I bought an Samsung s23 ultra from Facebook now is blacklisted

[DanielLondon89]

I purchased a brand new Samsung S23 Ultra from the Facebook Marketplace at a great price. To ensure it wasn't blocked from the network, I verified the IMEI with the seller, which was clean. However, after two weeks of use, I couldn't make calls or connect to the internet. My SIM provider confirmed there were no issues on their end. I informed them about my phone change and where I bought it. They suggested I check the phone's blacklist status again, and after doing so, it indeed showed as blacklisted. What steps should I take now? Is there any recourse in this situation?

[MI5 · Accepted solution]

@DanielLondon89 

It's a common scam and you've been had over.

You need to get your money back off the seller who will now probably have vanished.

You can report it to the police but likely to be considered a civil matter.

Lesson to be learnt the hard way sadly.

[Enlli]

Sell on eBay or Facebook, wait a few weeks then report lost or stolen and claim on insurance.

Scam as old as the hills, I'm afraid.

Probably sold on FB as eBay have tightened up.

You can only try the seller, but they may well disappear 

[jonsie]

Caveat Emptor....