Need Help I Got Scammed And Bought A Bad ESN LG Marquee What Options Do I Have?

**ShawnM** · 05-28-2012, 12:03 AM

After all these years I guess it was bound to happen at some point. I bought an LG Marquee last night off Craigslist. Met the guy at the local mall parking lot (I have his license plate number) and his phone number too. But any ways I get home and go call Boost to swap my i1 for the Marquee and I am told it was reported lost. Not stolen but lost. Boost said they can't help me and that I need the owner to call Sprint and tell them "he found his phone". Well the number I called and sent multiple text messages too is now blocking my number. I am out a $100 unless you guys have an option that I can try. Any ideas? Also I did file a police report (not that they care).

**AndroidFoneFan** · 05-28-2012, 01:27 AM

Report the seller to the police, give them the phone number and licence plate. Have the bum arrested. You will probably never get your money back but at least justice will be done and the bum may learn a lesson from the event and not ever do it again.
Things like this being reported on this websight alone are more and more frequent, and one of the biggest reasons why I will never and I mean NEVER buy from Craigslist

**ShawnM** · 05-28-2012, 03:33 AM

Well I did file a police report. The cop was kind of happy that I had a bunch of info. I also posted my own ad on Craigslist warning others to look out for these two guys driving a Honda with this plate number and they called me from this phone number... and this is what they look like... I did find out that the phone number they are using is still good but that my number is being blocked. So the next step is to have a friend of mine call them and inquire about buying the phone since the ad is still up and set up a meeting...

I used to be able to "weed out" these type by only meeting them in a public place at their car (so I could get a plate number) and I talk and text with them several times before I ever meet them. I also make it very clear that I plan to call the carrier and verify the ESN. But I screwed up and was running late and skipped verifying the ESN. Guy looked me in the eyes and said... I just called Sprint myself and had them check the ESN since you made me curious if anything was wrong and they told me it was good to go. Then he went on and on about how mommy and daddy just bought him a new I-phone and that was why he was selling this one.

I went back and read some old posts I might get lucky by going into a Sprint corporate store and seeing if they can fix the "error" with my ESN since Boost can't seem to fix it... Looks like thats about all I can do. Might be able to send to someone on eBay and have it flashed to Boost with a new ESN number as a last resort. I am open to ideas otherwise it might get sold on eBay as a Cricket phone or some other provider like that that will activate it. Hopefully since I only spent $100 I can get most of that back even selling it for parts?

Never again will I trust anyone even face to face. Always verify the ESN (sigh).

**billm261** · 05-28-2012, 06:53 AM

Isn't the original owners phone number still in the phone under settings, about phone, status ?

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**Haulero** · 05-28-2012, 07:37 AM

I sell on craigslist and I buy every now and then. I must say that people like this make craigslist an unsafe place to sell and I understand how some people are afraid of buying from craigslist. One of the things you can do as a buyer is always check the ESN no matter what. I, as a seller don't like when people want to check the ESN, not because my ESN's are bad but because it takes more time to do the transaction, but I'm always ok if they want to check it because I understand how it is. I do the same when I buy from other people. Buying on craigslist there is always a risk, because once the seller get rid of the phone he can always call and report the phone stolen/lost so he can get another one (after he received the money from you, after you checked the ESN and was clean)

I, as a seller never provide ESN over the phone because they can get "stolen" happened with 3 of my sprint phones, a guy was interested on buying my phones so he asked for the ESN so he could call sprint and verify the ESN were clean to activate. I gave them to him and never heard from him, next day I check the ESNs and they were bad!! what does that mean? the guy misused my ESNs!

**AndroidFoneFan** · 05-28-2012, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by ShawnM

Well I did file a police report. The cop was kind of happy that I had a bunch of info. I also posted my own ad on Craigslist warning others to look out for these two guys driving a Honda with this plate number and they called me from this phone number... and this is what they look like... I did find out that the phone number they are using is still good but that my number is being blocked. So the next step is to have a friend of mine call them and inquire about buying the phone since the ad is still up and set up a meeting...

