Buying a phone off of eBay

[mylasthope]

Hey guys,

I might buy a phone off of eBay, but I'm unfamiliar with how this works for T-Mobile. If I buy a phone with no box and charger, activate it and it works, can the buyer then report it as stolen afterwards? I found a phone that I'm interested in, but the price seems too good to be true and the buyer doesn't even provide anything other than the phone. I know that eBay will only protect me for up to 45 days. Can't the buyer just report the phone stolen on day 46, which will then get my phone blocked on T mobile? Thanks!

Actually, would I be safe if I had the seller provide me with a copy of the receipt? I'd check to make sure the phone was paid for in full and not on the Equipment Installment plan.

 

[mylasthope]

anyone? Starting to think the $150 in savings isn't worth the potential headache. Lol

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[aokusman1]

I buy and sell phone on eBay. Look at the sellers feedback and time on eBay. Most stolen phones are reported stolen with 48hrs. Can it happen yes, chances are that it won't. I bought an HTC vivid off Craigslist 3 days ago for $60. I am currently using it to make sure everything works before I sell it on eBay for $250 ish.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[DataHawg]

Contact the seller and ask them if it has a clean ESN, if his account is paid up, and confirm you will be able to activate it. If he says yes then you have more to use against him if you have to file a claim. Save the email. Seller would be taking a big risk if they reported it stolen after providing a written agreement through eBay to sell it to you. That's fraud.