Okay so I found galaxy note 2 from a craiglist deal, popped in sim card, everything worked great as its a tmobile version but said per seller that it was unlocked. 30 minutes later after the deal my device had been blocked from network use. My sim would no longer work in my older phone, so I called and got that fixed, but I now have a stupid nice phone that im using for a paper weight. Obviously the person who sold it to me either knew it was reported lost or stolen, or reported it after selling it to me, its whatever it happens right.
What are my options? I really want to be able to use this phone and spent a lot of money on it. I appreciate all input.
Try using another sim card I suppose
Sent from my Xperia Ray
I did, I even went to the AT&T store and they gave me a new sim card and it worked, made calls, surfed the web for like 10 minutes and the same thing happened.
pr0cl1v1ty said:
I did, I even went to the AT&T store and they gave me a new sim card and it worked, made calls, surfed the web for like 10 minutes and the same thing happened.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the only thing you can do is have the seller call att or tmobile, what ever its branded and tell them they found the devise and att can unblock the imei
Sounds like u was scammed.
Sent from my SGH-T889
Only other option may be to try it on the other carrier. If it's a TMo phone, try it on ATT and vice versa.
---------
G1(CM7)--> G2(CM9)--> Note 2 T889 stock (root + multiwindow mod)
darocsfinest1 said:
the only thing you can do is have the seller call att or tmobile, what ever its branded and tell them they found the devise and att can unblock the imei
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, I've been trying to figure out how to lookup the original buyer of this phone.
pr0cl1v1ty said:
Okay so I found galaxy note 2 from a craiglist deal, popped in sim card, everything worked great as its a tmobile version but said per seller that it was unlocked. 30 minutes later after the deal my device had been blocked from network use. My sim would no longer work in my older phone, so I called and got that fixed, but I now have a stupid nice phone that im using for a paper weight. Obviously the person who sold it to me either knew it was reported lost or stolen, or reported it after selling it to me, its whatever it happens right.
What are my options? I really want to be able to use this phone and spent a lot of money on it. I appreciate all input.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it is locked. Unlock and use through other carrier either tmobile or something that uses tmobile network mvno. If u have att note 2.
Its starting to look like its just not safe to buy this phone off Craigslist...
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium
Its not this phone. Its any phone. Run the numbers before you buy like a good consumer
Sent from my SGH-T889
I don't know if you guys have reading comprehension problems or what... Dude said he used on tmo for 30 minutes and then got blocked, and then did the same thing with AT&T. For those of you that don't know AT&T and T-Mobile now share their blacklists, meaning it will not work on any carrier that uses any of those towers. Sad to say your best option would be to sell to an international user on celltraderonline. Be very clear that it is on the US blacklist and will not work with AT&T, T-Mobile or their sister carriers.
Have you tried any T-Mobile or AT&T MVNO's like Simple Mobile or Red Pocket? That might work. If not your pretty much screwed. Unless you use it in another country.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
JOSE89178 said:
Have you tried any T-Mobile or AT&T MVNO's like Simple Mobile or Red Pocket? That might work. If not your pretty much screwed. Unless you use it in another country.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, I guess you didn't read my post above yours.
I have been "burnt" also with buying a T-Mo Note 2 on Craigslist. I used my phone for 2 mos before it got blocked from T-Mo. I used the dialer tricked and unlocked the phone and now using it on Straight Talk Att sim. But you are right you can't use it on T-Mo network or any of the mvnos. You can only use it for ATT mvnos. I get 4g speeds and everything.
KillaHurtz said:
Wow, I guess you didn't read my post above yours.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, I guess two people can't answer at the same time.
The posts are just three minutes apart.
