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Bowsa2511

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 21, 2013
117
0
Hey guys when buying an iPhone 5s off craigslist what signs should I look out for? It comes with all original packaging, and the seller provided me with the imei and I checked it on Swappa and another site and it shows up as clean, and ready for activation; as in it's not tied to a contract, or blacklisted. It seems to just be an off-contract phone and ready to go. Can people report an off-contract phone stolen/to insurance, and do insurance phones comes sealed? Just want to cover all bases.
 
Hey guys when buying an iPhone 5s off craigslist what signs should I look out for? It comes with all original packaging, and the seller provided me with the imei and I checked it on Swappa and another site and it shows up as clean, and ready for activation; as in it's not tied to a contract, or blacklisted. It seems to just be an off-contract phone and ready to go. Can people report an off-contract phone stolen/to insurance, and do insurance phones comes sealed? Just want to cover all bases.

Are they claiming it is the T Mobile unlocked version?

If so, verify the Model #
 
Hey guys when buying an iPhone 5s off craigslist what signs should I look out for? It comes with all original packaging, and the seller provided me with the imei and I checked it on Swappa and another site and it shows up as clean, and ready for activation; as in it's not tied to a contract, or blacklisted. It seems to just be an off-contract phone and ready to go. Can people report an off-contract phone stolen/to insurance, and do insurance phones comes sealed? Just want to cover all bases.

Swappa is not 100 percent accurate. I had a Sprint iPhone 4S and it shows as Verizon when I put in the IMEI. Also, just to clarify, Swappa does not show you if the phone is on or off contract, it shows you if the IMEI is valid for activation. The seller could very well be under contact still, but since their account is current, it shows as ready for activation.
 
Buy device only from Verizon online

Hey guys when buying an iPhone 5s off craigslist what signs should I look out for? It comes with all original packaging, and the seller provided me with the imei and I checked it on Swappa and another site and it shows up as clean, and ready for activation; as in it's not tied to a contract, or blacklisted. It seems to just be an off-contract phone and ready to go. Can people report an off-contract phone stolen/to insurance, and do insurance phones comes sealed? Just want to cover all bases.

I would not risk Craigslist/Ebay with something like this.
Try buying "device only" from verizon online, see:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1675136/
 
If your concerned about getting scammed just spend the extra 100 dollars and buy a full priced one off contract from apple store, at least you will have piece of mind then,
 
As an experienced buyer of phones on CL, you are really at the mercy of the seller with regards to the phone. Certain issues the phone may have cant be tested on the spot. Also, you are never clear from the phone being eventually blacklisted. That said, I have only ever bought one bad phone out of over a hundred. I pay very low to limit my loss.
 
Verizon vs. AT&T

Oh I have AT&T, and for those who suggest going to an AT&T store, what do I do when I'm in there? Tell the clerk I'm buying the phone from the guy and they check it or something?

The Verizon iPhone 5S should work on AT&T.
 
Thanks guys, got my mom the Silver 5s, huge upgrade from her crappy Atrix HD :)
 
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