Sounds like you didn't get a brand new phone, but a used one being sold as new. Asking for the prior account info is Google's factory reset protection, designed to prevent thieves from using your phone and would not be asking you that if it were new or the prior owner logged out before resetting it.
At this point, you have a couple options. I'd personally send it back and get a refund. Your other option may be to try contacting the seller (assuming you can find the contact info) and see if they have that info for you to use and get past this. But(!) If they are able to give you that info, it means someone has been on that phone doing who knows what. It could be innocent, like just making sure it worked before selling it. It also would've left your phone exposed to them installing malware. That's just too much of a risk for me on something sold as brand new. That, plus your battery issue tells me this isn't a phone I'd keep for any reason. Especially not for $500.
03-23-2018 12:09 PM