I guess you read my mind lol. I never saw your post. I never would of posted something double and make myself look like a fool CD they were less then 3 min apart. So excuse me :banghead:
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
dwest3784 said:
I have been "burnt" also with buying a T-Mo Note 2 on Craigslist. I used my phone for 2 mos before it got blocked from T-Mo. I used the dialer tricked and unlocked the phone and now using it on Straight Talk Att sim. But you are right you can't use it on T-Mo network or any of the mvnos. You can only use it for ATT mvnos. I get 4g speeds and everything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if the phone has been imei blacklisted it will not work on any united states gsm service that includes straight talk... highly doubt you have a blocked phone working on straight talk
I had another thread going about being blocked on imei.
I just called tmobile and talked to them for about thirty minutes about my situation.
A quick summarization of the conversation is:
- The previous owner has been accused of fraud so that is the reason of the blocked IMEI.
- Can't do anything to unblock it, unless the previous owner retracts ther dues or whatever it is that needs to be payed.
- No third party unlocking will work.
Well for me, I fortunately have his information such as address and phone number and the text conversation still logged on my old phone. Luckily I called him today as a private number to check if he's phone still worked and still does, thank god.
Now I'm planning on calling him up tomorrow and, professionally, tell him my situation. When I met the guy, he didn't seem like a bad guy but hey, never judge a book by it's cover eh.
If he refuses any of these or won't agree to a median than I'll have to take legal actions.
That's my plan that is. I am not going to let $600.00 go to waste on a blocked phone! I'm taking this guy all the way.
*#06#
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium
not sure but can't you get rid of your IMEI by flashing a bunch of times? I had this happen with my SK4G, my IMEI number under settings was a bunch of 0s. When I called up T-mobile and asked for an unlock code for the phone, it didn't work because my IMEI was screwed up. I ended up having to alter some Hex file in order to unlock it
Related
I told att that my phone was bought off non contract
they unlocked it!
djarpit said:
I told att that my phone was bought off non contract
they unlocked it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL, thats funny! You shouldn't have had to even do that - I've been told/and have read, that they will unlock as long as your account is in good standing with them Still though - thats good to hear you got unlocked!
Yea.... i (and many others, as it seems) simply went onto their online chat support, and asked if i could get the unlock code for my phone, just in case the need arises where i have to use a SIM from a different carrier. Took two tries talking to different people, but got it unlocked. I don't think they're quite as strict with the idea of keeping your phone tied to them until the contract is up with other phones as they are with the iPhone in particular.
i got the unlock code from the 1st chat with the rep no problem. i havent been able to get it unlocked because i dont have a different sim.
is it even possible to unlock if i leave the att sim in?
It should be fine.
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
polobreaka said:
i got the unlock code from the 1st chat with the rep no problem. i havent been able to get it unlocked because i dont have a different sim.
is it even possible to unlock if i leave the att sim in?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It may be an awful roundabout way of doing it at this point, but maybe if you can get your hands on one of the earlier builds of CM10. There used to be an issue where on the first boot after installing CM10, the unlock code prompt would come up. Don't remember exactly when that was, though....
I sold my sgs2 when I bought my sgs3.
Wanted an unlock code and att refused. I explained that I wasn't trying to cancel my contract and just wanted to give it to my dad since I got a sgs3..
Att still refused but credited my account 150 for my trouble?!?! Haha
Worked for me!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
I've been with AT&T for years. IMHO, they are very helpful, and will usually compensate you for your trouble. Case in point: Found out that AT&T will give you a 15% discount on your bill, if you were honorably discharged from the service. They could not "back date" my discount, but gave me a $350.00 credit towards my next bill(bills). I'm staying with AT&T.:good:
Canadian carriers
Hey,
Does anyone know if Canadian carriers are able to give the unlock codes? (Rogers to be specific)
Thanks
djaswal said:
Hey,
Does anyone know if Canadian carriers are able to give the unlock codes? (Rogers to be specific)
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They can, but they wont usually do it while under contract. They seem to like to push to let them do it (if you're at the store) and charge you 50 dollars. This has been my experience at least
grunt0300 said:
I've been with AT&T for years. IMHO, they are very helpful, and will usually compensate you for your trouble. Case in point: Found out that AT&T will give you a 15% discount on your bill, if you were honorably discharged from the service. They could not "back date" my discount, but gave me a $350.00 credit towards my next bill(bills). I'm staying with AT&T.:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fwiw they will give almost any one who is in college or a graduate of college a discount too. Just need a edu email. Used my alumni address. I can't remember if it is 5 or 10%. they have a website to register. I believe that you get business class service from the csrs.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
djaswal said:
Hey,
Does anyone know if Canadian carriers are able to give the unlock codes? (Rogers to be specific)
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My buddy world for Rogers and they're not allowed to give out the unlock codes. You might get lucky and get a rep who doesn't care, but if they got caught Thats it for them. I've been trying to con my buddy when i rolled with black berry. I found it was v chapter and effort to pay the $1 on eBay and get one. I'm not sure on the unlock process with the S3 though. Is it more complicated?
