FREE GUIDE

How to buy a used iPhone without getting burned

A used iPhone can be a great buy — or cost you tens of thousands. Here's the whole process step by step: what to verify remotely, what to watch for and what to check at the in-person handover.

Before you agree: ask for the IMEI

Before meeting up, ask the seller for the 15-digit IMEI — they dial *#06#, or find it in Settings → General → About. It's a perfectly ordinary detail and an honest seller has no problem sharing it. With the IMEI you can check the phone before you meet anyone.

Check the phone remotely

By IMEI you learn the things you can't read from the listing — the things that decide whether the phone is even usable:

iCloud / activation lock — whether the phone is signed out and can be activated at all.
Carrier blacklist — whether it's reported lost, stolen or with unpaid debt.
Carrier lock — whether it works with any SIM.
Real age and origin — reveals an "almost new" unit that's years old, a refurb or a service loaner.
Czech Police stolen register — verification in the official database.

Our report checks all of this within a minute — with a clear buy / don't-buy verdict.

Check a phone for 99 CZK

Red flags in the listing

If you come across any of these, be on your guard:

A suspiciously low price compared to the same models.
The seller is in a hurry and pushes for a quick deal.
Won't share the IMEI or serial number.
Refuses an in-person handover and only wants cash-on-delivery shipping.
The phone is iCloud-locked — "wait, I'll sign out at home".
The listing photos are pulled from the internet (try a reverse image search).

In-person handover: checklist

Once you're holding the phone, go through this list with the seller — ideally before paying:

The IMEI and serial number on the phone (dial *#06#) match the listing and your report.

Display free of cracks, spots and dead pixels; touch responds across the whole surface.

Body and back free of bends, dents and cracked glass.

Battery health (Settings → Battery → Battery Health) — ideally above 80%.

Face ID / Touch ID can be set up and works.

Front and rear cameras focus and aren't fogged.

Earpiece, speaker and microphones — try a call and record a video.

All buttons and the mute switch work.

Charging by cable (and wirelessly, if the model supports it) and a clean charging port.

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile signal — insert a SIM and test calls and data.

The seller signed out of iCloud and reset the phone to factory settings BEFORE handover.

Tip: our report includes this checklist right in the PDF, so you have it to hand at the phone.

Payment and handover

Pay only after checking and after the seller has signed out of iCloud.
Ask for proof of purchase (a receipt or at least a simple sales agreement with the IMEI).
Meet in a safe, public place, ideally during the day.
For pricier units, consider a traceable payment (bank transfer) rather than anonymous cash.

The fastest way to be sure: check the phone by its IMEI.

Check a phone