Bought this phone from Offer up. I got this message today. How do I pay for it to get it unlocked?
samsung temporarily disabled this device because it was reported lost in transit or there is an outstanding balance due to failure to meet trade-in terms. to unlock check the email used at the time of purchase for a message sent by Samsung for the next steps your device will be unlocked the following business day after a successful payment.
It is most likely a device that was ordered directly from Samsung for a huge discount because the original owner said they would send in multiple devices to get instant credit toward their purchase. After one month passes the devices are remotely disabled because if you don't send in the trade in devices Samsung disables the phone until the purchaser pays the amount which was originally supposed to be covered by the trades that in your case probably don't exist. Long story short, you have been scammed.
I think you are in trouble. Offer up doesn't allow for refunds or any type of guarantee that I know of. I was scammed on an iphone a while back when the seller wanted more than the maximum amount. They asked me to pay the difference using a banking app. I paid them and then they wouldn't allow me to pay the balance. It was a scam and I lost the money I sent.
I think this is a similar situation. Seller either had a stolen phone or had some trade in deal they did not fulfill. Since they bought the device initially it is tied to there account. Unless they pay whatever is owed on the contract you have essentially a phone you can't use. You can try to contact Samsung customer service and explain the situation and see if there is anything they will do.
I would contact local law enforcement and report the transaction as a theft. The seller should have consequences but most likely they are long gone.
As a general rule never buy anything from a site that you can't get a refund and even then buying second hand can be risky because a seller could be making payments for a month or more on a pay back contract and stop before they have fulfilled the contract and you could end up in the same boat.
I believe Swappa.com would be a much safer place to buy used devices as they check the IMEI for all sellers and if it isn't clear they can't sell the device which would prevent this type of scam.
I am sorry for the situation you are in. Some people just suck.
