What to check before buying a used phone

A used phone is easy to fake in photos and easy to verify in two minutes if you are in the same room. Do the checks before money moves. EazyBuySells cannot certify IMEI status or unlock a device for you.

Red flags in the messages

• The seller will only ship, never meet, for a high-end phone at a bargain price.
• They refuse a live video of the settings screen.
• The IMEI in the listing does not match the phone in person.
• They want payment to a name that does not match who you are meeting.

In-person checks

1. Ask them to power it on. Confirm it is not activation-locked (Find My / Google FRP).
2. Check Settings → battery health or equivalent. Under ~80% is a negotiation, not always a deal-breaker.
3. Test cameras, speakers, microphones, charging port, Face/fingerprint unlock.
4. Look at the edges in daylight. Hairline cracks hide in indoor photos.
5. If they still know the passcode, watch them sign out of iCloud/Google before you pay.

After you pay

Factory reset, install updates, and change the SIM. If anything was promised (box, extra charger) count it on the table.