If you are on a budget and out in market looking for a smartphone, buying a used phone is a great idea. It’s relatively cheaper and will save you some shillings. But there are risks that come laced with this economical decision. Smartphone theft by thugs and skillful pick pockets is so widespread, these supposedly black market stolen devices have infiltrated into mainstream legitimate shops too. The probability of buying a stolen phone has hit record highs and you could be on the police radar as soon as you start using one. Some people who obtain and/or use stolen handsets most certainly understand the latent risks, but it may be a completely different story for someone who unwittingly buys a stolen mobile handset they simply think is a used model.
For those that want to save big, but still don’t wanna be caught in the crossfire of buying stolen handsets, we have gathered a list of red flags that can help you know if a device is a stolen one.
1. Check for any available data on the phone.
While some people may wipe the phone of all data before they sell it, there is a chance that the person selling a stolen phone didn’t bother to wipe it. So start by checking social media apps and if the account information does not match with the seller, you could be buying a stolen handset.
2. If the price is too low, be skeptical about buying.
No sane person would sell their latest iPhone model or Samsung Galaxy S8 for a low price such as UGX 300,000. Let the low price not lure you into buying such a handset as it might be stolen.
3. Trace serial number.
Handset thieves have become so smart these days. They invented software that changes the serial numbers of phones so it’s hard to trace by the owners. They may change the serial number to others that correlate with other devices. There is an easy way to trace if the serial number matches with the handset. Dial *#06# on the phone and put the 15 digit serial number into IMEI info (www.imei.info) to check. If the serial doesn’t match the phone type, or doesn’t exist, it’s a clear signal that it was tampered with and the phone may be stolen.
4. The seller has no proof of ownership.
While it is common to lose receipts of the handset with time, have a second thought about buying a device from a seller who doesn’t have this documentation. You may have yourself to blame after you realise the phone was a stolen one. Let the seller show you proof of ownership of the handset before you surrender your money.
5. Are the accessories available and genuine?
If someone bought the phone, it should have all genuine accessories provided. Ask questions when the seller is not providing genuine accessories because for a phone stolen from a bar table or from your pocket, chances are they didn’t get away with the headphones and charger too. As a result, the seller will attempt to sell the device with off-brand cables, headsets and charger to create the impression that he/she owns the phone. This is a red flag so be vigilant.
6. Select your seller carefully.
There are sellers who have a renown trait of selling legitimate used phones. They have strict measures to hold stolen handsets at bay. These could be your escape route from buying a stolen phone.
7. Does the phone work?
If the phone doesn’t work, say its iCloud locked or it has a lock screen that the seller can’t bypass claiming he/she forgot the password, don’t risk buying such a device because chances are high it was stolen.
While no single one of the above signals may solely confirm that a phone was just stolen, be skeptical to buy such a decive if two or more of the above signals come to play on a handset they want to sell to you.
Used phones may offer excellent value for money but could cost you fines and time in jail if bought from unreliable sources. Trusting mystery people you meet in Facebook sale groups or used item platforms like OLX, or random people you meet on the way is a huge risk.
Skip the risk and head to brand new phone shops that offer high quality risk free smartphones.
