This was a couple years ago- I like to think I’m older and wiser now. So my friend needed a new phone, but couldn’t afford one- I wanted to get her a replacement for her iPhone (I think iPhone 4 if that gives an indication of how long ago this was), but I couldn’t afford to get one straight out of the box either. So off to my least favorite option that I always swear I’ll never use again until the next time I use it- Craigslist.

I found one in good (near perfect) condition at a good price- the guy was selling because he changed carriers. I think at that time new ones were around $500 NIB and he was asking $200. I arranged a meeting in a public place since my first priority is not ending up in the news. Guy shows up- I check out the phone- looks good, it’s not locked and it’s on the startup screen. Cool, we have a deal. I forgot to mention my friend lives four hours away. So I drive down and surprise her! She’s thrilled! We take it to her carrier to get it activated and… bad ESN number. Basically it means it’s an expensive paperweight. The phone was either reported stolen or the guy jumped carriers without paying off his contract. The store gives me the phone back- there is really nothing they can do.

I was livid. And I had a four hour drive home to get progressively more pissed. So I arrive home and call the number I had for him. Disconnected. Son of a…. now I’m beyond mad. But what can I do? The ad is gone and he gave me a burner number. Ah…. his fatal mistake. When he met me he drove his work truck. Gotcha. I called his work and asked for him (don’t remember his name now). I said, “Hey, remember me? The girl you sold the stolen phone to? Yeah… about that. You are giving me my money back. PLUS $500 for a new phone- or I tell your boss about this. And the police, who have the stolen phone and would *really* like to talk to you.” (Total lie but I needed to turn the screws).

So Mr. Criminal Mastermind gives me the $200 plus $500 for my trouble. He says he just jumped carriers and really needed the cash but my trust is at 0% right now. I *might* have called his boss later and tipped him off that some of his employees might not be using the company vehicles for totally legal things during business hours.

The cherry on top was learning that some countries *cough* Russia *cough* can bypass ESN codes and are happy to pay for phones that are useless in the US. So add $400 to the total of that disaster. Then subtract $500 for a brand new, in the box, never been opened phone for my friend. And a little something for those working hard driving that karma bus.