My Experience with a Potentially Stolen Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: A Rollercoaster of Emotions
Today, I found myself in a rather distressing situation after purchasing a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra two months ago. The device, which I had believed to be in perfect working order, suddenly displayed a troubling message upon my return home from work.
The notification on the screen, seemingly originating from Amazon, read:
Amazon Notification
– Passkey: 61783337 (this didn’t work when I tried to enter it)
– IMEI: 354484224894558
“This device has been reported as lost or stolen and must be returned to Amazon. Please call 08002797234 for details.”
Feeling an overwhelming sense of dread, I immediately consulted a search engine and stumbled upon several discussions that suggested this was a scam. Many users, primarily from the UK, reported similar experiences, often reaching out to a call center that was difficult to understand—typically staffed by individuals with accents from either China or India.
As the anxiety settled in, I grappled with the idea that I might have inadvertently purchased a stolen phone. I had paid $800 for it in early October, and the prospect of losing that investment filled me with panic. I decided not to reach out to the provided phone number just yet; instead, I attempted to contact the original seller via email.
He responded quickly, proposing a phone call. Initially, he claimed ignorance regarding the issue but generously offered to replace the device or refund my money. While his intentions seemed plausible, I couldn’t shake the skepticism about the situation.
The Phone’s Frustrating State
To complicate matters further, I found myself unable to bypass the alert. I could only enter my SIM card’s PIN, with no access to any functionalities. A factory reset and cache wipe did little to resolve the issue. After the reset, I was greeted with the initial setup screen, but alas, the lost or stolen message resurfaced as soon as I completed it.
An Unexpected Turn of Events
Eventually, the seller called me, expressing his willingness to consult a tech-savvy friend for assistance. In a surprising twist, he offered to replace the problematic phone with another S23 Ultra. We met, and I received the new device, which appeared to be in even better condition than the first. I insisted that if any issues arose again, I wanted a full refund. To my amazement,
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