IMEI Check for Craigslist & OfferUp: How to Avoid Stolen Phones

IMEI Check Before Buying a Phone on Craigslist or OfferUp

Craigslist and OfferUp are cash-transaction marketplaces with no buyer protection. A blacklisted, stolen, or iCloud-locked phone purchased on these platforms is typically a total loss — there is no refund mechanism and tracking down the seller is nearly impossible. An IMEI check is your only protection.

Why Cash Marketplaces Are Higher Risk

Unlike eBay or Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist requires no account verification. Sellers can create throwaway posts, meet once, take cash, and disappear. OfferUp has improved identity verification but is still primarily cash-based. In both cases, once money changes hands, you have no recourse if the phone fails later.

The Craigslist/OfferUp Phone Scam Playbook

• The "just reported stolen" trick: Seller agrees to meet, lets you test the phone — it works fine. You pay cash. Seller immediately reports the phone stolen to their carrier after the sale. Your phone is blacklisted within hours.
• The fake IMEI screenshot: Seller sends a screenshot of *#06# showing a clean IMEI — but it belongs to a different device. Always verify the IMEI on the physical device in person.
• The partial payment device: Phone was purchased on a carrier payment plan. Seller stopped paying. IMEI will be blacklisted once the carrier processes the default (can take 30–90 days).

How to Check IMEI in Person at Meetup

1. Before handing over any money, ask the seller to dial *#06# on the phone. Write down the 15-digit IMEI.
2. Use your own phone to run a quick check at imeicheckpro.com right there at the meetup.
3. Verify the IMEI on the device's SIM tray or Settings matches the IMEI that came up on *#06#.
4. For iPhones: check that no iCloud account is linked (Settings → [Apple ID name] at top — should show no name, or you should see "Sign in to your iPhone").
5. Insert your SIM card and confirm the phone connects to your carrier's network.

Safe Meetup Locations

Both Craigslist and OfferUp recommend meeting at police stations, which often have designated "safe exchange zones" with cameras. Many police departments have painted parking spaces specifically for marketplace transactions. This deters theft and provides a record if the transaction is disputed later.

What OfferUp's Verified Seller Program Covers

OfferUp's TruYou verification confirms a seller's real identity via ID scan — but it does not verify the phone's IMEI status. A verified seller can still unknowingly (or knowingly) sell a financed phone that gets blacklisted later. Always run your own IMEI check regardless of seller verification status.

After the Purchase: What to Check

• Run a full premium IMEI check within 24 hours of purchase to document the phone's status at time of purchase.
• Save the IMEI check report — this is your evidence if the phone is later blacklisted and you need to file a police report.
• On iPhones: go to Settings → General → About → scroll to "IMEI" — confirm it matches your report.