Scams Grow with the Used Market
As new phone prices rise in Egypt, the used market — and scams — grow in parallel. Here are the top 8 scam types and how to protect yourself.
1. Stolen Phone
Signs: Very cheap price, rushed seller, no box or receipt, refuses to share IMEI.
Protection: Dial *#06#, verify at imei.info, ask seller to open "Telephony" app.
2. Copy Screen
Signs: Washed-out colors, different brightness level, slightly slower touch response.
Protection: Compare side-by-side with the same model. Test with HD video in bright light.
3. Degraded Battery
Signs: Seller says "battery is fine" but won't show Battery Health.
Protection: iPhone: Settings > Battery Health. Android: *#*#4636#*#*. Refusal is a red flag.
4. Water-Damaged Phone
Signs: Spots under screen, foggy camera lens, corrosion on board.
Protection: On iPhone, check liquid indicator in SIM slot (red = water exposure).
5. Counterfeit (Fake) Phone
Signs: Too-good price, cheap build quality, different software, poor camera.
Protection: Check Settings > About Phone specs against official site. No real App Store = fake.
6. Shipping Fraud
Signs: "Send money, I'll ship the phone." New Facebook account, no real photos.
Protection: Never send money first. Always hand-to-hand in public. Use protected platforms like Luulwa.
7. Phone Swap at Handoff
Signs: You inspect one phone; they hand you a different one in a bag.
Protection: Keep the phone in your hands from inspection through payment.
8. Unregistered Phone
Signs: Cheap price, "works on network" but still in the 90-day grace period.
Protection: Check "Telephony" app with the IMEI. "Unregistered" = will be blocked soon.
Golden Rules
- If the price is too good — it's a scam
- Always meet in public (café, mall, metro station)
- Bring someone with you
- Never hand over cash before thorough inspection
- Document everything — photograph the seller, phone, and IMEI