I used to be able to "weed out" these type by only meeting them in a public place at their car (so I could get a plate number) and I talk and text with them several times before I ever meet them. I also make it very clear that I plan to call the carrier and verify the ESN. But I screwed up and was running late and skipped verifying the ESN. Guy looked me in the eyes and said... I just called Sprint myself and had them check the ESN since you made me curious if anything was wrong and they told me it was good to go. Then he went on and on about how mommy and daddy just bought him a new I-phone and that was why he was selling this one.

I went back and read some old posts I might get lucky by going into a Sprint corporate store and seeing if they can fix the "error" with my ESN since Boost can't seem to fix it... Looks like thats about all I can do. Might be able to send to someone on eBay and have it flashed to Boost with a new ESN number as a last resort. I am open to ideas otherwise it might get sold on eBay as a Cricket phone or some other provider like that that will activate it. Hopefully since I only spent $100 I can get most of that back even selling it for parts?

Never again will I trust anyone even face to face. Always verify the ESN (sigh).

The red above is for what reason. If you force a confrontation and something goes wrong and some one gets hurt, YOU will go to jail not the seller.
You have already reported this to the police and it is in their hands now. Going further short of giving the police new information is not a good idea.

**happyjack** · 05-28-2012, 09:52 AM

Unless something has changed, the only way you can get the Marquee on Boost Mobile is to "repair" the ESN/MEID. So it wouldn't matter if the ESN/MEID is bad.

**ShawnM** · 05-28-2012, 10:39 AM

OK here is what I know as of now. I was able to locate the phone number in the phone. I am just not sure if it goes to the guy who sold me the phone or if it was stolen from someone else and it goes to them. Sprint has told me the date the phone was reported stolen and this is the same day the ad was posted on CL.

I live in a small town and so if I was able to get them to meet me (as a new buyer looking to buy) I would have a cop near me to file a fraud complaint and have them arrested. As much as I would love to give my own street justice out I just don't do that. In WA state you have to have an attorney run license plates and I 'may' pay to run his plate so I can sue him in small claims court (and yes I am very familiar with the process) so it not to get my money back but to try to teach (at my expense) the little sh*t a lesson. I just feel that people get away with the crap all to often since its not "worth" the time or money to do anything about it. In my case I have a lot of time and enjoy this stuff. I will feel a lot better if I know he has to keep looking over his shoulder all the time.

So I got this number out of the phone... any slick ideas as to what to do with it? I am tempted to be direct with who answers and say. Hello, I understand this phone was stolen.. I have it...LOL

**JDubTrey** · 05-28-2012, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by happyjack

Unless something has changed, the only way you can get the Marquee on Boost Mobile is to "repair" the ESN/MEID. So it wouldn't matter if the ESN/MEID is bad.

I have VM and not Boost, but this was my first thought as well.

I do hope the OP gets his/her money back, but as far as I know you have to mod the phone anyway to get it on Boost.

You may have gotten a Sprint LG Marquee when what you really wanted was a Boost LG Marquee anyway .

FFR: always do an ESN check with your carrier before you give up the money.

**billm261** · 05-28-2012, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by ShawnM

So I got this number out of the phone... any slick ideas as to what to do with it? I am tempted to be direct with who answers and say. Hello, I understand this phone was stolen.. I have it...LOL

Chances are that phone number belongs to the original owner who reported it lost. I'd call them and explain the situation and see if they are willing to call Boost and release the esn.

I'd even give them the contact number from Craigslist as the victim may very well know the person you bought it from.

What have you got to loose?

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**corrupt81** · 05-28-2012, 04:49 PM

Reading stories like this makes me all the more cautious buying on craigslist. I buy and sell a LOT of sprint phones (postpaid) on craigslist, but always verify the ESN before handing over my cash. The same goes when someone is buying it I even tell them go ahead and activate it on your account before paying.
Same with T-Mobile phones, except in that case I tell them to use their own sim and make sure everything is working before paying.

