Why is device different from IMEI given?

[jeobsplyr]

Guess I should explain. I was considering buying an unlocked, "T-Mobile branded" LG G3 from E-Bay. The seller gave me the IMEI number so I could check it myself. I ran several checks on the IMEI on Swappa, IMEIinfo.com, CheckESN.com, and T-Mobile's verifier. Checks on the first three came back, clean. T-Mobile did not recognize the IMEI. Here's the "interesting" part, on the checkers that came back "clean", the device was "not" the LG G3, but, an Alcaltal OneTouch-655. How is this possible??? If I had bought it could I have activated it? Incidentally, I have Metro PCS. Any feedback would be helpful!

 

[B. Diddy]

I don't know for sure, but any funny business with the IMEI is a big red flag. It's a good thing you didn't buy it. You might consider flagging that seller in eBay, with an explanation to eBay why you're suspicious of where the item came from.

 

[jeobsplyr]

Hey, thanks for the feedback, B. Diddy!! Think I'll do just that! Seems I've been reading a lot about high-end smartphones being sold, that, have not been paid for, with IMEI numbers still attached to active accounts, all kinds of weird stuff. Well, gone are the "good ole days"!! :'( Thanks again!

 

[Rukbat]

The reason the IMEI came back "clean" is that it hasn't been reported lost or stolen.

As B. Diddy said, you might have been buying a box of rocks, or a stolen G3.

 

[chamomiami]

sorry for the late response, in life are dramatic people and normal real life people.. so you received some dramatic answers.. my brother as a tmobile costumer have a android lg g2 once and when we tried to sell it was a problem because tmobile blacklisted by mistake, long story short we go to a technician that have some broken g2 and use one of they IMEI into our blacklisted phone, like a clone.. and finaly the phone can be use in another network every body happy