A friend got arrested after buying a crime-linked phone; here are 4 lessons we learned
Your phone's dark past does matter
A woman bought a used phone and was later arrested when police traced it to a woman who had been killed. The arrested woman showed her receipt and chats with the seller, leading officers to the victim's killer. She still has to attend court. The incident highlights the risks of buying used phones. Before purchasing, it's recommended to check the phone's IMEI number, which is a unique 15-digit code that identifies it on any mobile network.
The IMEI can be found by dialing *#06# or through the phone's settings. If the phone is signed in to a Google account, the IMEI can also be found in Find My Device. It's important to ensure the IMEI on the receipt matches the one on the phone, as a mismatch could indicate the software has been altered. The IMEI can be used to check if the phone has been reported stolen by running it through a blocklist check.
Some carriers and services, like Swappa, offer this check for free. It's also advised to test the phone with a new SIM card to see if it connects to a network or shows "No service". If the phone is linked to a Google account, signing out of all accounts and performing a factory reset in front of the seller can help ensure the device is clean.
Finally, taking a photo or recording the transaction can provide a timestamped record of the purchase.
Written by urgent.news from Android Police's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