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
I didnt know having an unlocked phone was that big of a deal. Thank goodness I purchased mine as "unlocked" to begin with. I got lucky!!
GSM Phone unlocking - the easy way....
To get a SIM unlock, all you have to say is that you will be traveling overseas and you need the phone unlocked so you can use a GSM sim local to the places you will be going.
In general, it doesn't really matter much if the SIM is unlocked locally.
Now, if you want the phone unlocked for loading new OS's, the i747 usually does allow loading of other OS's such as CM10 and other Android versions. While the BootLoader is still locked, there are sites where you can get it unlocked. Albeit I hear that you will loose your DRM information because of it.
My son is in the Army and I had a new phone unlocked for him. I explained that he will be deployed and needed something for local GSM coverage, without suffering the costs of AT&T International roaming. Got it unlocked by AT&T in one call.
Just my experience and $.02...
Just spoke to AT&T a few hours ago. They gave me the unlock code for my old Captivate which I had upgraded to an SGS3 a week ago for my wife. I asked about unlocking my SGS3 (1 month old) and was told that they would be able to givw me the code after I had had the phone for 90 days. They also said that I could have only five phones unlocked every 12 months.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747
Does anyone know if any of the usual unlockers (e.g. cellunlocker.net) has the unlock codes yet? Or if there are different unlocking methods? Thanks!
I hope something comes up soon. I purchased full price and AT&T won't unlock.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
I need this too.
EBay has them for $30 bucks... But anyone find a cheaper free solution?
Tell att your going out of the country and you need your phone unlocked. If they still say no, remind then you could return phone and buy one from a3rd party.
mrhaley30705 said:
Tell att your going out of the country and you need your phone unlocked. If they still say no, remind then you could return phone and buy one from a3rd party.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea I need to call. I tried the online chat assistant.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
05GT said:
Yea I need to call. I tried the online chat assistant.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If they still say no, get angry and tell then you want to speak to the customer retention department
mrhaley30705 said:
Tell att your going out of the country and you need your phone unlocked. If they still say no, remind then you could return phone and buy one from a3rd party.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tried that....did NOT work....
Bought a code from cellunlocker. Net
It works, I'm unlocked now
$25
trim81 said:
Bought a code from cellunlocker. Net
It works, I'm unlocked now
$25
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me too... Working...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using XDA Premium HD app
me three.
cheapest option I found.
trim81 said:
Bought a code from cellunlocker. Net
It works, I'm unlocked now
$25
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any issues with this unlock? Are they permanent? I know customer service reps are clueless half the time but when I called to get my unlock code and was told I was also told I should be careful of getting an unlock code online as he had a case of someone call once saying their unlock code only worked with the phone for 90 days and then it stopped working (not sure if the phone or the unlocking). Also, any issues with privacy in regards to giving out en IMEI number?
Dome three.
Yes perm unlocked.
No problems
trim81 said:
Dome three.
Yes perm unlocked.
No problems
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Appreciate it.
same here. got it from cellunlocker and used the phone in switzerland without an issue.
