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You Just Bought a Used Phone: A 7-Day Plan to Check, Secure and Settle It

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Most buying advice ends at the handshake. But the phone is not really yours until you have confirmed it is genuine, cut the previous owner's access, tested every part and kept your papers in order. Do those things in the first week, while you can still go back to the seller if something is off. This guide is a day-by-day plan for what to do after a used phone arrives in your hands. If you are still deciding what to buy, start with our guide on how to buy a used mobile phone.

Updated: 25 October 2026

Day 0: At the handover, before the seller leaves

  • You are still with the seller, so these steps are easiest now.
  • Dial *#06# and compare the IMEI shown with the IMEI printed on the box, the bill and the phone's settings page.
  • Switch the phone on and make sure it is signed out of the seller's accounts and shows the welcome or set-up screen after reset.
  • Insert your SIM, make a call, send a message and check the mobile data signal.
  • Take a photo of the seller's ID (if they agree), note the seller's phone number, and write a short receipt with the phone model, IMEI, amount paid and date. Both of you should sign it.
  • If any of this goes wrong, do not leave with the phone.

Day 1: Verify the IMEI officially

  • The Department of Telecommunications' Sanchar Saathi service offers a way to know the genuineness of a handset. You can use it on the sancharsaathi.gov.in website (an OTP goes to your own number), through the Sanchar Saathi app, or by SMS: type KYM, a space and the 15-digit IMEI, and send it to 14422. Use only the official channels. Avoid unofficial IMEI checker apps and websites, and never read an OTP out to a seller. Our guide on how to check IMEI goes through the steps. If the result looks wrong, contact the seller on Day 1, not on Day 20.

Day 2: Secure your accounts

  • Create or sign in to your own Google or Apple account.
  • Set a new screen lock and, if available, fingerprint or face unlock.
  • Check that no unknown accounts or profiles remain in Settings.
  • Change passwords on accounts you signed into, and turn on two-step verification.
  • Switch on the phone-finding feature of your account, so you can locate or lock it if it is lost.

Day 3: Test the hardware

  • Work through this list slowly, rather than skimming.
  • Screen — Show a white and a black screen; look for dead spots, lines, ghost touches
  • Touch — Draw across the screen with a drawing app; test each corner
  • Cameras — Take photos with the front and back cameras; check autofocus and flash
  • Speakers and mic — Record a voice note; play it loudly; make a speaker-phone call
  • Charging — Charge with the cable you will use, and check the port is firm
  • Buttons and sensors — Volume, power, fingerprint, proximity during a call
  • Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS — Connect, pair a device, open a map
  • Note anything that does not work, with a photo or short video.

Day 4: Watch the battery

  • Use the phone normally for a full day and observe how it drains and charges. Look at battery usage in settings. A phone that gets very hot while charging or loses charge unusually fast is a reason to talk to the seller or a service centre.

Day 5: Check warranty and service options

  • If the seller gave you a bill, check the brand's service website or centre to see whether the phone is still under warranty and whether it can be transferred. Do not assume it can. If there is no warranty, find a repair shop you trust, and ask what they would charge for common repairs, so you know what to expect later.

Day 6: Organise your records

  • Keep these in one folder on your phone and a copy in your email:
  • Photo of the IMEI and the box
  • The signed receipt and seller's contact
  • The chat with the seller on FastBuySale or any other app
  • Photos or videos of any fault you found
  • Warranty or bill, if any

Day 7: Decide: keep, negotiate or return

  • By now you know the phone well. If everything is fine, you are done. If something was hidden or misrepresented, contact the seller politely, with your photos and the receipt, and ask for a repair share, a partial refund or a return. Many sellers cooperate when approached calmly with evidence. If a seller refuses and you suspect fraud, or you lost money online, call 1930 (the national cyber crime helpline, 24x7) and complete your complaint on cybercrime.gov.in within 24 hours using the acknowledgement number you receive by SMS.

What a good 7 days looks like

  • Say you buy a phone on Saturday. On Saturday evening you check the IMEI against the box and make a test call. On Sunday you verify it officially and set up your own accounts. By Wednesday you have tested every sensor and recorded one problem: the speaker crackles at full volume. On Thursday you check warranty. On Friday your folder is ready, and on Saturday you message the seller with a short recording of the speaker. Having done all that calmly, you have a clear request and records that support it.

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Safety tips

  • Meet in a public, well-lit place and, where possible, take someone with you.
  • Inspect the item before you pay and check it matches the listing.
  • Never pay in advance, share OTPs, or move payment outside the agreed meeting.
  • Keep contact through the listing page — contact details are privacy-gated in the app.
  • Report suspicious sellers instead of continuing the conversation.

Frequently asked questions

What if the IMEI on the box and the phone do not match?

That is a warning sign. Do not complete the deal, or ask for the reason in writing before paying.

Can I return a used phone?

Private sales do not come with a return policy by default. Agree on any return window with the seller in writing before you pay.

Do I need to reset a phone I bought?

Yes, if it was not already reset. Make sure the previous owner's accounts are gone before you sign in to yours.

Is a locked screen or "activation lock" a problem?

Yes. If you cannot get past it, ask the seller to remove the account in front of you, or return the phone.

What if the phone was reported lost or stolen?

Contact the local police and stop using it. Do not try to hide or sell it again.

Related guides

How to Check a Phone's IMEI Before You Buy a Second-Hand PhoneLearn how to find and verify a phone's IMEI, match it with the box and bill, and spot red flags before paying for a second-hand phone.How to buy a used phone safely: a 12-point checkBuying a second-hand phone in India? Use this 12-point inspection checklist for IMEI, battery, screen, bill and payment so you avoid blocked or faulty phones.Safe deal checklist: how to avoid scams when buying or selling used itemsCommon scams in second-hand deals in India, calm replies you can copy, and a checklist: OTP, advance, fake courier, QR code and fake payment screenshot traps.

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