Common Second-Hand Phone Scams in Bangladesh
Familiarize yourself with the most frequent tactics employed by deceptive sellers and scammers:
The Advance Payment Scam
The seller posts a flagship phone at an unbelievable price (e.g. iPhone 15 Pro for BDT 40,000) and demands BDT 1,000 to 3,000 via bKash as a "courier fee" or "booking deposit". Once sent, the seller blocks your number immediately.
The Clone / Master Copy Phone
Counterfeit devices looking identical to premium Samsung Ultra or iPhone models on the outside, but running outdated Android versions with sluggish processors and terrible cameras.
iCloud & Google FRP Locked Phones
Stolen or lost phones sold with a temporary software bypass. The moment you reset or update the device, it locks permanently and cannot be activated without the original owner credentials.
Boosted / Fake Battery Health
Sellers using hardware reprogramming tools to force an old, degraded battery to display "100% Battery Health" in iOS settings, which plummets to 75% within two weeks of use.
The Golden Rules of Safe Buying
Follow these essential rules on every single transaction:
- Rule 1: Zero Advance Payments: Never transfer booking money, token money, or shipping advances. Always inspect the smartphone physically in person before any money changes hands.
- Rule 2: Public Meetup Locations Only: Meet in crowded, reputable commercial places with CCTV surveillance (e.g., major shopping centers in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna, Rajshahi).
- Rule 3: Check IMEI on BTRC NEIR: Dial
*#06#on the device dialer. Verify that the IMEI on the screen matches the IMEI printed on the physical SIM tray and original retail box. SendKYD <IMEI>to16002to confirm national registration status. - Rule 4: Require a Factory Reset in Your Presence: Ensure the device can be fully wiped and set up again from the initial "Hello" / "Welcome" screen without prompting for previous Apple ID or Google account passwords.
- Rule 5: Test Network Calling with Multiple Operators: Insert both a Grameenphone/Banglalink/Robi SIM card. Make a test call to confirm that the cellular baseband chip is intact and not network-locked or blacklisted.
Recommended Safe Meetup Hubs by City
| City / Region | Recommended Public Meetup Venues |
|---|---|
| Dhaka Central & North | Bashundhara City (Panthapath), Jamuna Future Park (Kuril), Police Plaza Concord (Gulshan), Multiplan Center (Elephant Road), Shimanto Square (Dhanmondi) |
| Dhaka South & East | Tokyo Square (Mohammadpur), Twin Towers Concord (Shantinagar), Fortune Shopping Mall (Malibagh), Wari Police Station Adjacent Centers |
| Chittagong | Sanmar Ocean City (GEC Circle), Afmi Plaza, Central Shopping Complex, Finlay Square |
| Sylhet | Al Hamra Shopping City (Zindabazar), Blue Water Shopping City, Shukria Market |
| Rajshahi & Khulna | Theme Engineer World (Rajshahi), Khulna New Market, Jalil Tower (Khulna) |
How to Report Suspicious Activity
If you encounter an advertisement with an unrealistic price, an aggressive seller demanding advance payment, or suspected stolen property, report it immediately:
- Click the Report Listing button located on every listing details page.
- Submit an urgent report through our Contact Support form.
- Our moderation team investigates and permanently bans fraudulent accounts within minutes.