Yes there are bad people out there, but not all of craigslist. You were aware of your mistake of going in, and learned from it. Next time you know 110% to check the ESN before paying.
I'd personally have a friend setup a meeting with these guys (even though someone else recommended not to) then when they get there, tell them straight up either free the ESN or give you your money back, if they don't you'll see them in small claims court. Tell them you've already got an attorney. This isn't a threat or some violent altercation, just an honest person trying to make right and give these crooks one final chance to make right before further legal action is taken against them.
That way if you really do take them to small claims court you can also bring up this meeting how they were given a chance. If they still refuse then they truly do deserve to be hit in some kind of law suit.

On a side note there was a good price in a Kawasaki Ninja on my local craigslist so I emailed them and they sent an email telling me about the bike with a bunch of pictures, looked awesome. Told them I was interested then they said the bike was brand new and in a container in New Jersey, but once I paypal'd them the money they'd have it shipped to my door step.
Since the sender's name was "Angelina Guerra" I sent an email back saying I'd send the money but before I did she needed to send me a topless picture to seal the deal.
Needless to say I didn't hear back from her again!

**billm261** · 05-28-2012, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by corrupt81

I'd personally have a friend setup a meeting with these guys (even though someone else recommended not to) then when they get there, tell them straight up either free the ESN or give you your money back, if they don't you'll see them in small claims court. Tell them you've already got an attorney. This isn't a threat or some violent altercation, just an honest person trying to make right and give these crooks one final chance to make right before further legal action is taken against them.
That way if you really do take them to small claims court you can also bring up this meeting how they were given a chance. If they still refuse then they truly do deserve to be hit in some kind of law suit.

That's crazy.

Do you really think they care about an attorney or small claims court?

Your recommendation is a sure fire way to get his friend and or himself a beating or worse. All that risk for what, a rotten 100.00?
I've dealt with too many victims from scenarios such as yours and it's not worth it.

You obviously have never dealt with any real mutt scumbags.

They could be just opportunistic kids but why put yourself at risk?

The OP has done the right thing in handing the matter over to the Police.

**gotanmp3** · 05-28-2012, 09:14 PM

It seems like the second you let your guard down, you'll get scammed on CL. I was recently scammed out of a rather expensive smartphone by a buyer on Craigslist who paid me through PayPal with a stolen credit card. The buyer claimed an out-of-state parent was buying it as a gift. The payment went right through and even had the correct verified billing address. It wasn't until a few days later that I got an e-mail from PayPal with the bad news. I've used PayPal plenty of times before, so it never really occurred to me that someone might use a stolen credit card.

I did my own detective work by using the Sprint Family Locator app and finally managed to track down the buyer a few days later at a nearby gas station. The buyer refused to return the phone, so I proceeded to photograph them, their car, their license plate and their VIN and brought everything (including the phone serial number, emails from PayPal, etc.) to the police.

This experience (which still hasn't been resolved) has taught me that you can never really be too cautious when dealing with people on Craigslist. The whole concept of "anonymous transactions" lends itself all too well to crooks and con artists. It seems like it may be a reasonable thing to start asking people to show some ID for a bit of accountability for what they sell or how they pay you (cash can be counterfeit, too!).

As for the OP, the responsible thing to do with a "lost/stolen" phone is try to get in touch with the original owner and return it. Since Boost is prepaid and not everyone has their personal information in their account profile, that may end up being a lost cause. While it's morally questionable (and quite possibly illegal, as the phone is technically stolen property), you could just resell the phone yourself and honestly state in the ad that it has a bad ESN and is sold for parts or flashing only. You'll probably lose some money, but everyone who has ever been scammed has dealt with exactly the same thing - welcome to the club.