My phone is I317M that locked to Canada Rogers Network. I messed up my phone once due to flashed 7100 rom to my I317m, and I lost all information like baseband, network, imei. After did some research, I flashed a rogers stock rom back to my phone, and my phone get fixed and got signal again. Noticed that my phone is even unlocked. I dont know how that happened, but my phone works with other carrier now. Expect if someone can explan this.
This is reported by quite a few to be working and best of all it's free I tried it but don't have a sim for another carrier but I haven't gotten any errors and my phone is still working.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2014982
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda app-developers app
45ACP1911 said:
This is reported by quite a few to be working and best of all it's free I tried it but don't have a sim for another carrier but I haven't gotten any errors and my phone is still working.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2014982
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually just bought the unlock code today from cellunlocker.net (but I haven't actually used it yet) and then I see this thread and was just going to try the method from your link for ****s and giggles and it WORKED! what a waste of $25
I did mine. However I have no way to test it. What would be the benefit to having this done?
MRBULLRED said:
I did mine. However I have no way to test it. What would be the benefit to having this done?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you ever travel overseas, you can just buy a prepaid sim and stick it in your phone and you could use your phone while traveling for cheap without paying any carrier roaming fees.
I don't want to pay for a DATA PLAN!
So check this out.... I am an AT&T user and back when the HTC HD2 came out for T-Mobile I bought it from a friend when they signed up for a new contract. Got an unlock code from Ebay and have been using it for the past 2 years without having to have a data plan, never got added automatically to my plan like i have heard happen to others? And I'm wondering why? Is it possibly cuz its a T-Mobile phone? Or is it cuz I still have an old "Cingular" SIM card? I am curious about this because right now, Wally World has a special sale on the phone at $249, plus a $100 gift card, which will bring the phone down to $150 basically, so a pretty damn good deal for a phone just out on the market. And I'm plan on getting it this week, I was wondering if any of you would be able to tell me if at some point if i was able to get a T-Mobile version of the Samsung Note 2 if i could slip my SIM card into it and then be able to cancel my DATA plan, if i told them i went back to a Motorola Razr or something, which worked when i got my HD2? Or will AT&T be able to see that i have a smartphone? Is it the newer smaller SIM card, that will tell AT&T that I have a smartphone, or will the phone it self be what sends info to the servers or whatever that tells AT&T I have a smartphone? Or do you think this method of getting a T-Mobile phone and using an AT&T SIM card will work and I won't get stuck with a DATA plan? Everywhere I go has Wi-Fi so I have no need for the Data plan it will be going to waste.
Well I was dumb paid 350 for it great shape guy said it was factory unlocked n I could use my net10 service on it.
Well its locked and when I tried unlocking it I seen I had 4.1.2 and need 4.1.1 to sim unlock. My buddy put his sim card in phone from same company same phone and it would not register so he told me phone was blocked either not paid off or lost or stolen.
My question is what can I do. If I downgrade to 4.1.1 and unlock sim will it still not work?
Thanks.
There's not much you can do legally. Contact the seller would be a good idea. Threaten police or civil action against him.
The note 2 can act as a cracking little tablet but wifi only.
I don't think downgrading the firmware will unlock a blacklist phone. There are websites that you can check imei numbers in the uk have a look where you are and proove it's been lost or stolen first.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2
audiobookman said:
There's not much you can do legally. Contact the seller would be a good idea. Threaten police or civil action against him.
The note 2 can act as a cracking little tablet but wifi only.
I don't think downgrading the firmware will unlock a blacklist phone. There are websites that you can check imei numbers in the uk have a look where you are and proove it's been lost or stolen first.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried to 4 whole week he wont answear!!!!! I have a net10 sim card figured it would work guess I got screwed out 400 bux.
I use CheckMEND. UK, USA and EU sites. One of tools i use to help avoiding dodgy gear
From 2nd November 2012 AT&T and T Mobile in the USA began blocking handsets by using the IMEI and sharing this information between them. This means that even if the sim card is changed the phone will not work on these two networks.
