How the scam works:
You bought a smartphone (iPhone, Blackberry, or Android) and are excited about it. You were offered a warranty (just in case it breaks and the phone needs to be replaced), but figured you were spending enough so you opted not to take it. That’s not always a bad idea, but it was for you—one day, the unexpected happens.
You now have to spend hundreds of dollars to replace the phone! You want to try and buy a bit smarter, so look into an online auction for an unlocked or “jailbroken” phone, which means you can use it with any carrier. You find a phone for half price and swoop it up, patting yourself on the back for making the best out of a bad situation.
Unfortunately, you didn’t. The phone never comes and you now have to pay hundreds more dollars to finally get this ordeal sorted out. Reports suggest that 80% of people selling cell phones online are scammers.
How to avoid:
If you’re using eBay, check on the feedback they’ve gotten so far. If it isn’t really good, or there aren’t enough of them, just check all the other thousands of great deals that eBay and Craigslist have to offer. Find someone who is verifiably trustworthy.
Make your friends and family aware of this scam by sharing it, using the buttons provided.
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That’s exactly how it happened to me…
I have been scammed in instagram. I bought an iphone 6 for $300 and i thought it’s all good and then suddenly he blocked me and never return my emails. I won’t be able to sue him because I live in the Philippines so if you could help me file charges. His name is Calgary Epps and he lives in Landover, MD. I hope to find justice. I hope he wont be able to scam other people again. Please help me.
I would like to share one of my experience of scam where i paid money to buy cheap i Phone he just took money and giving me different different reason. They have even fake Couier company site.
http://www.starelectronicsshop.net/
http://www.dfdeservice.com/
I lost my $300/-.
Please keep this two site in black list and save other people from scammed.
Beware of Ms Lucia Han. She put her company (gaostar-electronic)in alibaba to offer cellphones to people and ask you to pay in western union she stole from $1600 .(07/12/2013) I sent email to her she didn’t answer
Sell your old phone for cash at http://www.techpayout.com
They pay top dollar!