Quote:
Originally Posted by Imaginos
If you buy it, activate it on the spot to prevent your seller walking away with the ESN still on his own account - unreleased to you.
I usually call in and tell the CR that I am buying a phone. After checking it out functionally, I read the ESN to the CR and they can look it up, tell me if it is clear or in use on the seller's (or oh-oh.. someone else's?!) account. Before I hand over cash the seller has to confirm with Sprint that they are transferring it (using their own account pin/password) and I will activate it immediately after.
Haven't met a scammer yet using this procedure, and no way to tell if I haven't prevented a "lost phone" report after the sale, but it could save your bacon.
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My thoughts exactly activate it on your account prior to paying up. Otherwise the seller can sell it then immediately claim it as "lost" and you're screwed. Happened to me on eBay, but I got my money back.