CheckMEND has access to this data
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for your problems. This is why I never get anything off craigslist unless I personally know the person OR they hand it to me locally and I test it. Again, sorry. Likely lost or stolen.............
Hi guys, I am sorry if it was already posted here, I could not find similar topics or posts. I have a problem with the network. When I try to call someone it says 'not registered on network'
I have been using galaxy s3 tmobile since last year november. I bought it from a police officer, he gave me unlock codes from tmobile. I used the phone on tmobile for 6-7 months and than I switched to staright talk unlimited and have been using it till yesterday. Yesterday suddenly my phone/ data/ sms.... stopped working. I was using cm10.1.3 than I thought, it is related to kernel/radio or modem and flashed back to stock rom.
But I still have the same problem.
The signal bar is full. I went to apn setting and played with it little, but no results. I tried to connect to the network, it says ' sim card does not allow a connection to this network'. I chatted with tmobile agent: she said, it must work on any network other than tmobile. I put my sim card on iphone, it works, but when I insert any simcard on my phone, it gives same issue. I checked my imei on tmobiles network, the result is: imei blocked. Could anyone help me with it please. ???? :banghead:
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
bek23 said:
Hi guys, I am sorry if it was already posted here, I could not find similar topics or posts. I have a problem with the network. When I try to call someone it says 'not registered on network'
I have been using galaxy s3 tmobile since last year november. I bought it from a police officer, he gave me unlock codes from tmobile. I used the phone on tmobile for 6-7 months and than I switched to staright talk unlimited and have been using it till yesterday. Yesterday suddenly my phone/ data/ sms.... stopped working. I was using cm10.1.3 than I thought, it is related to kernel/radio or modem and flashed back to stock rom.
But I still have the same problem.
The signal bar is full. I went to apn setting and played with it little, but no results. I tried to connect to the network, it says ' sim card does not allow a connection to this network'. I chatted with tmobile agent: she said, it must work on any network other than tmobile. I put my sim card on iphone, it works, but when I insert any simcard on my phone, it gives same issue. I checked my imei on tmobiles network, the result is: imei blocked. Could anyone help me with it please. ???? :banghead:
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the IMEI is blocked then the seller has reported the phone to be stolen. There's not much that can be done in that case to the phone. You can talk to the Seller if you want.
Doesn't sound like a police officer to me. Probably lied to you to make the sale. Either he reported it lost/stolen like Perseus said, or he never fully paid it off and stopped making payments. Either way, the device is now almost certainly considered to be stolen property. You can unlock it and sell overseas, but otherwise you are pretty much screwed I am sorry to say.
You need to call T-Mobile to find out why it's been blacklisted. If it's been reported stolen, or was never fully paid for try to contact the seller and ask about it. If you can't get in touch with him you may want to consider filing a police report.
Only other possibility, but highly unlikely, is if some a$$ cloned their device using your imei (either randomly entered or obtained some other way). In this very unlikely scenario it wouldn't be the sellers fault, unless he gave the IMEI to someone to use or used it himself.
It's much more likely the seller did this to you since this, unfortunately, happens all the time.
Like stated previously, there isn't much you can do if you can't resolve things with the seller.
Sorry to hear about your misfortune.. good luck though.
Sent from my SGH-T999N using Tapatalk
Thank you for the replies, I have called tmobile, they say it's not fully paid off or the customer has stopped the services at all, at the time of purchase I was 100% sure he was police officer, he showed his badge and all the stuff in the car.
How can I unlock it? I might want to sell overseas.
Anyway, I was thinking about move to n5, but it is too early, coz n5 is not out yet
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
In the general section is a SIM Unlock thread. Should be on the first page or two.
If he is actually a cop, I'd call him up and ask about it. If he only recently cut his service, it may have been unintentional that you got screwed as a result. Maybe he had forgot all about it. Considering how long it's been, he probably had it close to paid off, so maybe he'd be willing to pay off the balance to T-Mobile to have it unblocked. Or it might be worth it to you, depending on the amount owed, to pay it yourself if he can't or won't.
