Buying Safety

IMEI Check Before Buying a Phone on OfferUp

4 min read

OfferUp is popular for local deals, but unlike eBay or Swappa, buyer protection is limited. An IMEI check is your main defense against buying a locked or stolen phone.

Get the IMEI before meeting

Ask the seller for the IMEI through the app. If they refuse or make excuses, do not meet. Once you have it, run the Full IMEI Check.

Verify in person

At the meetup, dial *#06# on the device and confirm it matches the IMEI the seller gave you. If it does not match, walk away.

Check the basics

Confirm blacklist with the GSMA Blacklist Check and, for iPhones, iCloud lock with the iPhone Activation Lock Check.

Safety first: meet in a public place and bring a friend if possible. Only pay after you have confirmed the IMEI and verified the device works.

Bottom line

On OfferUp, the IMEI check is your buyer protection. Get it before the meetup, verify it in person, and pay only after everything checks out.

Ready to check a device?

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