SOMEBODY HELP!
I bought a brand new Treo 650 about 2 weeks ago pretty cheap from a guy through a want ad. I picked the phone up in person and I got home and unwrapped the phone I noticed that it already had a phone # connected to it. The funny thing is that it guided me through the voicemail set up as if I just bought new service. So basically its a free line. I went on vision and under "my acoount" and plan info it says "Demo Plan" with 1500 mins and unlimited everyting else. I called the guy I bought it from and he said that his friend gave it to him and he's in Iraq. He said the phone was won at a game show and has free service. I called sprint and the lady from Cust Serv said that its a Government account but she wouldnt give me any other info because ...
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I'm sure that it won't be cut off, at least for a while, but, do you want to be on the end of something like that? Knowingly using government equipment for your own personal use without paying for it? I'd try to get a refund from the guy or turn him in or something. I don't think anything good can come from this, at least not long term.
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I called sprint again and they said that its probably a demo line and when it is shut off the phone will be useless.
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There are two things that could happen. Maybe more.
They realize the phone is missing, suspend the line and flag the phone lost or stolen. This then keeps anyone from activating the phone on another account, rendering the phone useless.
The account can go unpaid and eventually go into non paid disconnect status. This then freezes the phone onto the account until it gets paid, again rendering the phone useless.
Either way, you using the phone is not a good idea. You need to contact Sprint and find a way to return the phone to the account holder. And find the guy you bought the phone from and get your money back.
Lesson to this story: Don't buy phones from want ads. Try a store next time.
They realize the phone is missing, suspend the line and flag the phone lost or stolen. This then keeps anyone from activating the phone on another account, rendering the phone useless.
The account can go unpaid and eventually go into non paid disconnect status. This then freezes the phone onto the account until it gets paid, again rendering the phone useless.
Either way, you using the phone is not a good idea. You need to contact Sprint and find a way to return the phone to the account holder. And find the guy you bought the phone from and get your money back.
Lesson to this story: Don't buy phones from want ads. Try a store next time.
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Buying phones from want ads isn't that bad of an idea, when they're around $100. It's when they're $500 phones is when you should stay away. I was going to buy my Treo 650 online, but thought, for that kind of money, and that kind of phone, I want to make sure I have one I can insure and I know is completely free of any problems.
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Online is one thing. Ebay is somewhat regulated and the likelihood of you getting a "HOT" phone is slime.
However, buying a phone from a want ad in a newspaper, it is almost guaranteed you are buying someone's stolen phone.
However, buying a phone from a want ad in a newspaper, it is almost guaranteed you are buying someone's stolen phone.
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lol well I got it PRETTY cheap...and now I know that buying a phone on a want ad is pretty dumb. I called sprint and they said that they won't help me find the owner and they wont shut it off. Basically they are just begging me to use it. All i want to do is use it under my #...is that so wrong? I hacked into the MSN and MSID programming and it showed the phone # thats on the Treo and another phone # too...I'm assuming that its the account owners phone #. Is it a good idea to call it and tell them to turn it off?
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the other number is the MSID. if you can get the master lock code, you can reset it though.
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lol well I got it PRETTY cheap...and now I know that buying a phone on a want ad is pretty dumb. I called sprint and they said that they won't help me find the owner and they wont shut it off. Basically they are just begging me to use it. All i want to do is use it under my #...is that so wrong? I hacked into the MSN and MSID programming and it showed the phone # thats on the Treo and another phone # too...I'm assuming that its the account owners phone #. Is it a good idea to call it and tell them to turn it off? Its probably the Head of the account right?
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FYI,
Here is the HELP!
What you have done by purchasing a product that is obviously too inexpensive, when compared to the original product, without a receipt from the seller showing it was obtained legally when the phone account is currently active to another person, is called "receiving stolen property." It is reasonable to believe that the phone is stolen based on the active account attached to the phone and the unknown inexpensive cost you supposedly paid.
Otherwise this is known as a 496 PC felony crime in CA.
Also, by using the phone and calling all of your family and friends you have created a great paper trail for law enforcement (don’t forget GPS); the victim soldier will return from IRAQ and report it as stolen/lost, ca...
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Here is the HELP!
What you have done by purchasing a product that is obviously too inexpensive, when compared to the original product, without a receipt from the seller showing it was obtained legally when the phone account is currently active to another person, is called "receiving stolen property." It is reasonable to believe that the phone is stolen based on the active account attached to the phone and the unknown inexpensive cost you supposedly paid.
Otherwise this is known as a 496 PC felony crime in CA.
Also, by using the phone and calling all of your family and friends you have created a great paper trail for law enforcement (don’t forget GPS); the victim soldier will return from IRAQ and report it as stolen/lost, ca...
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Here's some advice:
-Put it in a want ad for double what you bought it for, add a tag line like "comes with a special suprise".
-Only accept a money order.
-Make sure the battery is completely charged...load up a risky webpage with somewhat compromising pictures of young ladies
-Box it up.
-Take the money and buy as many $1 scratch off tickets as you can.
-Win $100,000,000,000,000,000.
-Buy Sprint
-Buy the Government
-Then spend the rest of your days on a hammock, on the beach of some island you bought, sippin' Mia-Tias and coconut milk as you light $100 bills on fire
See, the simplest solution is usually the correct one. Happy St. Patty's everyone... 😁
-Put it in a want ad for double what you bought it for, add a tag line like "comes with a special suprise".
-Only accept a money order.
-Make sure the battery is completely charged...load up a risky webpage with somewhat compromising pictures of young ladies
-Box it up.
-Take the money and buy as many $1 scratch off tickets as you can.
-Win $100,000,000,000,000,000.
-Buy Sprint
-Buy the Government
-Then spend the rest of your days on a hammock, on the beach of some island you bought, sippin' Mia-Tias and coconut milk as you light $100 bills on fire
See, the simplest solution is usually the correct one. Happy St. Patty's everyone... 😁
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personally, i would cut my losses, go buy a phone in the store. yeah, it may be pricier, but you know where it came from, got the receipt, and it has a warranty on it. you can also add insurance if somehting happens to your phone that destroys it.
another thing that you can do (or anyone at that) before they purchase a phone from ebay, newspaper ads, etc. is to contact the person and ask them for the esn hex. any HONEST person won't care about providing you with this information. if they ask, tell them you are doing this to protect yourself from purchasing a stolen phone or a phone which is already active on an account or a phone that has a past due account balance attatched to it, so that you won't be s.o.l. the esn is located under the...
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another thing that you can do (or anyone at that) before they purchase a phone from ebay, newspaper ads, etc. is to contact the person and ask them for the esn hex. any HONEST person won't care about providing you with this information. if they ask, tell them you are doing this to protect yourself from purchasing a stolen phone or a phone which is already active on an account or a phone that has a past due account balance attatched to it, so that you won't be s.o.l. the esn is located under the...
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I would try to recoup my $$$ by the threat of police involvement......and possibly take the cops with me when you go to make the exchange for your cash back, for your safety in case he doesn't like being threatened.
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that is a STOLEN PHONE I GUARANTEE YOU!!! I would be calling the seller back, demanding my money back and if he doesn't give it back, you will report him to the police for receiving and reselling stolen GOVERNMENT PROPERTY!!!! Don't even THINK for a minute your new phone will slip thru the cracks, it isn't worth it......all they have to do is pull a locator on the phone, and when they find you with it, YOU will have some 'splaining to do!! 😲
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