Buying a used phone from Craigslist - What should I look for?

Once you have the IMEI, click here and check it. Verify that the phone is unlocked before handing over any money.

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The following may be useful: https://www.icloud.com/activationlock/

In addition to the advice about checking the Activation Status of

the iPhone provided by Neil and FoxFifth, do the following.

Before purchase, take a photo of the seller and their photo ID and send

both to the cloud. If the seller demurs, walk away immediately.

Standard scam is to sell iPhone, then report it stolen/lost to insurance.

Seller has insurance money and your money, and you own a blacklisted

iPhone that is unusable.

Take someone with you and have that person stay in the car/across the room

(having entered separately from you) holding the money until after

you have checked out the iPhone. Be careful when you do bring out the

money that an associate of the seller cannot grab it and run. Also watch

out for robbery - either of the cash on the way to the sale/after seeing the

iPhone if the sale does not go through or the iPhone itself after the sale.

itsChris wrote:

I think taking an image of the seller and their ID is a bit overboard

Not really. In fact, you should immediately send the photo to a trusted friend who knows where you are and what you're doing. You should have another friend with you. Ideally, you should agree to meet the seller at your local police station. If they refuse, walk away. Better yet, don't even get into the mess of buying an iPhone from craigslist at all. At least eBay has buyer protection. craigslist has nothing.

And don't forget to google "craigslist scam" and "craigslist murder" before you take the plunge.

Cars are borrowed, rented, used without permission. Picture positively identifies

the person doing the sale. Not everyone has a phone ID - especially in urban areas

where not all people drive. Your choice if a photo of the person is enough.

Selling an iPhone and then reporting it lost/stolen is fraud. Insurance company has

the iPhone which you paid for blacklisted and the seller has your money and the insurance money.

The fact that the iPhone does not show as currently blacklisted does not prevent the seller

from causing it to be blacklisted later after you have possession of it.

Say the iPhone is not in the condition that was described and you decide not to purchase - the sale

did not go through. But the seller and his associates have seen you and know you had the

money to pay for the iPhone. Or there never was an iPhone to sell - they just want some

one to show with cash to be robbed. How are you going to identify yourself to the seller

upon arrival or know who the seller is? Look for me in a red shirt with money in my pocket?

Keep the money separate from your person until you need it - basic security. Many/most

Craigslist sales in public places go through without a hitch. But you have to plan ahead

to be sure you cannot be victimized if that is the intent of the seller.

Can you afford to lost the money you intend to pay for the iPhone? If not, take some

precautions. Just remember that not everyone is as nice or trustworthy as you would

assume them to be. Ask yourself 2 questions: if the price on the iPhone is a good

deal, why is it being sold for such a low price? And if the price is not a good deal, why

are you purchasing from Craigslist instead of Apple or an Apple authorized retailer

where you will get full warranty and support?

Please report back after the sale and let us know how it went.

itsChris wrote:

Well, I don't have access to sending information to others. I ana public area. I will specify where we should meet, but why a police station? I am not worried about being killed or him later reporting the phone stolen, I already have evidence of the post and our emails. My original post was about what to look for in a fake phone, plastic backs or discoloration of the phone.

I'm worried of being scammed of my money for a fake product, not of being physically harmed.

Then you're not paying attention, people have already died in 2nd hand iPhone transactions, as well as in recovering lost ones.

itsChris wrote:

We both agreed to meet in a public area. I will specify where we should meet, but why a police station? I am not worried about being killed or him later reporting the phone stolen,

The point of meeting at a police station, aside from the risks Csound1 mentions (and they are real) is that people who are in the process of committing even a non-violent crime are not terribly inclined to do that where law enforcement might see them, might capture their likeness on a security camera.

Buying a used phone from an unknown person on Craigslist is just foolish. If the price is cheap, that's a bad sign right there. Either save your money and buy a new iPhone or use the money you have and buy another brand of phone that is less expensive. It would be better to have a phone that is not exactly the one you want rather than to be left with a phone you can't use and no money.

itsChris wrote:

I trust the seller not to rob me or kill me.

Why do you trust this person you've never met and presumably know nothing about not to rob you or worse?

itsChris wrote:

How am I not paying attention? People keep switching the topic from the original post. I trust the seller not to rob me or kill me. I'm only slight worried that the phone is not real. The exact price is $275 for a Space Gray 32G iPhone 5S.

It's your choice. Good luck.

Clearly there are no 'couth' criminals. 😮