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Cell phone fraud question

Connoisseur

Connoisseur

Platinum Member
I posted a thread about a week ago about how I lost my cell phone and i have to purchase a new one. After some searching I decided ebay was the cheapest solution to getting a phone. I'm considering buying a used cell phone from what seems to be a reputable dealer (4935 comments, 99.1% positive, power seller). However, does that really mean anything? If they're a reputable seller am I reasonably safe from cell phone fraud (stolen phone etc.)? I'm only asking cause i've never purchased a used cell before and I just want to make an informed decision before I buy one
 
Unfortunately Verizon doesn't use sim cards. So i either buy a used one at a reasonable price or I buy a new one and get screwed on the price.
 
Eep, that sucks. But is Verizon okay with you bringing a used cell phone in to add service too? If so, I wouldn't worry about the fact that you're buying a used phone.
 
Originally posted by: dartworth
Ask for the ESN...check with Verizon...
Click to expand...

Oh so THAT's what the ESN number is. Great, they have it posted on the auction. I'll check it out with verizon. Thanks a lot for the help. I wasn't exactly sure what verizon used to activate it.
 
All CDMA (and any legacy TDMA) carriers use an ESN number to activate your cell phone rather than popping a SIM card into it like GSM phones. Your best bet is to grab some used CDMA phone off eBay (don't matter if the listing says Alltel, Sprint, or Verizon, as long as VZW tells you they can activate the ESN, AFAIK, don't take my word on it, ask around at a place like www.howardforums.com) and activate it, new CDMA phones usually cost an arm and a leg.
 
Originally posted by: Connoisseur
Unfortunately Verizon doesn't use sim cards. So i either buy a used one at a reasonable price or I buy a new one and get screwed on the price.
Click to expand...

Time to switch service...
 
Originally posted by: LongAce
Originally posted by: Connoisseur
Unfortunately Verizon doesn't use sim cards. So i either buy a used one at a reasonable price or I buy a new one and get screwed on the price.
Click to expand...

Time to switch service...
Click to expand...

Well, not necessarily. CDMA carriers still operate analog AMPS networks (most of them do) so when you have crap coverage in a rural area, 99% of the time you'll find an analog tower to hang onto. 3-4 years ago when we used to drive to Orlando, FL from Spring Hill, FL (about an hour north of Tampa) we had Alltel, on a 15 mile part of SR50, we'd only have analog coverage. And CDMA/TDMA carriers had much better coverage here than the GSM carriers for the longest time, only about a year and a half ago did GSM coverage here become well enough to warrant a switch from Alltel.
 
Originally posted by: LongAce
Originally posted by: Connoisseur
Unfortunately Verizon doesn't use sim cards. So i either buy a used one at a reasonable price or I buy a new one and get screwed on the price.
Click to expand...

Time to switch service...
Click to expand...

Can't switch. I only started with Verizon at the beginning of the Year. and I didn't get insurance... stupid me 🙁. So I'm basically stuck with retail price
 
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