Though phone theft is on the decline due to software like Find My iPhone and iCloud Activation Lock, thieves can still make a quick buck if they move stolen phones fast. See Its Value › Scam #2: Stolen and blacklisted phones Perhaps the oldest scam in the book, scammers steal phones then sell them before the owner can report them stolen. Your Old Phone Could Be Worth $100 Or More. “If a local seller isn’t willing to take these measures, then I’d recommend moving along and finding a device from someone who will.” “I understand these measures are time-consuming, but they will help weed out the deceitful individuals who are more likely to have a stolen phone or pull a scam on you,” says Shane from CheckESNFree, an online IMEI blacklist checker. If you meet at the carrier, most scammers probably won’t even show up. That might not prevent a scammer from reporting the phone lost or stolen later, but they’ll probably think twice since it will be easier for you to take legal action. ![]() The best way to protect yourself from this scam is to meet at the local carrier store, verify the seller’s identity and ownership of the phone, and get a bill of sale. The only way to remove it is to have the original owner tell the carrier it has been found – and that’s not going to happen if you’ve been scammed. Once your phone is on the blacklist, it can’t be activated with major carriers. ![]() There are two major blacklist databases: the GSMA database that all major carriers report to, and the NCIC database that’s maintained by the FBI. The blacklist is a database of phones that have been reported lost or stolen or have been inactivated by carriers due to delinquent payments. “All of a sudden, you may end up with a blocked phone and you won’t be able to unlock it without the help of the original owner.” “This scam is still quite common since people can report a stolen phone even after a few months,” says Nick Galov, a tech expert for Hosting Tribunal. The scammer makes money off you and has a new phone they can use or sell, and you’re left with a phone that no longer works. The insurance company provides them with a new phone and blacklists the phone you bought. Later, they report it lost or stolen and file an insurance claim. It works like this: a scammer sells you a phone that’s insured. ![]() Scam #1: Phone reported lost or stolen after the sale This scam is one of the easiest to pull off and one of the most difficult to prevent. Buying A Used Phone? Protect yourself with our Phone Buying Checklist Familiarize yourself with the following Craigslist phone scams to avoid becoming the next victim. Many people turn to popular online classifieds sites and apps like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, LetGo and OfferUp to replace their missing phones, but buyer beware: scams abound, and you could be taken for a costly ride if you aren’t careful. Around 29 million phones are lost or stolen annually, and the summer season sparks a 50 percent spike in missing phones as more people are likely to lose their devices on vacation and during outdoor recreation.
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