BuyBackBear
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Trust & safety

We don't buy stolen phones

BuyBackBear only buys devices from their rightful owners. We do not purchase phones or other devices that have been reported lost or stolen, are blacklisted/blocklisted, are still financed or leased with a balance owed, or are locked to someone else's account. Here's how we keep stolen devices off the market — and protect honest sellers.

Every IMEI screened — twice

We check each device's IMEI/serial against the national lost-and-stolen databases (the GSMA registry behind the CTIA Stolen Phone Checker) both when we quote you and again when it arrives.

You confirm ownership

At checkout you confirm you're the legal owner, the device isn't lost, stolen, financed or leased, and that Find My / Activation Lock is off and you're signed out.

Identity & matched payment

We verify your identity and pay only to an account that matches the seller's name. You must be 18 or older.

We cooperate with law enforcement

If a device is flagged lost or stolen — before or after payment — we don't return it to the sender. We hold it, preserve records, and release it to police or the verified owner.

How to sign out & remove Activation Lock

On iPhone: Settings → [your name] → Find My → turn off Find My iPhone (this automatically removes Activation Lock), then erase the device. On Android: remove your Google and Samsung accounts before you factory reset. An activation-locked device can't be used by the next owner, so it can't be paid out until it's cleared.

Selling a phone you own? You have nothing to worry about — these checks just keep stolen devices off the market and protect honest sellers like you.

Stolen-device & ownership FAQs

How do you know a phone isn't stolen?+

We screen every device's IMEI/serial number against the GSMA global lost-and-stolen registry (the same data behind the CTIA Stolen Phone Checker) at quote time and again on receipt, and you contractually confirm you own it. Dial *#06# to find your IMEI.

What happens if my phone is wrongly flagged?+

Flags can happen if a device was reported lost and never cleared, or still has a financing balance. Contact your carrier to clear it, then we can re-screen. We'll hold your device safely while it's resolved.

Do I need to send a photo of my ID?+

For most trade-ins we verify identity by matching your payout account to your name. For higher-value devices or flagged transactions we may ask for a quick government-ID check — this protects honest sellers and keeps stolen devices off the market.

What if a device turns out to be stolen after you paid me?+

We reserve the right to withhold or recover payment for any device that turns out to be lost, stolen, or not yours to sell, and we cooperate fully with law enforcement. If you're the rightful owner, you have nothing to worry about.