Inside The Massive Global Black Market For Smartphones

[Foxrac]

Inside The Massive Global Black Market For Smartphones

I think business owners, especially pawn shops receive stolen cell phones, should be prosecuted for receiving stolen property.

I'm scared to see US carriers may start end the subsidies for phone if anyone abused their system - known as runners.

 

[Chuck]

Im actually for ending subsidies. It may initially be more expensive, but in the long run a customer saves more money. Youre actually paying more in the contract for a $100 phone than if you were to buy an unlocked phone and subscribe only for service. Initial cost is high but savings are made in the long run. Even further it would force phone makers to lower prices of unlocked vanilla stock phones. Subsidies hurt consumers wallets.

As for this issue, its not surprising. Theres some kiosks in California malls that if u drop a phone in, after the prompts on screen, it would pay you.

 

[diehardbiker]

Irrevelant! This thread was talking about stolen smartphones and sold in black market. The most common stolen smartphone is Iphone. If you look up in Ebay, the chances are many of these smartphone is stolen.

While you are technically correct. It depends on where you plan to use your phone. For instance, Virgin mobile, they dont' subsides for your phone and you pay full price of phone. Even though I calculated and compared with my wife and mine, my wife is about 400 dollars cheaper in two years period than mine. Mine I use Verizon. I DO see her having issues with coverage while I don't see issues with coverage with mine (wink, it is Verizon, can you hear me, eh?). So, if you stay on the coverage area and don't get out of coverage area then yeah it is worth the savings. But if you usually go out of coverage, savings of 400 dollars means nothing, you know.

Im actually for ending subsidies. It may initially be more expensive, but in the long run a customer saves more money. Youre actually paying more in the contract for a $100 phone than if you were to buy an unlocked phone and subscribe only for service. Initial cost is high but savings are made in the long run. Even further it would force phone makers to lower prices of unlocked vanilla stock phones. Subsidies hurt consumers wallets.

As for this issue, its not surprising. Theres some kiosks in California malls that if u drop a phone in, after the prompts on screen, it would pay you.

 

[diehardbiker]

No, I don't think pawn shop deserves to be prosecuted. They have no way of knowing whether this is stolen or not. Its police job to determine not Pawn shop. If pawn shop found out that the phone was stolen, all they can do is hand over to police and eat the loss. They can tell police who they bought from. Sometimes thieves use fake ID and if that happens... Sucks!

 

[Foxrac]

No, I don't think pawn shop deserves to be prosecuted. They have no way of knowing whether this is stolen or not. Its police job to determine not Pawn shop. If pawn shop found out that the phone was stolen, all they can do is hand over to police and eat the loss. They can tell police who they bought from. Sometimes thieves use fake ID and if that happens... Sucks!

Fake ID? I'm not very surprised and many illegal immigrants use fake ID to get a job, so that why punishing employers weren't brilliant idea.

We have E-Verify for employment now, but for iPhone, to be tracked, government has to create the registry with cell phone's serial number so it will tell if it is stolen or not - pretty like car and gun.

 

[diehardbiker]

Not as easy as you think. Some thieves are too smart to fall for these traps and go elsewhere.

Unfortunately, stolen smartphone has been a serious fast growing problems.

I told my wife, I will NOT buy iPhone, period! She asked me why? I said simply, it is the most stolen phone why would I risk losing money plus Data?

I may stay on HTC or switch to Samsung.

Fake ID? I'm not very surprised and many illegal immigrants use fake ID to get a job, so that why punishing employers weren't brilliant idea.

We have E-Verify for employment now, but for iPhone, to be tracked, government has to create the registry with cell phone's serial number so it will tell if it is stolen or not - pretty like car and gun.

 

[Foxrac]

Not as easy as you think. Some thieves are too smart to fall for these traps and go elsewhere.

Unfortunately, stolen smartphone has been a serious fast growing problems.

I told my wife, I will NOT buy iPhone, period! She asked me why? I said simply, it is the most stolen phone why would I risk losing money plus Data?

I may stay on HTC or switch to Samsung.

Android phone can be stolen as well.

Only mostly safe is cheap flip phone.

 

[JClarke]

Not as easy as you think. Some thieves are too smart to fall for these traps and go elsewhere.

Unfortunately, stolen smartphone has been a serious fast growing problems.

I told my wife, I will NOT buy iPhone, period! She asked me why? I said simply, it is the most stolen phone why would I risk losing money plus Data?

I may stay on HTC or switch to Samsung.

um, you will not lose your data nor your money if your iPhone is stolen.
In fall, the latest iOS 7 will be much better, and the iPhone will be useless for people who wants to steal.

Plus, get insurance for the iPhone, and the data will not be lost if you just simply back it up every now and then, also you can track the iPhone and lock it/erase it as well. What is your other reasons besides that I have validated it?