Phones are expensive. Instead of automatically buying a new phone when you need one, many people look for used versions of popular models to save some money. If you know what you are doing, you can get a great deal by taking this route.
Just like anything you buy used, however, you need to make sure the phone is good working order and not stolen.
If it is stolen, you can find yourself in a situation where your carrier will not connect it to their mobile network, negating your good deal since you now have no way to use it.
Good news: the wireless industry created Stolen Phone Checker, an easy online tool where you can check to see if the phone you want to purchase is stolen. Simply go to the site and enter the phone’s IMEI, MEID, or ESN number in the search box, and it will tell you if the phone has ever been stolen.
To find your IMEI and MEID number on an iPhone, go to Settings, tap General, tap About, then scroll down to see your phone’s unique numbers. This service is limited to 5 free queries per day by U.S. consumers only, but that shouldn’t be an issue for most people.
Happy and safe phone shopping!
