Question Problem setting up second hand android phone.

[MarylinC]

I just received a second hand Samsung Galaxy S7 I bought on ebay.

The seller has clearly performed a factory reset but the phone is asking me to verify the google account by entering the login details of a google account that’s previously been used on the phone which I don’t have. I have attached a photo of the screen I’m stuck on.

The seller has 100% perfect feedback from over 800 sales so seems legit but I can’t expect him to provide his google login details. I guess this is possibly a protection feature against people selling stolen phones so I don’t know what to do next as I can’t get past this screen to continue setup.

I have messaged the seller and am hoping he will reply and we can sort this out as he says he does not accept returns. If not can anyone suggest what I can do to overcome this problem please?

There are plenty of instructions online about how I can possibly flash the firmware to reinstall the android software to hopefully overcome this problem but if anyone has any better ideas I would be very grateful.

 

[SpookDroid]

If that screen shows up upon boot, there's no way to unlock without the proper credentials (yes, it's to prevent stolen/lost phones to be used without them). If the seller can't provide this, they should take the device back and issue a refund/replacement.

 

[MarylinC]

If that screen shows up upon boot, there's no way to unlock without the proper credentials (yes, it's to prevent stolen/lost phones to be used without them). If the seller can't provide this, they should take the device back and issue a refund/replacement.

Thank you for replying. I figured that was probably the case. I don't think it's realistic to ask the seller to provide his google login so if he can't or won't help I guess my only chance is to open a case with ebay to try to make him accept a return and refund. I would only attempt flashing the firnware as a last resort if all else fails.

BTW If needs be I am happy to provide proof I bought the phone legitimately.

 

[rvbfan]

Thank you for replying. I figured that was probably the case. I don't think it's realistic to ask the seller to provide his google login so if he can't or won't help I guess my only chance is to open a case with ebay to try to make him accept a return and refund. I would only attempt flashing the firnware as a last resort if all else fails.

BTW If needs be I am happy to provide proof I bought the phone legitimately.

You buying the phone is immaterial. The phone is still attached to the previous owners Google account, that is the issue. You do not know if the phone was legally obtained.

 

[MarylinC]

You buying the phone is immaterial. The phone is still attached to the previous owners Google account, that is the issue. You do not know if the phone was legally obtained.

Good point!

In that case if he can't provide the login I'll open a case with ebay and go from there.

 

[SpookDroid]

Good luck! (And remember, per Forum policies we cannot discuss credential hacking methods here, so hopefully you'll get a positive response from eBay/the seller).

 

[MarylinC]

Good luck! (And remember, per Forum policies we cannot discuss credential hacking methods here, so hopefully you'll get a positive response from eBay/the seller).

Thank you and I completely understand your policy.

Buying older secondhand flagship phones has always been my preferred method when I needed to get another phone and I've never had this problem before. I've also never factory reset a phone before so I'm guessing owners normally have to input their google credentials during a factory reset to prove they own the account associated with the phone.

Please could you tell me if that's right as it might be relevant if I have to raise a case with ebay.

 

[SpookDroid]

Yup, that's pretty much it.

What is Google FRP?

FAQ for Samsung Mobile Device. Find more about 'What is Google FRP?' with Samsung Support.

www.samsung.com

This means if your device has been Factory Reset in any other way than Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory Data Reset, the FRP Lock will be enabled.

 

[MarylinC]

Yup, that's pretty much it.

What is Google FRP?

FAQ for Samsung Mobile Device. Find more about 'What is Google FRP?' with Samsung Support.

www.samsung.com

Fantastic. Thank you for telling me that.

I've been looking at the seller history and he has been on ebay since 2004 with a perfect 100% feedback rating of 841 so he looks perfectly legit. Hopefully this is just a case of him using the wrong method to do a factory reset rather than the phone being stolen but he hasn't replied yet so I'll let you know what happens.

 

[rvbfan]

Fantastic. Thank you for telling me that.

I've been looking at the seller history and he has been on ebay since 2004 with a perfect 100% feedback rating of 841 so he looks perfectly legit. Hopefully this is just a case of him using the wrong method to do a factory reset rather than the phone being stolen but he hasn't replied yet so I'll let you know what happens.

I never trust 100% positive ratings, there's always someone who is dissatisfied with them, be it frivolous or substantial issues.

 

[MarylinC]

I think I might be in luck. The seller replied with an apology and offered to supply a returns label and refund me.

I'm pretty confident this is an innocent error. I suspect she has looked online at how to do a factory reset and has been pointed towards booting the phone directly into the Recovery Menu rather than using the correct method via the normal phone settings menu.

To be fair to her I would be happy to post the phone back so she can verify the google account and run the factory reset again the correct way, then let her post the phone back to me.

 

[SpookDroid]

Glad this will have a positive outcome!