Granted, it would suck to have to, but if he only owes like $50, might be worth considering.
Sent from my SGH-T999N using Tapatalk
bek23 said:
Thank you for the replies, I have called tmobile, they say it's not fully paid off or the customer has stopped the services at all, at the time of purchase I was 100% sure he was police officer, he showed his badge and all the stuff in the car.
How can I unlock it? I might want to sell overseas.
Anyway, I was thinking about move to n5, but it is too early, coz n5 is not out yet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If its not paid for then t-mo will release it after you pay up. Nexus 5 is ways away. You will have to go without a phone.
Unlock, ask T-mo or use online services on ebay
Well it is pre unlocked, or should I unlock again?
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bek23 said:
Well it is pre unlocked, or should I unlock again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No Need. If you know its unlocked then go ahead and sell Overseas.
Thank you very much who helped me with this issue, and of course the seller cut his services and even his number is not available anymore, no replies from email, but I am happy that nexus 5 is play store now, yeey
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
So i bought my tmobile note 3 on CL. Bad idea yes i know. Well the phone was working super awesome for 3 weeks and now its reported lost/stolen. So no LTE or service. I tried calling Tmobile and there was nothing they could do. I tried calling the seller and no answer. Ive tried region lock away no help there. Anyone know how to fix this?
Sent from my SM-N900T using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Work with T-mobile to get the phone back to the owner.
Nothing you can do. Install Google voice/groove up and call with wifi
.....
ivan0323 said:
So i bought my tmobile note 3 on CL. Bad idea yes i know. Well the phone was working super awesome for 3 weeks and now its reported lost/stolen. So no LTE or service. I tried calling Tmobile and there was nothing they could do. I tried calling the seller and no answer. Ive tried region lock away no help there. Anyone know how to fix this?
Sent from my SM-N900T using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
RegionLock Away has worked for a lot of people (including myself). Are you sure you can't get it unlocked using that? There's a thread that has a lot of troubleshooting tips somewhere in this section for Chainfire's app (things like using a non-T-mobile SIM, not allowing the app to reboot (i.e. rebooting manually and changing SIM card) and inputting the correct APN settings).
Edit: Here is the thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2471742
I was able to unlock following the instructions in the first post, so if you haven't done that, you might want to try again.
Well the thing with region lock away is i want to use my phone through tmobile. My note 3 is a tmobile phone
Sent from my SM-N900T using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
ivan0323 said:
Well the thing with region lock away is i want to use my phone through tmobile. My note 3 is a tmobile phone
Sent from my SM-N900T using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry to tell you this, but if it's blocked by T-Mobile, there's really nothing to be done. T-Mobile just won't budge (although I have read posts where people basically lied and got T-Mobile to unblock the device, but I am dubious about those claims). Your only options are to unlock to another carrier, or sell the device. If you sell it on Ebay to an international buyer, that would be the best way to recoup most of your money. Neither option is ideal, of course.
Yep, I almost got burned buying a s3 for my mom. Luckily we met at a tmobile store and verified the esn. Turns out it was reported lost/stolen. Chalk it up as a learning experience.
Ivan0323
Like was said a couple of posts prior:
With a BLACKLISTED - N900T - you can:
1) Root, and Use Region Lock Away, it may possibly unlock the sim slot - so you can use an At&t based Sim Card. (Or, you may still need to get an unlock code from someone.)
2) Or - Sell for what its worth on Ebay.- Cut your losses, and find another Handset.
I have bought more than a few from people here locally (different models), seems Craigslist is running rampant (or rather the criminals) with those who are buying a phone, selling for cash on cl, and then reporting lost / stolen for an insurance claim. Then the buyer is stuck holding the bag, and has a tablet. (Or, bends and changes carriers possibly). Its sad but the only true way to be sure the device will be able to be used, is to go with the seller to (Tmo, Vzw, Att etc.) and get the rep to note the account. I have tried to do so via the 800 number, and had mixed results.
Good luck.
Be well.