Avoid buying fake/knockoff/clone phones by following these simple measures

Today, we shall be discussing a topic that is very close and yet very far. Day by day, people fall victim of fake phones, knockoffs or clones. This article is written to help you tackle this problem so much so that you can recognize a clone/refurbished/fake phone merely by handling it for a few minutes. Avoid buying fake/knockoff/clone phones today by abiding by these hard and fast rules.

Summarily, the difference between the two boils down to registered trademarks. A knockoff may resemble another product but does not contain any identifying logos or registered brand names. In general, knockoffs don’t necessarily violate trademark law. A counterfeit product, on the other hand, uses a brand name or logo that is identical or nearly identical to a registered trademark, which is illegal under trademark law.

Is there any danger buying a refurbished phone?

Another fallacy is that some people tend to equate a refurbished phone to fake or sub-standard phone. This is technically wrong as a refurbished phone is a used phone that has been repaired and confirmed to be in a usable condition before selling.

A refurbished cell phone typically refers to a model that has been returned to the manufacturer, tested for problems, and restored to full-functioning, factory-standard condition.

In general, refurbished phones include lightly or gently used models. They should be back to standard working condition, unlike “as is” models, which may or may not work. Some refurbished models even include a set warranty, such as 90 days. During that time, if the phone fails to function properly through no fault of the owner, the seller may offer a replacement or refund. If you want to buy a refurbished phone, online, please buy only from credible online stores such as Amazon(Amazon offers certified refurbished which comes with 90 days warranty). Otherwise, buy the refurbished directly from the manufacturer

avoid buying fake/knockoff/clone phones: precautionary moves

Prevention they say is better than cure. Under this sub-topic, I will give a general advice on how not to come into contact with a seller who could sell a clone or fake phone to you. Let me list what you need to do to avoid such sellers altogether.

• Familiarize yourself with the phone you wish to buy: Ordinarily, this should be the norm for every phone shopper. Do extensive research on your next phone if you are will to buy it used. Make sure, you have a contact who already owns one and who is approachable. Go to such individual and entreat him to allow you get used to his phone. Possibly, take pictures, make videos or jot down the distinct features. Besides, you can also search for the phone on Youtube an watch. That way, you won’t spend 3 minutes on a fake or clone phone before rejecting it.
• Know the person or company you are buying from: Don’t buy phones from total strangers. In fact, there is more to this as you can easily get jailed. I mean, if you buy a stolen phone, you will be prosecuted. Alternatively, you can be robbed or conned if you patronize a stranger. Also, while eBy is a credible website, if you don’t know your way around it, please don’t buy anything used on it/ Instead, make use of Amazon and make sure you select “used like new” or certified refurbished”. Remeber that used phones don’t come with warranties. Only refurbished phones do.
• Very similar to the points above, you need to know every feature and specifications of the phone you are trying to buy. Otherwise, you can easily fall prey to clones.
• Go for phones with reasonable prices. In addition, don’t be greedy: Check the price. If the phone you want to buy goes for $899 and you’ve found it for $400, chances are it’s not legitimate. That is a telltale sign of a clone/knockoff. Otherwise, it is defective, or fake
• Don’t buy a phone that you cannot use in your region: If you are in Europe/Africa, avoid a phone that can’t be used outside the United States. The network bands of US and Europe are different. You will never have any kind of warranty. And no updates. Moreover, it is not cool to be penny wise, pound foolish.

Avoid buying fake/knockoff/clone phones: detecting measures

Also, read the followings:

• How to detect if an LCD/LED/OLED television is original or fake Before buying it
• Major Mobile Phones Software Problems and to Fix or Prevent them
• PHONES HARDWARE: Problems, Causes, Symptoms, Fix and Prevention

All fingers are indeed not equal. Now, let’s assume that you have no choice than to buy a used phone because you can’t afford it as new, what can you do to buy safe?. To avoid buying fake/knockoff/clone phones, you need to put some measures in place. These measures are what i will be explaining comprehensively in this sub-heading. Worthy of note, these measures are applicable to every phone out there irrespective of the manufacturer or operating systems.

avoid buying fake/knockoff/clone phones: How to identify a fake or clone iPhone/iPad/iPod

Checking if your Apple phone is genuine via software or online

If you are very new to the iPhone, the best and easiest way is to check the authenticity of the phone on apple website or via IMEI checker online. The iPhone 7 has a clone so beware. Before you buy a used iPhone from anyone, please perform the operation above. Also, if time permits, connect the iPhone//iPad/iPad to iTunes on your computer or mac. Taking at least one out of the three measures above will protect you from buying a fake iPhone.

Checking if an iPhone is original through physical examination

There can’t be a phone’s software without a corresponding hardware. This is to say, it is not enough to only verify the authenticity of a phone(not the health here) by check the software aspect alone. You actually need to also check it physically for any inconsistencies. There is a link I found online which has it all listed. Visit the link visihow here.

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