I Was Scammed! The Shocking Truth About My eBay Purchase

🚨The iPhone 3GS I purchased on eBay turned out to be a scam, and I share the details and warning signs.

🔍I overlooked several red flags, including a poorly sealed box and an improperly placed screen protector.

📦The phone itself showed signs of wear and tear, contrary to its supposed 'factory sealed' condition.

💔I was naive to trust the eBay seller's claims, and I want others to learn from my mistake.

💡I discovered that the phone had been activated before, which contradicted the seller's claim of it being brand new.

How much did you spend on the iPhone 3GS?

—I spent $450 on the iPhone 3GS, which I thought was a good deal at the time.

Did you try to return the phone on eBay?

—Yes, I contacted eBay and initiated a return process to get a refund for the scam purchase.

Were there any other signs that the phone was not as advertised?

—Yes, there were additional signs, such as a scratched SIM card cover and an outdated mention of iCloud.

Did the eBay seller provide any explanation for the scam?

—The seller claimed to have bought the phone from a cell phone store and believed it was still sealed.

What advice do you have for others to avoid falling for similar scams?

—Be cautious when buying sealed items on eBay and thoroughly check for signs of tampering or wear. Research the product and compare prices before making a purchase.

00:01I share my recent experience of being scammed on eBay when I purchased an iPhone 3GS.

00:39I discuss the initial suspicions I had during the unboxing video and the contradictory thought of wanting to believe in the goodness of people on the internet.

01:23The first major red flag was the poorly sealed box, which raised doubts about the phone's authenticity.

02:12I noticed an unsatisfactory screen protector placement and signs of wear and scuffs on the phone, further indicating a scam.

02:57The strange packaging of the SIM card ejector and a scratched SIM card cover added to the evidence of a repackaged phone.

03:47I realized that iCloud was not introduced until 2011, making the seller's claim of a factory-sealed 2009 phone impossible.

04:26I acknowledged my oversight of not remembering the timeline of Apple's product releases.

04:52Using the Serial Number or IMEI number, I discovered that the phone had been activated before, contradicting the seller's claim of it being brand new.