I recently purchased an iPhone 17 Pro from eBay, and now I'm worried I might have been scammed. The phone was advertised as brand new and sealed, and the seller had mostly positive feedback. However, when I took it out of the box and started setting it up, I received a message saying that the phone was already active with a different phone number. Thankfully, my service provider was able to replace the eSIM with mine, but I'm still uneasy. Is this a sign that the phone could be stolen or blacklisted later on? I've checked the IMEI and serial number online, and they seem fine. Should I contact eBay for a refund just in case? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, especially from anyone with experience in this area.
3 Answers
Sounds like it could be a pre-ordered device that someone just flipped for a quick sale. It’s also possible the seller might have reported it as lost or stolen and got a replacement phone. Monitor your phone's status closely and consider getting a refund from eBay if you're feeling uneasy about it.
First, check if you can activate "Find My iPhone," which can help confirm it's yours. But really, I’d definitely contact eBay to discuss your concerns. If there's anything fishy, they might have your back for a refund.
Absolutely. Just remember that even if you can use it for apps, if it’s reported stolen later, your phone service could get cut off. Better safe than sorry!
It’s definitely strange that you got a phone that was previously activated. If it was bought on a payment plan, the previous owner could report it stolen, which would lead to it being blacklisted. I’d recommend you keep your eBay invoice and verify that you can access your Apple account to enable "Find My iPhone." This might help prove ownership, but be cautious.
True, but even if you activate it under your account, if it’s blacklisted later, you won't be able to use it for cellular service. Just be prepared for that possibility.
Exactly. If you bought it only five days ago, you have some time to sort this out. Just make sure you act quickly!