Non-original phones are a significant concern for used device businesses – fake devices can be difficult to spot, but if you accidentally buy them, it will result in financial losses. Today we tackle the key question – how to identify a fake phone. Join us and gain valuable insights for your business.
Why Counterfeit Phones Are Bad for Your Inventory
Although fake smartphones may look original, they always lack quality. To make a profit from manufacturing counterfeit phones, fraudulent companies use inferior parts. As a result, fake phones often have low-quality cameras and displays, and lack features like NFC or fingerprint identification, leading to poor performance.
Avoiding counterfeit devices is crucial when you run a used and refurbished phone business. If you accidentally buy a counterfeit device, you won’t be able to resell it and you’ll lose money.
If someone resells counterfeit phones as genuine products, it is considered fraud. It will damage the reputation of the business and may result in legal consequences.
How to Reduce the Chances of Buying Fake Phones?
The best way to ensure the authenticity of purchased devices is to choose reliable suppliers. Here are a few rules that will help you find reputable sellers.
Buy from Sellers that Provide Test Certificates
The certificates show the results of the tests performed and prove the quality of the phone.
The main thing to inspect is the IMEI number (or International Mobile Equipment Identity). It is a unique code that is essential to determine if the device has been blocked, stolen or has an outstanding balance. Make sure that the IMEI number on the smartphone matches the one on the certificate ; they must have the same serial number.
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Buy from Reputable Markets
Sellers on major online platforms usually check the quality of their inventory, so the risk of buying a counterfeit phone is minimal. Major platforms ensure that devices come with test certificates and quality control labels, making buying from them a safer option.
Double Check Your Devices
Even if you have found reliable sellers to buy used devices in bulk; don’t rely on them alone. Test the smartphones on their end to ensure the quality of your inventory and maintain control over your stock.
Choose Secure Payment Methods
This step will protect you if you have purchased counterfeits – it is possible to get money back for counterfeit devices. Banks have different b2b sale lead rules for disputing transactions, so it is important to check the conditions beforehand and use the payment methods recommended by your bank. And of course, avoid paying in cash.
How to Avoid Fake Smartphones During Exchange Transactions?
The above rules are useful for wholesalers who buy electronics in large quantities. Due to the relatively small number of suppliers, buying in bulk can minimize the risks of buying counterfeit smartphones.
However, if you run an in-store buyback program and purchase used devices from end users, your customers don’t have certificates or other proof of authenticity, so you have to perform advanced testing yourself.
Sometimes, you can spot a fake phone with the naked eye – cheap counterfeits often use low-quality materials and lack features compared to genuine phones. However, it’s impossible to know every smartphone model, so manual testing alone isn’t an option.
You should evaluate not only the cosmetic condition, but also the functional condition of the device. Hardware testing is essential, as it can reveal defects in the battery, cameras, and other components.
Testing software automates the process and helps prevent fraud. Consider using NSYS Diagnostics software, which ensures complete and secure testing and detects if the device’s authenticity is of concern.
If you suspect that the phone might be fake, perform the following manual checks for a closer inspection:
Go to Settings and check the information about the device: IMEI number, model number, RAM, operating system, etc. Compare this data with the information provided by the manufacturer – it should match. Sometimes scammers create fake versions of popular phone models in colors that the original phones are not produced in, or they produce legal protection of business, startup counterfeit models when the originals are discontinued. Therefore, check the specifications carefully.
Check the serial number of an iPhone on Apple’s official website. This is a surefire way to ensure the authenticity of an Apple device. There is no similar tool for Android smartphones. However, you can still check the IMEI number of such devices to get additional information.
Open the camera and record a high-definition video. Counterfeit smartphones usually have low-quality cameras because device manufacturers try to minimize production costs. Thus, evaluating the video quality helps to identify a fake phone.
Inspect the materials used to make the phone. Compare the device to the manufacturer’s description to make sure it matches. For example, check that the screen is made of glass, not plastic, and examine the material of the back cover and the appearance of the logo to verify authenticity.
In general, software testing, along with manual checks in case of authenticity concerns, is the most effective strategy to detect non-genuine devices.
What to do if you have bought a fake smartphone?
When dealing with used and refurbished phones, accidentally buying a fake smartphone is a waste of money. Repairing or replacing parts is useless, as reselling such devices in any form will damage your reputation.
The only way to solve the problem is to find a solution that will help you avoid buying counterfeit phones in the first place. NSYS Diagnostics solution is a perfect choice as it performs over 60 tests to detect over 100 hardware defects, including non-original parts. It will provide you with a high-quality inventory. For each tested device, you will get a certificate with the results of all tests.
Click the link below to try NSYS Diagnostics!
