Signs that this TradeMe seller is flogging stolen kit or am I paranoid??

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Topic # 242715 10-Nov-2018 18:12

I am potentially about to buy an "unwanted" new and sealed iPad off a TradeMe seller at what seems like a pretty fair price - not suspiciously cheap but still a good buy.

They have been around a good few years and have 99.6% positive feedback from over 150 trades.

Their selling history has a mix of used phones and devices (and other stuff) and a fair few new/sealed Apple devices.

I noticed however that they have 3 iPhone X's sold in the space of just over a month with the same description which includes:

"Receipt was thrown away with the shopping bag (stupid me) - so selling for a fantastic price!"

...which seems a bit fishy to me.

That said, they have been happy to provide the serial No. of the device that I am thinking of buying and according to the Apple website it is NZ new and has a valid purchase date etc.

Am I just being paranoid?

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Reply # 2123399 10-Nov-2018 18:12

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Hmmmm. Here we go.

I am the Geekzone Robot and I am here to help. I am from the Internet. I do not interact. Do not expect other replies from me.

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Reply # 2123405 10-Nov-2018 18:13

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PeterReader:

Hmmmm. Here we go.

I reckon you need an AI tune-up Peter - wind yer neck in mate!

Dial111

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Reply # 2123409 10-Nov-2018 18:17

Ask for a receipt, if one cannot be provided then walk away, not worth the risk.

Trust your gut feeling.

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Reply # 2123411 10-Nov-2018 18:38

Dial111: Ask for a receipt, if one cannot be provided then walk away, not worth the risk.

Trust your gut feeling.

I asked - there is no receipt.

With a valid NZ Purchase date tied to the serial, what do you reckon the scheme is? Seems odd they would have these devices and no receipt each time, but it is a legit local device.

Dodgy returns or credit card scam or something?

(or still needless paranoia!)

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Reply # 2123412 10-Nov-2018 18:47

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Could even be identity fraud with getting phones on contract.

I found a iPhone XS Max for $600 that was "not getting past the welcome screen" on Facebook. I asked for the IMEI of which, the guy wouldn't give me (strange) then asked if I can view it and why he has not asked Apple about it. He gave me his address and said "he bought it from Trademe". I then passed this over to the NZ Police along with all other details. I noticed about an hour later all his listings were taken down. Long story short it resulted in an arrest.

It is quite common - if it doesn't get past the setup screen then it is iCloud locked, doesn't get coverage in NZ or on some providers then it is IMEI blocked and lastly if it is too good to be true and appears a scam it likely is. Report this to the Police, it sounds incredibly dodgy.

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Reply # 2123413 10-Nov-2018 18:49

It is a new sealed iPad (cellular + WiFi) and not a phone in this case.

Pictures do indeed show a sealed iPad box and he (assuming he!) has a long TradeMe history with happy customers for other stuff.

Still...

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Reply # 2123417 10-Nov-2018 18:54

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150 trades is not much really in the scheme of things. Who knows, he could work for a retailer and be selling stolen goods. But, we don't know this.

I think asking for proof of purchase is the best thing to do. Assuming it is legit, this should be able to be done by contacting the store.

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Reply # 2123419 10-Nov-2018 19:03

michaelmurfy:

150 trades is not much really in the scheme of things. Who knows, he could work for a retailer and be selling stolen goods. But, we don't know this.

I think asking for proof of purchase is the best thing to do. Assuming it is legit, this should be able to be done by contacting the store.

Yeah - think I will just leave it. He doesn't have the receipt which for something only 3 months old and still sealed seems a bit odd - especially with the other 3 iPhones with the same characteristics in his selling history,.

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Reply # 2123421 10-Nov-2018 19:28

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Whats the bet that the seller drives a yellow van?

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Reply # 2123431 10-Nov-2018 20:07

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Could it be one of those scams where someone buys a fancy phone on a 24 month payment plan, then sells it on the likes of TradeMe and stops paying it off?

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Reply # 2123434 10-Nov-2018 20:14

You can put iPads on monthly payments with spark can't you? I see a lot of it on Facebook where people sign up to plans with monthly payments for phones and then sell the phones for cash. Spark uses to imei block them when people stopped paying but think they were told to stop abusing the black listing system.

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Reply # 2123435 10-Nov-2018 20:38

michaelmurfy:
150 trades is not much really in the scheme of things. Who knows, he could work for a retailer and be selling stolen goods. But, we don't know this.

I think asking for proof of purchase is the best thing to do. Assuming it is legit, this should be able to be done by contacting the store.

Is possible to buy at staff discount and still make a profit at the selling price? He may not want the retailer identified because he's not supposed to be reselling them.

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Reply # 2123438 10-Nov-2018 21:05

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It is a new sealed iPad (cellular + WiFi)

Surprised noone picked up on this but it is a 'phone' in the sense that it takes a SIM. Ask for the IMEI per prior posts.

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Reply # 2123439 10-Nov-2018 21:11

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Ordering through a work account then selling it on?

Can't think of too many (if any) legitimate reasons why someone would have so many new devices and no receipts, particularly iphones. I can understand gaming consoles where you can pick one up cheap (see stacked Warehouse deals) to onsell at a profit but not apple products with their small margins.

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Reply # 2123441 10-Nov-2018 21:24

nigelj:

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It is a new sealed iPad (cellular + WiFi)

Surprised noone picked up on this but it is a 'phone' in the sense that it takes a SIM. Ask for the IMEI per prior posts.

Be surprised if that told me any more than I know already. Think I am just going to leave it alone.

The seller has been going a while so I doubt (s)he is selling obviously stolen or blocked devices - someone would have reported it by now if so surely?

It also has a valid recent date of sale under the serial, so it has been legitimately sold. I am thinking that if it is dodgy it has most likely been purchased legitimately via fraudulent means of payment or acquisition.

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