To wonder why it is so many sellers have been gifted an iphone 13 they don't want?

[SE13Mummy]

DC1 has saved up to purchase a new-to-them iPhone. They've got their eye on the 13 pro because of the camera and I've been looking at various listings on Facebook marketplace. Almost without exception, when I've contacted the seller of the BNIB, still sealed iphone 13 pro, I'm told it's an unwanted gift. That's why they can't provide an original proof of purchase and is also why they 'need' a quick sale. Interestingly, when I look at what else they have for sale, there are often a number of other high spec phones or in the case of one seller, he can source any brand new iphone 13 pro in any colour for £285.

Funnily enough, DC1 won't be buying from any of these sellers but what's the deal behind them all? Are the phones likely to be fakes/copies? Why are they pretending they've received them as gifts when anyone can see they have five similar phones for sale? Please enlighten me to the thinking behind this model.

It’s a scam. Many people don’t look past the one listing to see what else a seller has. You’ve been sensible enough to say it’s too good to be true, many people fall for it. No come back on marketplace when they get sent an empty box or whatever if they even receive anything.

Yeah, lots of scams on Marketplace sadly

It's a scam. He's better off going cex.

not market place but I heard A scam on eBay where they will list an iPhone they don’t have, get money for it then never send it, of course eBay will refund but it takes a while it’s basically a loan to the person that needs money and can pay it back at a certain date.

I have no idea but hopefully when the I Phone 14 comes out in September the phone your son would like price will reduce.

Scam. If you ordered one you'd get sent either nothing, or a box containing a worthless item approximately the same weight as a phone (so they have a tracking number).

They can take them out on contract and claim they weren't delivered/lost/stolen but then they get blacklisted so the phone doesn't work anyway

I recommend a site called Backmarket - sells reconditioned phones which have a 12 month guarantee

DC1 and I were going to collect any such purchase in person because too many deliveries to streets near us seem to go missing but also so as to avoid the item not being sent. One seller offered to drive to where we are on holiday in order to sell to DC1 which struck me as rather desperate!

I would advise using a reputable shop, at least then you'll have some comeback if there's a problem

I bought a refurbished iPhone years ago which came with a warranty from a local phone shop. I'm still using it today

Maybe not a scam, probably money laundering. We bought a similar high value item a few years ago. It arrived, but in the packing was a receipt for it's purchase from a electronic chain store for about £100 more than I paid on ebay, showing it was bought in cash on the day I bought it via ebay. So basically, as soon as it was sold, they went out and paid cash to buy it, then post it! The loss they made is probably worth it to get rid of the "dirty" cash.

Scam, already stolen, or stolen (maybe with cloned credit cards) to order.

Wouldnt touch with a bargepole.

Fallen off the back of a lorry.

Seconded recommendation for Backmarket

Obviously not sure on this advert you’ve seen but I sell alot of phones on fb marketplace as I get them free from work, completely innocent sales.

It's multiple adverts on marketplace that I've responded to, all sellers say they're based in London and are selling what they say are sealed iphones for £350 or less. When you get them free from work, would you be able to provide a proof of purchase/ownership? DC1 would like to know what sort of job gets lots of free phones!

One of the sellers has contacted me today and directed me to their Instagram account which is where the selling happens.

Almost every single thing you've said is a massive red flag for a scam or stolen goods. Clearly, not many people get bought a brand new recent model iPhone as an 'unwanted gift'.

Honestly, just get a reconditioned phone from CeX or something.

If you're determined to buy a phone from a private seller, Facebook Marketplace is the last place I'd go to do that, personally. If you're buying via Facebook they can access your profile and so on and there are far fewer protections than there is with eBay. At least with eBay you can submit claims for goods not received and so on.

One of the sellers has contacted me today and directed me to their Instagram account which is where the selling happens.

OP, surely you MUST be able to see that this isn't legit?!

@10HailMarys I said in my initial post that DC1 wouldn't be buying from any of these sellers, I am just interested in what the possible back story is to so many being available.

There are certain items that attract the scammers. Newest smartphones, egg chairs, smart tvs, high end patio furniture, sofas and weirdly, garden storage boxes. When you click on their profile, they seem to have many items for sale, all professional catalogue photos rather than a picture in their home. They only have 1 or 2 friends on their profile.

I have no idea what the scam is, maybe they demand money up front or a deposit. Or direct you to PayPal or Amazon gift cards. I'm tempted to reply to one to see how it works! 😂

Sounds like a scam.

Do HMRC know? We are given a staff allowance to for company products (so essentially the same thing - free), but it is a discipline matter if we sell them due to HMRC rules. If you are selling "a lot" of phones that will add up and should be taxed as a benefit.

It probably wont be massively reduced but he can look at Apple Education and see if he is eligible for a discount, I think he just needs his school email address to end in .ac.uk or something similar but its worth a try.

Yes, I have a side business which means I have to do a tax return so I declare in with that side of things.

The education discount doesn't seem to cover phones. DC1 is likely to buy via back market but it's been interesting to find out a bit more about the possible scams out there.