Phones · 4 min read
Buying a used phone safely
Three checks that stop you buying a stolen or locked handset.
A cheap phone that is locked or blacklisted is worth nothing. Check these three things before money changes hands.
1. Check the IMEI
Dial *#06# on the phone to show the IMEI. Put it into a free IMEI checker to see if it is reported lost or stolen. If the seller won't give you the IMEI in advance, walk away.
2. Make sure it is signed out
- iPhone: Settings → your name must show Sign in to your iPhone, not someone's name. If an Apple Account is still on it, Activation Lock will make the phone unusable after a reset.
- Android: Settings → Accounts must have no Google account listed.
The safest move: ask the seller to factory reset the phone in front of you and set it up fresh.
3. Meet safely and pay traceably
Meet in a public place — many police stations have a designated safe exchange area. Pay by a method with buyer protection, never bank transfer.
After you buy
Factory reset it again yourself, install updates, and set your own screen lock before signing into any account.