If you are selling a cell phone on eBay, used or new. Be sure to write down and keep the IMEI number. There are some scammers out there buying cell phones, swapping out the internal workings and replacing it with older, stolen or non working ones. Then they contact you complaining the phone doesn't work. If you don't refund or replace the phone, they file a complaint that the cell you sold them doesn't work or was stolen. So if you're selling your old cell or a new one. Write down the phones IMEI number. Beware of any body complaining the phone you sold them doesn't work.  You can find out the phones IMEI number by  typing *#06# on the phones key pad.  Or look on the back of the phone. Remove the battery and the IMEI number with be there also. I take a picture of this before I ship any cell phone.

This scam is going on right now and people or none the wiser. I had a customer return a brand new Nokia 6103 I sold him. He said the phone didn't power up. I was shocked. I asked him to ship it back to me. When I received it, it appeared as the same phone I shipped to him. After scratching my head for about 3 hours, I noticed a small tiny scratch on the inside as I was replacing the battery.  I knew that wasn't there as I had the battery out to read the IMEI number to use in unlocking the phone. I still had the IMEI number and when I compared them, they were different.  I contacted eBay and paypal  immediately. Then I contacted the buyer and confronted him with what I had learned. He denied it and with-in 30 minutes his email address was closed and he had also closed his paypal account. I got lucky, I caught it and was able to act on it.

It's amazing what these scammers will do. With the proper tools (which are cheap and easily available) and a little patients, they can replace the internal workings and it doesn't even show they did it. I have heard cases where they even replaced the IMEI sticker on the back. If it wasn't for me seeing that little scratch, I would of refunded his money and not even known I was scammed. So my policy is take a picture of the back of the cell phone showing the IMEI, and write down the number too. Some people might not have the proper camera to get the up close shot you need. But with a little practice, it can be achieved. Protect yourself and your eBay reputation, write this information down before you ship any cell phone to any buyer.

Precautions I advise to take:
1. Write down the IMEI number and hold on to it. Take a picture of it if possible.
2. If some one does return a phone, do not rely on the IMEI number written on the phone. Type *#06# to make sure it was the phone you shipped.
3. If you do run into this scam, contact eBay (paypal to if you used paypal for the transaction) first before contacting the buyer.

eBay is a great place to do business. But sadly there are scammers that can ruin it for every one. Remember, it happens and it has to happen to some one. Don't let yourself be that person. Taking a few precautions can save you not only money but a big headache. Should only take you a few minutes to document the IMEI. Ship your phone with confidence knowing if it does happen to you, you covered yourself.

I hoped this educated you so you don't land up getting scammed by some thief out there. If it has helped, please click the "Yes" button next to where it says, "Was this guide helpful?". This will help to get the word out faster to the eBay community.