Carrier SCAM - READ THIS - AT&T Next Plan

[billycuth]

Got an email from my ebay buyer last night lauding me for being trustworthy.

Then I got positive feedback.

No issues whatsoever - and that's even with UPS ignoring my instructions and delivering it without a signature. And this guy lived in an apartment complex.

So all is not lost on ebay.

 

[henryonapple]

Got an email from my ebay buyer last night lauding me for being trustworthy.

Then I got positive feedback.

No issues whatsoever - and that's even with UPS ignoring my instructions and delivering it without a signature. And this guy lived in an apartment complex.

So all is not lost on ebay.

Yeah there are still honest people out there

 

[Vetvito]

I've buy a lot of bad ESN iPhones, take them to the apple store making up something is wrong with it, they replace it, I'm handed a clean ESN/IMEI iPhone, sell them on CL/eBay/Amazon, ??????, profit?

How is that possible without Apple Care?

 

[henryonapple]

How is that possible without Apple Care?

you are covered for 1 year under the regular warranty against all defects, but not accidental damage

 

[Vetvito]

you are covered for 1 year under the regular warranty against all defects, but not accidental damage

I know that and that wasn't my question.

My question is, how is he swapping out bad ESN/IMEI phones at Apple and they check the phone to make sure it's the correct phone under the care program?

 

[henryonapple]

I know that and that wasn't my question.

My question is, how is he swapping out bad ESN/IMEI phones at Apple and they check the phone to make sure it's the correct phone under the care program?

apple does not check the IMEI number, only the serial number to check the warranty

 

[jebbe]

I didn't read the entire thread, but I think the NEXT plan is going to require a credit check. Wouldn't that preclude scammers from abusing this?

It actually doesn't require a credit check, as long as you're in good standing with AT&T you usually qualify.


I walked into the store and got my phone via the NEXT plan, they just checked my eligibility for an upgrade and that was it.

 

[max pl]

It actually doesn't require a credit check, as long as you're in good standing with AT&T you usually qualify.


I walked into the store and got my phone via the NEXT plan, they just checked my eligibility for an upgrade and that was it.

but thats because you are already a member with a good history, likely having had your credit checked when you first signed up.

these scammers only run these phone scams using stolen identities. my brother sold phones last year and that exactly how the thieves did it.

 

[Vetvito]

apple does not check the IMEI number, only the serial number to check the warranty

Ok... My question still stands. How does a person do that, and turn a profit?

That means you need another phone that's already under AppleCare+.

It makes no sense. That's why I asked the question.

 

[henryonapple]

Ok... My question still stands. How does a person do that, and turn a profit?

That means you need another phone that's already under AppleCare+.

It makes no sense. That's why I asked the question.

I don't understand your question, but this is what the poster was saying:

1. purchase bad IMEI/ESN iPhone for cheap
2. get a replacement via the regular 1 year warranty
3. sell the replacement iphone for more than what he purchased the bad IMEI/ESN for

 

[Vetvito]

I don't understand your question, but this is what the poster was saying:

1. purchase bad IMEI/ESN iPhone for cheap
2. get a replacement via the regular 1 year warranty
3. sell the replacement iphone for more than what he purchased the bad IMEI/ESN for

That's the problem. You don't get a replacement unless there is a real problem. And manufacture problem.

What on earth can you make up to get a replacement? Without a phone already being on AppleCare+?

I can see if the phone has a real problem, then you can turn a profit. Other than that, you're wasting time and money.

 

[henryonapple]

That's the problem. You don't get a replacement unless there is a real problem. And manufacture problem.

What on earth can you make up to get a replacement? Without a phone already being on AppleCare+?

I can see if the phone has a real problem, then you can turn a profit. Other than that, you're wasting time and money.

there are threads on here that are titled "how to break your iPhone" which talk about how you can break your iphone in a way that you can still have it covered under warranty. for example, you can put extreme pressure on the home button and have it "break" and the apple store will consider it covered under the standard warranty.

 

[billycuth]

It actually doesn't require a credit check, as long as you're in good standing with AT&T you usually qualify.


