Buying iphone off Craigslist

[smithpaul80]

Want to buy a few days old iphone off Craigslist. The guy says he does not like iOS and prefers Android. He says he has the receipt, box, and all original accessories.

Is it possible that after I buy the phone, that guy would possibly report it as stolen or not paying his bill and then I would be stuck with bad ESN or IMEI iphone?

Thanks!

 

[sbddude]

Meet at the store of your carrier (ATT/vzw) and activate it on your account before paying. Then you are sure it will work. Once its on your account it won't matter if he pays his bill or not.

 

[smithpaul80]

Meet at the store of your carrier (ATT/vzw) and activate it on your account before paying. Then you are sure it will work. Once its on your account it won't matter if he pays his bill or not.

I am with T-Mobile.

 

[sbddude]

GSM phones don't have ESN anyway.

 

[smithpaul80]

GSM phones don't have ESN anyway.

So you mean if I like it I can go ahead and buy it with no worries?

 

[Benjamindaines]

I just bough one off craigslist. Just make sure you buy one with a reasonable asking price (I paid $300 for a 32GB 3GS). Anything less than that an in a shady location (North Philly) is probably stolen.

 

[smithpaul80]

I just bough one off craigslist. Just make sure you buy one with a reasonable asking price (I paid $300 for a 32GB 3GS). Anything less than that an in a shady location (North Philly) is probably stolen.

He's asking $450 and it's iphone 4 16GB.

 

[Benjamindaines]

He's asking $450 and it's iphone 4 16GB.

Seems legit enough. Speaking from going through this yesterday, the thought of the seller reporting it stolen never crossed my mind. In fact, he was even willing to transfer he AppleCare to me. I think you'll be alright; $450 isn't a red flag price.

 

[labman]

umm if you t-mobile you might want to make sure you can unlock it also. unless you plan on using the grevey sim make sure it has baseband 1.59.00 and be very carefull you don't update the baseband unless you want a expensive Touch. also remember you will use Edge on Tmobile not the faster 3G.

 

[wxman2003]

If its an AT&T iphone, they will not unlock that phone and you will not be able to use it on tmobile

 

[smithpaul80]

I am trying to use Gevey sim to unlock the iphone if purchased. I first want to be on the safe side before I purchase the iphone.

 

[mohsy90]

umm if you t-mobile you might want to make sure you can unlock it also. unless you plan on using the grevey sim make sure it has baseband 1.59.00 and be very carefull you don't update the baseband unless you want a expensive Touch. also remember you will use Edge on Tmobile not the faster 3G.

?? Gevey works on 4.10 baseband

 

[hackthatphone]

There's a possibility he will hit you over the head and take your money as well, but I think both options are slim.

 

[Annerz]

I'm always wary of buying things off craigslist. You should probably go to a store so nothing like that will happen.

 

[smithpaul80]

?? Gevey works on 4.10 baseband

Yes it does work on 4.10.01

 

[labman]

get the serial and you can check the warranty https://selfsolve.apple.com/GetWarranty.do I would also double check water damage. (bring a flashlight) https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1011863/ Also I like to ask people to meet at the police station or at least the parking lot there. honest people have no problems with it they even like it. dishonest people tend to avoid police stations.

 

[87am]

If its only "a few days old" then he could return it for a full refubd instead of sellibg to youfor a loss.

 

[rick snagwell]

i bought a VIP4 for $475 off craigslist. had them meet me at the local verizon store to activate, and make sure he was on camera. all went great, seemed like a good guy, brought his GF. activated fine, and approx 7 days later they turned it off and requested the phone back, reported stolen. absolutely nothing i could do. i talked with verizon/craigslist reps, i guess this is a common scam...they just report it stolen after they sell it, and verizon replaces their iphone.

in the end, i sold the bad esn phone on craigslist that wanted to tear a VIP4 apart, i advert it bad esn as well. for $300. i don't suggest buying anything electronic off CL. by new from apple store!