Lethbridge police warn of buying used phones

Police in Lethbridge are warning people of buying used cell phones online, as buying from a stranger could be “risky.”

The Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) says this comes after an incident about a used cell phone sold online, where the device stopped working shortly after the purchase, as it has been “blacklisted” for breaking the unpaid contract.

Some cell phone companies, police say, sell phones with no down payment, and the customer pays monthly based on a contract. But once the contract is not paid, the phone becomes “blacklisted,” meaning the buyer will be stuck with a phone that doesn’t work.

Additionally, scammers can report a phone stolen after selling it, in order to make a claim and request a new device, which they can get in addition to the cash from the online sale, according to police.

The LPS adds people are encouraged to check whether the phone has been blacklisted by checking the IMEI number on DeviceCheckCanada.

However, police say, if the phone is reported as stolen, it takes up to 48 hours to show on the IMEI number, which doesn’t help in eliminating the risk. So, the best way to avoid the risk, they recommend, is to buy from official providers.