I walked into the store and got my phone via the NEXT plan, they just checked my eligibility for an upgrade and that was it.

OK, but generally scammers are going to be new customers, one would think. Unless these ID thieves also know that a person is already a customer of a particular carrier. I doubt they go to such lengths.

 

[henryonapple]

OK, but generally scammers are going to be new customers, one would think. Unless these ID thieves also know that a person is already a customer of a particular carrier. I doubt they go to such lengths.

there are pathetic individuals who can't hold a decent job and are willing to go to lengths to make money despite ruining their credit.

 

[unplugme71]

No it isn't, they would need to front a substantial security deposit without good enough credit.

I think its $250 per device with poor credit if I'm not mistaken with AT&T.

however, this doesn't stop a thief from using a fake identity with good credit.

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If I bought a phone off ebay or amazon, you at least have a printable receipt. With CL, I'd be worried.

I'd take the copy of my purchase to AT&T to verify I purchased it. I would then raise hell if they refuse to activate my phone. I don't care that the original owner did not make payments.

If AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, etc started doing this, you would see title insurance companies forming to protect phone purchasers - just like they do with homes and cars.

 

[billycuth]

there are pathetic individuals who can't hold a decent job and are willing to go to lengths to make money despite ruining their credit.

yes, but if they have poor credit to begin with or have poor history with their carrier, they won't be eligible for these types of plans.

 

[henryonapple]

yes, but if they have poor credit to begin with or have poor history with their carrier, they won't be eligible for these types of plans.

that's true. but unless we work at one of these carriers we won't know what kind of credit is needed for these plans.

 

[henryonapple]

[/COLOR]If I bought a phone off ebay or amazon, you at least have a printable receipt. With CL, I'd be worried.

I'd take the copy of my purchase to AT&T to verify I purchased it. I would then raise hell if they refuse to activate my phone. I don't care that the original owner did not make payments.

If AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, etc started doing this, you would see title insurance companies forming to protect phone purchasers - just like they do with homes and cars.

I don't think T-Mobile would ever activate someone else's phone once it's reported lost/stolen by the original owner

 

[unplugme71]

I don't think T-Mobile would ever activate someone else's phone once it's reported lost/stolen by the original owner

if it happens to a handful, probably not, but when 100's start complaining - T-mobile will do something

 

[hansonjohn590]

Wouldn't doing this absolutely ruin the credit of the scam artists? Thus, preventing them from doing this again.

EDIT: Read your post again, they don't care just want the quick cash. Would be nice if the IMEI numbers could be checked somehow.

 

[henryonapple]

Wouldn't doing this absolutely ruin the credit of the scam artists? Thus, preventing them from doing this again.

EDIT: Read your post again, they don't care just want the quick cash. Would be nice if the IMEI numbers could be checked somehow.

the IMEI can be checked, but that doesn't stop the original owner from stopping payments, thus blacklisting the IMEI

 

[alent1234]

An eBay receipt doesn't mean the phone is legally yours

Raise all the hell you want, you probably will probably lose a lawsuit if you brought one against a carrier

I think its $250 per device with poor credit if I'm not mistaken with AT&T.

however, this doesn't stop a thief from using a fake identity with good credit.

----------

If I bought a phone off ebay or amazon, you at least have a printable receipt. With CL, I'd be worried.

I'd take the copy of my purchase to AT&T to verify I purchased it. I would then raise hell if they refuse to activate my phone. I don't care that the original owner did not make payments.

If AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, etc started doing this, you would see title insurance companies forming to protect phone purchasers - just like they do with homes and cars.

 

[unplugme71]

An eBay receipt doesn't mean the phone is legally yours

Raise all the hell you want, you probably will probably lose a lawsuit if you brought one against a carrier

Then you can bring it against the credit card to dispute the charge as it wasn't legally sold.

 

[henryonapple]

Then you can bring it against the credit card to dispute the charge as it wasn't legally sold.

but you legally made the decision to make the transaction

 

[unplugme71]

but you legally made the decision to make the transaction

then on that note, I and everyone else should just start scamming the world.