.
Thread closed
malybru
Forum Moderator
Okay, so I have a Galaxy S4 from AT&T purchased around September 2013 at a Best Buy. I originally bought this phone off Craigslist, but the guy did not give me any documents besides the box and accessories.So no receipt. I read on XDA people claiming warranty and asking about how to unroot. I'm not rooted or anything, I am basically using this phone like how Samsung and AT&T intended it. My question is, how does one go about getting it repaired or replaced for warranty? I know from Apple you can walk into a store and walk out with a replacement refurbished phone. Am I supposed to just call up Samsung and say I need a second-hand phone repaired? I mean I can't really call AT&T because this phone is technically with a different account, correct? And Best Buy didn't sell the black tie program with this phone, so no use calling them.
Thanks in advance. (btw, my phone isn't broken, I am just asking for future reference.)
itszcharlie said:
Okay, so I have a Galaxy S4 from AT&T purchased around September 2013 at a Best Buy. I originally bought this phone off Craigslist, but the guy did not give me any documents besides the box and accessories.So no receipt. I read on XDA people claiming warranty and asking about how to unroot. I'm not rooted or anything, I am basically using this phone like how Samsung and AT&T intended it. My question is, how does one go about getting it repaired or replaced for warranty? I know from Apple you can walk into a store and walk out with a replacement refurbished phone. Am I supposed to just call up Samsung and say I need a second-hand phone repaired? I mean I can't really call AT&T because this phone is technically with a different account, correct? And Best Buy didn't sell the black tie program with this phone, so no use calling them.
Thanks in advance. (btw, my phone isn't broken, I am just asking for future reference.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very easy, just go to the samsung website and chat with an adviser if you have a problem. They will walk you through general troubleshooting and then if that doesn't fix it, you can send it on for repairs.
I bought a used GS4 off CL and sold it to a guy. Didn't test out the camera but he told me camera did not work. After troubleshooting and researching online, it appeared to be a hardware problem. Logged on, they checked the serial number and saw that it was manufactured in Jun of this year, so still under warranty. They printed a 2 day shipping label for me, repair took about 3-4 days, then they sent it back working UPS 2 day!
awesome. not as convenient as apple, but if its that easy, cool thanks.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Hello I went on kijiji and saw a galaxy note 3 for $550. I thought this was a good deal as other were going for $600, $650. So i went out and bought the phone. I checked my SIM card and everything and it was working fine. However, I did see that it was from T-mobile because it said so on the back and I asked the guy and he said his cousin gave it to him. So I went home and told my cousin. My cousin then told me about IMEI and how they blacklist it and stuff. So i did some research, put the IMEI number on t-mobile check and what do you know, it was black listed from t-mobile. I tried calling the guy but he won't answer. My question is should I expect the phone to stop working anytime soon or something? I'm on Wind mobile by the way.
Nope. At least as of now, there's no cross check between companies. But, be aware, the phone is stolen.
Sent from my Note 3 via Tapatalk
You may have the police arrive to take it back... I hope you got a written receipt....
This is frequently seen in mexico and other latin american countries, as far as I know the technitians can re-implement the IMEI or generate one from scratch. but it's a tad expensive!
Mind you that this is against the law as it is a stolen mobile device. I think I might've heard that If you send your package to some state in Mexico, let's say Tijuana, they may or may not fix it for you and there may or may not be a costly charge for the service.
Changing the IMEI is illegal, which will get you into alot of trouble if they find you. Secondly, there is a national north american IMEI blacklist. You cheaped out and bought a phone that was stolen. Next time be wary of the phones you buy on craigslist or kiji. The only way you may be able to salvage some money back is to sell it overseas. The phone is not usable, and the carriers will not unblacklist it for you.
Hey guys, recently I bought a Sprint Note 3 off a trusted seller on Amazon, and when it arrived I headed straight to the Sprint store. I took it up to the counter and they started trying to switch the number over and came across a problem; it wasn't a Sprint phone. Even though it passed the lost or stolen test, and did indeed boot up as a Sprint phone, they simply could not activate it on the Sprint network. After some thought the employee concluded that the previous owner had tried to flash it to (boost I think it was) and failed miserably, then proceeded to try and flash it back to Sprint, somehow messing something up in the process. I'm pretty much a (complete) noob at everything Android, but I was wondering if any of you had anything I or my Android intelligent friend could do to make it activate-able. I figure it's a (very) long shot, but thought I might as well see if there's anything I can do before returning it and buying a different one of Swappa. Cheers.
Hi,
I'll have your thread moved to the note 3 section. The experts there will need to help. You will need to register to reply to anyone.
?
Hello friends,
So I have bought Galaxy S7 edge from Craigslist few weeks ago and was using it for prepaid SIM till I found out last night that my phone was blocked due to someone reported this phone was stolen. Is there a way someone can guide me the process to let AT&T know that the phone was not stolen, unless original owner wanted to make money from the insurance or At&T, not sure. Thanks in advance for your help.
The guy you bought it from probably isn't the original owner of the phone you bought from him. He probably stole it in the first place from somebody else. No matter how good his excuses are, there are plenty of maggots out there who dont give a damn about anyone else but just want your money.
P.S That is why he waited a few weeks before reporting it just to make it look good for him.
That sux. But thats a gamble u take being used and craigslist.
Go back to the seller and demand your money back.
I wish I could but seller is not picking up his phone or replying to my calls. I am dead in the water...
Out of curosity, If someone help me unlock the bootloader, and flash a new ROM , Can I be able to use it in USA?
Some knobhead did exact same to me after paying £500 in an ideal world ID at least have been able to beat the **** out of the scumbag
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
iali76 said:
Out of curosity, If someone help me unlock the bootloader, and flash a new ROM , Can I be able to use it in USA?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your IMIE is blacklisted. Unlocking will not change this, nor will loading a new rom. If this is an AT&T phone, then it's not even an option anyway, as you can't unlock them.
No offence, but your screwed.....
Yup, no recovering from this. You are screwed.
Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
Unfortunately, this sounds like it's an expensive lesson learned.
In future, when buying a used phone from someone on Ebay, Craigslist, Swappa, etc, ALWAYS ask for the IMEI number of the phone. Then call the service provider that the phone belongs to and verify that the IMEI number is in good standing and has not been blacklisted.
You need to ask for they I'd so that way you can find them or report them ppl can sell you a phone then later on block it they can get a new one happen to me but you can try getting the Sim unlock and trying a small class phone company to see if they would give service anything like tmobile att they not going to do it