7 Safe Tips for Buying Used Phones on Online Marketplaces in 2025 and Signs of Fake Phones
– The sale of second-hand mobile phones through online platforms or marketplaces is increasingly popular among the community because they offer convenient transactions and more affordable prices.
However, behind the convenience, consumers still need to be cautious to avoid being deceived by counterfeit, defective, or not as described products.
According to digital technology observers, online trading systems indeed offer many benefits, but the risks of fraud and information manipulation are also high.
Therefore, buyers need to pay attention to a number of important things before deciding to buy a used phone online.
Here are 7 safe tips for buying a used phone on online marketplaces, compiled from various sources:
1. Choose a Trusted Marketplace
Make sure to conduct transactions on a large marketplace that has a seller verification system, buyer protection features, and a refund service.
Avoid transacting on platforms that do not have supervision mechanisms or security guarantees.
2. Check the Seller’s Reputation
Check the rating, previous customer reviews, and the length of time the account has been active.
Sellers with good reputation and positive responses are usually more trustworthy.
Avoid new sellers or those with many negative reviews.
3. Review Product Description and Photos
Read the description carefully, including the physical condition, warranty status, and accessory completeness.
Make sure the product photo is an original photo, not a download from the internet.
Request a short video of the phone’s condition if necessary, to be more convincing.
4. Check IMEI Number and Phone Authenticity
Before the transaction, ask the seller to include the IMEI number and check its authenticity through the official site imei.kemenperin.go.id.
The registered IMEI indicates that the phone is legal and not smuggled.
5. Use a Safe Payment Method
Always use the official payment system provided by the marketplace, not direct transfers to personal accounts.
Official payment features ensure that new funds are transferred to the seller after the buyer receives the item as ordered.
6. Avoid Offers That Are Too Cheap
Prices that are far below the market often indicate problems, such as damaged goods, no warranty, or even counterfeit products.
Compare prices from several sellers before making a decision.
7. Document the Transaction Process
Save communication evidence, invoices, and photos of the items upon receipt.
If there are any issues, the document can serve as strong evidence for filing a complaint with the marketplace.
Features of Fake Phones
Mid-July, as reported by Kompas.com, Trade Minister Budi Santoso closed a factory that assembled thousands of counterfeit and illegal mobile phones.
The Minister stated that the factory assembles at least 5,100 units of mobile phones from various brands, such as Oppo, Vivo, Redmi, and iPhone.
Those phones are widely sold in the marketplace with very cheap prices, even below the normal market price.
Shortly after the closure, the Minister conducted an exposure and displayed several counterfeit phones in front of the media.
At a glance, the counterfeit products are very similar to the genuine HP products made by the official factory.
Its packaging is quite neat, just like the original packaging of a new smartphone from the manufacturer.
So, buyers can be scammed if not careful.
Nevertheless, there are some characteristics of fake phones that can be observed, as revealed by the Director General of Consumer Protection and Market Order (PKTN) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Moga Simatupang.
1. The price is very cheap
Moga said that fake or illegally assembled mobile phones are usually distributed through local markets or marketplaces with the promise of warehouse clearance promotions, big discounts, and sold at very low prices compared to normal prices.
Once it reaches the hand, the phone may seem normal at a glance, just like an original factory phone. Such as its casing that appears new and smooth.
2. Quality decline
According to Moga, fake phones usually have a decline in quality in some features, such as the camera and speaker.
The battery can also drain faster even if the unit is “new”.
Although, usually new devices still have a fairly durable battery life.
3. Booting lama
Counterfeit phones usually also experience a very long booting process, whether for the Android operating system or iOS (iPhone).
This is different from the original phone, which should be able to boot quickly.
4. Poor after-sales service
Moga also said that fake phones usually have very poor after-sales service.
For example, the seller only offers a distributor warranty (if sold offline).
If sold through a marketplace, the store usually directly offers new units, as they do not have a service center.
5. Minimum box content
Although the packaging appears “normal” like a genuine HP, the contents of a fake HP box are usually far from complete.
For example, there is no official user manual and warranty card registered with the Ministry of Trade.
The contents of the box may only include the mobile phone unit, and the charger or case alone.
6. Poor signal quality
Finally, may also say that fake HPs may have poor signal quality.
The signal may suddenly and permanently disappear even if the device is located in an area with strong 4G/5G signals.
This is because the International Mobile Equipment Identity/International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number embedded in the device is not registered with the official brand, let alone the government database.
The government itself has a regulation that unregistered IMEI numbers will be blocked using mobile services.
Buying a used phone on a marketplace indeed offers convenience and the potential for attractive prices.
However, caution and thorough verification remain key to ensuring consumers avoid losses and obtain products according to their expectations.
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