IMEI Blacklist Question

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Shapenz

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#230477 25-Feb-2018 21:12

Long story -

Late last year I purchased a used Google Pixel in the US from eBay. I used it on Skinny for a couple of months without issue then got tempted by the Pixel 2 XL so bought one of those and sold the Pixel on TradeMe in November.

I just got an email from the buyer today saying the phone has been IMEI blacklisted. Which puts me at a bit of a loss.

I haven't blocked it and I assume the buyer hasn't either. I didn't show the IMEI number on TradeMe so assume only myself and the buyer know the IMEI number - in any event it seems like the 'blacklister' would need to prove they own the phone first.

I have flicked a message to the eBay seller on the off-chance but from what I have read from the TCF webpage IMEI blocks are country specific. So even in the event he blacklisted the phone it would only be in the US not NZ?

What can I do to sort this out. Do I just tell the buyer to call their telco or is there some further action I need to take?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

TL:DR - Phone I sold has been blacklisted not sure why and don't know how to fix it :(

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#1964077 25-Feb-2018 21:33

Call the Telco, but you need to provide proof of ownership, probably need the very original purchase receipt which came from the store. Ebay/Trademe receipts won't work.

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#1964132 25-Feb-2018 22:39

Incorrect IMEI's do get blacklisted and they can be blacklisted for fraud as well, Yes tell the current end user to call their Telco and see how requested to have it blocked

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xpd

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#1964168 26-Feb-2018 07:43

Bit of a sideline, but whats actually required for a blacklist ? Literally just the IMEI and a "reason", no other verification ? Possible for someone to have made typo on the number ?

XPD / Gavin

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#1964170 26-Feb-2018 07:46

As above seen a few errors when IMEI entered and incorrect handsets impacted

John

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#1964172 26-Feb-2018 07:47

xpd:

Bit of a sideline, but whats actually required for a blacklist ? Literally just the IMEI and a "reason", no other verification ? Possible for someone to have made typo on the number ?

Yes it's entirely possible for a typo to occur.

Fraud is becoming a common use of the blacklist system (primararily by Spark) despite this not being an intended use of the system. I've seen a number of cases posted on here and heard of others where people are acquiring high end phones on contract, selling the phone (which passes a IMEI blacklist check) and then cancelling the contract several months later which is then resulting in the handset being blocked and the buyer being left with a brick.

Linux

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#1964184 26-Feb-2018 07:57

As above seen a few errors when IMEI entered and incorrect handsets impacted

John

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Dairyxox

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#1964211 26-Feb-2018 08:57

There is actually a history of Google? blacklisting Pixel phones themselves.

They got a bit butthurt that people were purchasing these simply to re-sell.

I'm not sure how you fix it, it seems like a real run-around.

Read a summary here: https://www.androidpolice.com/2017/05/25/resold-pixel-phones-originally-purchased-project-fi-imeis-blacklisted/

Shapenz

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#1964297 26-Feb-2018 10:02

Thanks all for the helpful responses. Hopefully it is just a typo error. I have asked the buyer to send me a picture of the sim tray with the physical IMEI printed on it so I have proof that I/he physically has the device with that IMEI.

The device was purchased overseas so I don't think any telco would have blocked it for fraud; eg - they don't have any financial interest in the device.

I'll contact the telco and see what they say. I assume if it's a model / IMEI mismatch they'll be able to fix it. Not sure what I'll do if its not.

I did hear back from the eBay seller (surprisingly) who doesn't have the receipt but was willing to help if he could.

sbiddle

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#1964303 26-Feb-2018 10:29

Shapenz:

The device was purchased overseas so I don't think any telco would have blocked it for fraud; eg - they don't have any financial interest in the device.

What if the current owner of the phone defaulted on a term contract? The telco has no financial interest in the device but this could be a way of trying to recover this from the owner. This isn't what the IMEI blacklist should be used for however if this is something that was done.

Shapenz

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#1964319 26-Feb-2018 11:12

Oh right sorry - I hadn't considered that. I thought the blacklist would be used if the owner owed money on the device - eg they bought it on one of the interest free type plans the telco's do now.

dt

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#1964334 26-Feb-2018 11:21

You shouldn't really have to be doing the running around for this person..

if you didn't do anything to get this phone blacklisted, tell them to take it up with their service provider

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sbiddle

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#1964344 26-Feb-2018 11:28

Shapenz:

Oh right sorry - I hadn't considered that. I thought the blacklist would be used if the owner owed money on the device - eg they bought it on one of the interest free type plans the telco's do now.

Yip.. And that's what Spark have been using it for, despite that not being an intended use for the blacklist when it was proposed. It was intended to only be used for stolen phones.

Coil

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#1964355 26-Feb-2018 11:45

Sounds to me like someone ahs received the phone, claimed it is black listed to try adn get cash out of you.

Seen it before.

Starscream122

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#1964358 26-Feb-2018 11:49

Coil:

Sounds to me like someone ahs received the phone, claimed it is black listed to try adn get cash out of you.

Seen it before.

So the person that bought the device of trade me has decided 3 months after purchasing that he want's to try and scam the dude that sold it to him?

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#1964360 26-Feb-2018 11:52

Ask for the phone back and refund? Test it and sell again if working.

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