How can I tell if a phone is a knock-off or used (with a new housing)?

[Dharma Jairam]

I bought a phone (i.e., Samsung Alpha) from MobilePros1 on ebay. They listed the phone as "new" for $299.99, but I suspect that it's either counterfeit, used with a new housing, or at least tampered with. I got the package today and the seal was broken, the plastic covering that goes on the front and back seemed cheap and ill-fitted, and the way the phone was laying in the box...it just doesn't appear new (I've had many new phones before). It was ill-fitting in the box and was not snug, as samsung or apple would do with expensive phones.

It was in an AT&T box, but of course that doesn't mean anything. I've started a return on ebay and I'm supposed to be covered by ebay's money back guarantee.

I was just curious though...Is there a way for me to tell if the phone is counterfeit or used with a new housing? I would love to be able to use this as further evidence in my return with ebay and MobilePros1.

For all others, I would steer clear from them. I suppose the old saying is true; you get what you pay for.

Thanks,
DJ

 

[mdk32014]

Does it look broken?

 

[treetopsranch]

Ask Samsung. They should know if that phone is a fake. If you can get them to respond to you, they will probably ask for some secret info that is on or in the phone that lets them know if fake or not. Serial number is probably the first thing they will ask you. They should also tell you if it's a grey market phone.

 

[CBreen28]

Yeah there's lots of ways. When the phone powers on does it say Samsung or some weird android logo. Is the battery the right size milliamp? Does the battery say made in korea like it should? Go to settings.....about phone.....then see if it says Knox version. If it doesn't and has some android mod it's counterfeit. There's a bunch more on a youtube video for the note 4. It's called spotting a fake note 4. Different phone but the things you look for are the same. There's a lot of counterfeits on ebay so I'd never by a phone on there. Go through Swappa or Amazon but even Amazon is sketchy with their 3rd party vendors. They have a 230 dollar new lg g2 on there. A phone with full hd display and snapdragon 800 for 230$ sounds too good to be true but idk....

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