Giving out ESN

Knowing the ESN can be used to clone phones. It's not a simple, type it in process so it's not like everyone could do it, but for someone that does clone phones, all they need is the ESN.

There is no good reason that they would want the ESN. Realistically, your plan is no longer on those phones anyway so it isn't as if they would be able to charge to your account because you gave them the ESNs to phone that are no longer on your account.

You have good reason to be suspicious and I wouldn't give it out.

 

Contrare: There are plenty of legit reasons for someone to ask for the ESN of a handset when buying a used one. The main reason would be to check with the carrier the buyer would be intending to activate it on to see if it is on any "hot" list. This is the only way to prevent yourself from buying a paperweight if someone has a lost/stolen phone or one that has a bill on it.
Also one may want to check the unit through law enforcement to see if it has any wants or hits on it. Just like running the VIN on a used car, one would do the same for a used phone.

As far as cloning, thanks to authentication software it is all but history now. It still happens in some places, but the majority of fraud is not from ESN's anymore but persons using other's information to apply for credit/service in their name.

I would not buy a phone from someone who refused to provide me with the ESN if I was a legit buyer. I would also not buy a used car from someone who refused to provide me with the VIN? Would you?

 

Nothing can be harmed by giving the ESN since it is not associated to an account any longer... give it to them if you want higher bids.

 

The difference is that a car's VIN number can be used to track the car's history (think Carfax reports). An ESN can't.

If someone wanted to make it a condition of sale, I could see that (i.e., if I win, you provide me the ESN and if it's on a hot list then no deal) but just to have it? If it were me I would tell them to gay in drerd, there are other fish in the sea.

 

Okay well Zaphod, you won't be selling too many phones on Ebay then. There is no reason to be secretive about an ESN unless it is ACTIVE on your account. And you are wrong, at least Verizon keeps a history on the ESN's in their system. I know. Every phone I have used and sold they have checked and sometimes they ask who the previous owner was. Besides, a seller who refuses to provide such information, caveat emptor. Ever buy a phone where some turd didn't pay his bill and left their account in bad standing and try to activate that phone on your account? Good luck. Even with a SIGNED DATED BILL OF SALE from the seller, Cingular WOULD NOT release the ESN so my friend could activate his new found Ebay treasure on Cingular. What a deal eh?
(I told him Ericcson phones were garbage anyway but...oh well. has a nice paperweight now).

As far as how do you know if the buyer is legit, there is nothing to be gained by them having the ESN. It isn't like it is active on your account. It is not as if they can somehow activate it on your account. It is also a good idea to wipe out your phone book and if you can, go into your NAM programming and wipe out your phone no. It is perfectly reasonable for someone to want to check the ESN before buying to verify that their provider will activate it. What is the big deal?

And I used the VIN verification as a method of comparision not just for carfax, but to confirm stolen status. If you aren't hiding anything, you got nothing to worry about.

 

Sprint keeps a history on ESN's in their system too.

 

I have no intention of selling phones on eBay. When I have a phone to get rid of, I donate it to a battered women's shelter.

Besides, I've had GSM for years now and they don't have ESNs, only IMEIs and therefore it's irrelevant anyway.

 

It seems that the best bet would be to not give out the ESN until the auction is over, but have it part of the sale the winner get the esn and then have, say a week to check it out to see if it is on a hot list. If they find it is not a clean esn, then the sale is off. If it comes out clean, then proceed, as I beleive ZaphodB was stating earlier in this thread.


The great concern I could see with providing the ESN before a sale would be someone starting a service and then canceling it for lost/stolen and then not buying the phone. At that point, what could have been a backup phone if the current one dies is now a shiny paper-weight b/c it is on a hot list.



My penny on the left and my penny on the right is all that I can offer

 

I think thats wrong! Ask yourself this question... would you buy a phone before checking the esn with the carrier..? If the esn shows up as "bad" ...ie. the phone was reported lost or stolen, or there are hundreds of dolars of unpaid charges you would have bought a useless phone. You won't be able to activate it. I and most other sane people would never buy a phone on ebay without the esn.

You much more likely to get a bad esn than have someone clone a regular cellphone.

 

My rule.

Give me your ESN, or no business. You know your phone was bought new from Verizon, but how do I know? If you're not an established business with an excellent track record, "trust me" statements are a baloney lip service.

I don't mean in anyway you're dishonest, but consider yourself a buyer. You'd feel the same. I buy and sell on eBay. I've had ONE dishonest buyer trying to pull a quick one, but after I requested he return the item he claims defective and after I confirm it's defective, I'll refund, including postage both ways. That was the end of it, he never returned it.

Bad sellers on the other hand, I've had many experience with. AS-IS = broken, guaranteed to work = "it was working when i listed it, it's not my problem now". Sellers usually have more bad motives than buyers. Sell useless trash as good stuff and turn into cash.

Anyone can describe a stolen phone with a plausible paragraph. Guess what people with ill motive do? Just that. I was looking at a used handset and he said charger isn't included, because his friend snapped the cord while helping him move. Then, I ask the ESN. He stopped responding.

If you don't give me your ESN, I will assume it's stolen, therefore, I won't even bid.

 

Holy four year old post revival Batman!

It's 2007, not 1993. Digital phone ESN cloning is practically non existant in North America, it's not like it was during the analog days. If I was to sell one of my old CDMA phones the ESN would be shown clearly in the photograph so that a prospective buyer could check it with the carrier of their choice. With how cheap most used cell phones go, I certainly wouldn't want to give them the excuse to not buy it.

 

They likely want to know the ESN since if there's a hold on the service for non-payment that phone cannot be used with another person's service until any discrepancy in what is owed may mean that someone attempting to activate that phone will be refused.

 

Wrong! If the person who had service with that phone did not pay their charges and their account was not in good stead the phone's ESN will be not permitted to be used for other service until the account is settled.

 

Unless you're in Europe where providers coöperate with blacklists for stolen handsets.

And it must be nice to be independently wealthy that you don't have any problem donating your used equipment. Not all of us have that luxury.

 

Um Telekom, you're quoting and replying to posts made 4 years ago when this thread was more relevant.