Buying 14 Pro Max less than half price, what to look out for?

Forums › Apple iOS and devices › Buying 14 Pro Max less than half price, what to look out for?

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skewt

750 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3089036 12-Jun-2023 13:48

Had this once,

purchased a phone on FB that ended up being IMEI blocked by Spark as the previous person didn't pay the bill, after a few days was blocked by all networks once they synced up.

Not much you can do in that Situation, Cops didnt care, Spark didn't want the phone back so I sent it to a friend overseas where it wasn't blocked

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3089038 12-Jun-2023 13:55

skewt:

Had this once,

purchased a phone on FB that ended up being IMEI blocked by Spark as the previous person didn't pay the bill, after a few days was blocked by all networks once they synced up.

Not much you can do in that Situation, Cops didnt care, Spark didn't want the phone back so I sent it to a friend overseas where it wasn't blocked

Cheers. Exactly the situation Im trying to avoid, regardless of price. I think most folk are genuine, but as alwvys in society, there are those without a moral compass.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3089043 12-Jun-2023 14:00

Quick thought, receipt for Warranty is important which will state where bought, I could just ask for the IMEI and if bought through a network, I could just ring them to verify if its status etc? Not sure where the imei falls under the privacy act....

Will try one of the online imei checks with one of my old devices to see what info it spits out.

tripp

3848 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3089069 12-Jun-2023 14:35

Just don't do it.

Even if it works now it might not in a months time etc. Even if you meet up at a store and they check the IMEI etc it might still turn up on a block list later on (i.e. when it is finally reported stolen or the person stops paying the account or someone works out that their ID has been used to buy the phone on account).

The only way this works out well for you is if you get the receipt for the phone (the receipt will have the IMEI on it). Then contact the telco / store it was purchased from, make sure its not an active MRO. If it is then the seller will need to pay that off first which they wont because the sell price they want to sell it to you is already more than what is owed on it.

Some examples of what can happen:

1) You buy phone, a few days later seller reports it stolen and goes to the cop shop to file a report, this is needed for their insurance payout, once insurance pays out the insurance company will request it blocked on all telco's. Seller now has money + new phone

2) Seller stole someones ID and signed up and put a device on MRO, they get the device and sell it, next thing the persons whose ID was stolen contacts telco / cops and says its not them, phone is blocked. Remember this can happen 1 - 2 months later because the person will not know until a monthly invoice turn up or debt collectors start calling them.

Otherwise the device ends up being a good fake iphone, you buy the phone the seller blocks you on facebook with the fake profile they created to sell dodgy stuff like this. Also it may pass the IMEI check as the fake phone will have a real IMEI of a real iphone but there will also be 5000 other fake iphones with the same IMEI number

note: I have worked on the data for all 3 of our big telco's and have seen a number of ways this kind of "cheap" phone scams work.

Also, the only online checker you should be using in NZ is Check the status of your handset - TCF

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3089094 12-Jun-2023 15:48

tripp:

The only way this works out well for you is if you get the receipt for the phone (the receipt will have the IMEI on it). Then contact the telco / store it was purchased from, make sure its not an active MRO. If it is then the seller will need to pay that off first which they wont because the sell price they want to sell it to you is already more than what is owed on it.

Nice one tripp, this is the only scenario I am considering. I wasnt sure if the IMEI would be printed on a receipt as has been ages since we have bought a phone.

Im just considering if the 14 has a lot over the 13, obviously if they are priced similar Id go the latter model.

Very good points you made.

Given all that, it makes me wonder how many scams are out there with handsets.....

Cheers :-)

DeepBlueSky

547 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3089357 13-Jun-2023 11:30

Some Tips,

I have been there, years ago now with a then new Samsung Note 8 got blocked but managed after a bit of leaning by me and TM to get my money back, there are some steps that will help with buying on TM I would careful to FB for items like this unless you can pay other than Cash or Bank Transfer.

Simple List I use:

Always ask for PING or AfterPay as payment options, if the sale is a scam you can get a refund.
Note unanswered question count this suggests they are not engaged in the sale or not wanting to answer peoples questions.
Address Verified status helps to know they are not just a shell seller they have a place of fixed abode.
How many items has the seller sold items if they are in low single digits its a Red Flag could be a staged account for the sale. Also if they are from a seller with 100's of sales that suggests they should be okay.
Check peoples reviews I have spotted some that are also from buyers in the single digits, my spider sense suggests to me they may have multiple fake accounts or working as a team.
If you can get the IMEI go online and check NZ Telecommunications forum https://www.tcf.org.nz/consumers/mobile/lost-stolen-phones/check-your-handsets-status/ only useful if its blocked as it maybe in the process of being blocked but no show. Also if you know what the phones carrier is try and talk to them to see if there is money owning.

Hope it helps.

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