A Rollercoaster Experience with a Second-Hand S23 Ultra: My Journey from Panic to Relief

Purchasing a second-hand smartphone can often feel like a gamble. Today, I found myself in a serious predicament just two months after buying what I thought was a pristine Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. All seemed well until I returned home from work to a shocking message on my screen—it had been reported stolen by Amazon.

Upon seeing the alert, which read: “This device has been reported as lost or stolen and must be returned to Amazon,” I was immediately filled with dread. Along with this notification, I was provided with a passkey and an IMEI number, but the passkey didn’t work when I entered it. The screen urged me to call Amazon for further details, leaving me in a state of anxiety.

A quick search revealed that others had encountered similar issues, leading to discussions about a possible scam involving a unprofessional call center, often with a poor English-speaking representative on the other end. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had unwittingly purchased a stolen device, and honestly, it was terrifying.

In an attempt to address the issue, I reached out to the seller via email, attaching a screenshot of the message for clarity. Initially, he was unresponsive, but soon after, I received a couple of emails indicating his willingness to help. He mentioned that he would exchange the phone or refund my money, but I couldn’t help but feel suspicious about his assurances. The phone was in pristine condition, and I had invested $800 in it just a few weeks prior. Was I truly at risk of losing both my money and my peace of mind?

As the situation unfolded, I discovered that the alert on my device prevented me from doing anything beyond entering my SIM card PIN. Even after performing a factory reset and clearing the cache, the problem persisted, forcing me back into the dreaded warning screen at the conclusion of the device setup.

In what appeared to be a twist of fate, the seller called me and mentioned he would consult a tech-savvy friend about the issue. Shortly after, he proposed a swap for another S23 Ultra—this one in even better condition than the last. Tentatively, I agreed to meet him, and he handed over the new device. I specified that if I faced any further problems, I’d prefer a refund. He agreed without hesitation.

As I drove home, I received another call from him—this time offering to refund my