How to Buy a Used Phone in Nigeria Without Getting Scammed

How to Buy a Used Phone in Nigeria Without Getting Scammed.

Making a purchase of a used phone in Nigeria is a good investment. You save a fifth of the cost of the original iPhone XR N160,000 rather than N400,000? iPhone 11 N230,000 rather than N700,000? That's real savings .

But it is also a jungle in the second hand market. Copies of iPhones under the guise of new iPhones. Lost gadgets that cost you a ticket to jail. The UK used phones were in fact Nigerian used phones with changed components. Fraudsters who make phone changes directly before your eyes.

The good news? Every one of the traps can be avoided with the right knowledge. This is precisely how to make safe purchases.

The Shocking Fact in the Nigerian Phone second-hand market.

And firstly, what you have to contend with.

The cloning scandal: Nigerian sellers are repackaging the old iPhones which were launched in 2018 (iPhone XR) as iPhone 17 Pro Max and selling them at N370,000-N450,000. Real iphone 17 pro max is priced at N1.8 million. These counterfeits are of new casing, counterfeit software information and altered About phone screens. However, there is poor performance, poor battery, and no 5G.

The stolen phone issue: Innocent buyers have been arrested due to the fact that they have bought stolen phones without the knowledge and which had been traced by the police. Criminal activities were even committed using some of the devices and then resold.

The theft menace: At Computer Village, phones are lost a few minutes after buying. Buyers go out to make a call and the phone is lost. No struggle, no warning. There are also scammers who change phones during transactions- present you with a real phone but give you a fake one as soon as the money is exchanged.

The fake verification trick: Scammers can counterfeit software information such that a machine appears to have a larger storage or RAM memory than it has in reality.

You need a system. Here it is.

Before You Buy: Research and Check.

Step 1: Know Real Market Prices

Weaknesses Scammers know your lack of experience in the cost of things. When a deal appears to be too good to be true it is bait.

Current iPhones prices Current prices of popular used iPhones 2026:

  Model   UK Used Price (N)   Notes  

  iPhone 8 Plus 120,000 -150,000   Lowest-priced larger screen, Touch ID.   
  iPhone XR 160,000 -220,000  The best basic all-rounder, Face ID, iOS updates.   
  iPhone XS   180,000 -230,000 OLED display, small size.   
  iPhone 11   200, 000 -360, 000   Improved cameras, extended iOS life.   
  iPhone 12   280,000 - 400,000   Adds 5G support   

In the case of Android devices (Samsung, TECNO), conduct research and use the current Jiji and marketplace listings as a basis to determine the prices.

Step 2: Choose the Right Seller

Shop with known sellers, who have reviews, physical locations or tested pages. Use Instagram random plugs that have no history.

Safer options:
Authorised resellers (SLOT, Technocrat, iStore, iConnect) 
Buyer protection through online market (Jumia, Konga official stores) 
Bricks and mortar stores that have physical receipts and warranty. 
Established Jiji sellers who have a good reputation (but they are also thoroughly tested)

Red flags:
Don't rush and sellers who lose their temper when you test. 
None of the receipts or proof of purchase. 
Entrance dealers on the side of the road. 
Prices are extremely low compared to the market. 

The 10-Point Inspection Checklist.

On meeting the seller follow the following steps. Until it all passes, do not pay.

Check physical state of condition.

Remove any case. Inspect under bright light:
Display: Scratches, large scratches, dead pixels. 
Body: Warped, loose, dents.
Buttons: Volume, power, mute switch all, work correctly. 
Ports: Clean charging port works (when it has a headphone jack) 
Cameras: No scratches on Lenses, Shan Guang Deng.

Pro tip: open white screen (Notes app), and look at yellow spots or dark spots. Bad display = expensive fix .

Verify IMEI or Serial Number

This is non-negotiable. Dial #06# on the device. Write down the IMEI numbers .

Check using:
The official check coverage page of Apple (iPhones). 
IMEi.info or other checkers around the world. 
Samsung/TECNO/Infinix brand sites. 

What to verify:
Equipment is authentic (not counterfeit/duped)
Not blacklisted or stolen.
Model is the same as what you are purchasing.

In the case of TECNO/Infinix, IMEI in a number on box/#06 #06 should be compared. If they don't match, it's fake .

Check activation lock / Find my iPhone.

For iPhones, this is critical. Click on Settings [Name of the owner of the device] Find My. Ensure it's turned off. Next delete the device: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

The phone will get to the "Hello" setup screen after a reboot. When it requests the Apple ID of some other person, it is locked in iCloud and unusable practically.

In the case of Android, enable Factory Reset Protection is turned off and the phone is left the Google account of the former owner.

Test Face / Touch / Fingerprint.

Take your face or fingerprint there. When it does not work or displays an error message, then the phone must have been cheaply repaired and the sensor may have been destroyed. Walk away .

Check Battery Health

On iPhones: Settings Battery Battery Health and Charging. Look at "Maximum Capacity" .

85% and above: Very good 
80-84%: Acceptable for daily use 
Less than 80 percent: Battery should be replaced in the nearest future (additional costs N15,000-N25,000) 

In the case of Android, diagnostic codes or apps are used to test battery status.

Assure Network Interoperability.

Insert your own SIM card. Test:
Place a call (verify microphone and ear piece) 
Check mobile data connects
Make network signal stable.

Make sure that the phone is unlocked (compatible with all networks). Care should be taken with phones that are reported to be chip unlocked: it can go back into lockup after reset.

Test All Core Functions

Wi-Fi: Find network, surf. 
Bluetooth: Turn on headphones. 
Speakers: Turn on music speakers in stereo models, ensure that both speakers are on. 
Camera: Make pictures and videos, make front and back checks, check flash. 
Face ID: Re-test post reset. 
Charging: Plug in charger, make sure it charges. 
Headphone jack/Bluetooth audio: Try your own accessories.

Verify Storage and RAM

Open the general settings > about (iPhone) or general settings > about phone (Android). Make sure that storage corresponds with the price you are paying. Fraudsters even break the software to show inflated storage capacity.

Check IMEI where possible.

Ask for Proof of Purchase

Demand original receipt or purchase. This serves to confirm that the device has not been stolen and this may come in handy in case anything occurs in future.

In case seller does not receive receipt, inquire. Be over careful on inspection.

how-to-apply-for-scholarships-and-grants

CONNEXTS

Comments

  1. MI6July 15, 2023 at 9:41 AM

    I love Tom Clancy’s spy novels (for reading and watching the adaptations) so it's great that John Krasinski returns as CIA agent Jack Ryan for a final season. If you haven’t seen the earlier productions or read Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan novels do so and you won’t be disappointed. In fact as time goes by the novels get better whilst the films age a bit but nonetheless their flair remains intact.

    Another great read on the espionage front is about Edward Burlington in the fact based spy thriller Beyond Enkription in The Burlington Files series by Bill Fairclough (MI6 codename JJ. For more, see TheBurlingtonFiles website and read Beyond Enkription about a real spy on the run from London to Port au Prince and back.

    Also do look up TheBurlingtonFiles news dated 31 October 2022 about Pemberton’s People, ungentlemanly spies in MI6, and if you are shocked best read Beyond Enkription too! It is an intriguing raw factual thriller and a super read as long as you don’t expect John le Carré’s delicate diction, sophisticated syntax and placid plots. Nevertheless, one US critic has heralded it as “up there with My Silent War by Kim Philby and No Other Choice by George Blake”.

    ReplyDelete

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