How to Buy a Used iPhone in Europe Without Getting Scammed
The checks that separate a good used iPhone deal from a scam — iCloud lock, battery health, real vs stock photos, IMEI, and how cross-border prices compare.
A used iPhone is one of the most scammed items on every platform. The good news: the checks that catch a bad deal are quick, free, and almost all of them are things you can ask for from a message. Run through this list before you send anyone money.
The four checks that matter most
1. It must not be iCloud-locked. This is the dealbreaker. A phone that's still linked to the previous owner's Apple ID is a paperweight until that owner removes it. Ask the seller to confirm Find My is turned off and to sign out of iCloud before sending. You can verify the serial or IMEI yourself on Apple's coverage and support page — and there's a dedicated Activation Lock status page where you paste the IMEI to see if the phone is still locked. If the Activation Lock is on, walk away. No exceptions.
2. Check the battery health. On the phone, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health. Anything above 85% is decent; below 80% means the phone will feel sluggish and may need a battery replacement (€70-110 depending on model). A legitimate seller will send you a screenshot of this screen. If they won't, assume it's bad.
3. Real photos, not stock photos. A used listing with only glossy manufacturer shots means the seller doesn't have the phone. Ask for a photo of the phone unlocked on the home screen, showing the model and a photo of the About screen (Settings > General > About). That one screenshot proves the phone exists, what model it is, and that it's not locked, all at once.
4. Verify the model, not just the name. There are fake "iPhones" that run Android and are sold cheap in some markets. They look right on the outside. In Settings > General > About, check that the Model Name matches what's advertised, and that the iOS version number (e.g. iOS 17.x) is shown — a fake will often say "Android" in disguise or refuse to open Apple apps. A real iPhone will show up on Apple's support page when you enter its serial number; a fake won't.
Other things to check
- Has the screen been replaced? Ask whether the display is original or replaced. A phone with a replaced non-genuine screen may lose Face ID or True Tone. Honest sellers volunteer this.
- Check the IMEI. Dial
*#06#and compare the number on screen with the one in the About screen and on the box (if there's one). Check the IMEI against a free checker to make sure the phone isn't blacklisted (reported lost/stolen). A blacklisted phone won't connect to carriers properly. - Look for signs of damage the photos hide. A common trick is photographing the screen from an angle where the crack or deep scratch doesn't show. Ask for a photo with the screen off and the light catching it.
- Face ID and speakers. Two of the most common repairs. Ask the seller to confirm Face ID is set up and working and that the speaker/mic work for calls.
- The price is too good? An iPhone listed at 40% below the going rate by a brand-new account is either broken, locked, stolen, or a scam. Compare against sold prices on eBay to know what a fair second-hand price actually is.
Where the good deals actually are
Prices for the same used iPhone vary a lot between countries. Germany, the Netherlands, and France have huge, fast-moving markets; smaller markets often have lower demand and lower prices. A phone that's rare or overpriced in your country is often common elsewhere — that's the whole point of searching cross-border.
Our Phones & Tablets browse page shows what's out there right now across Europe, and a normal search on the home page lets you pick which platforms to check at once.
Two practical cross-border notes:
- Within the EU there are no customs or extra fees on delivery, so a German or Dutch listing is as cheap to ship as a domestic one. Use the shipping guide to sanity-check the cost.
- Ask the shipping question early. Some sellers only do local pickup (more common on Kleinanzeigen and Leboncoin). If the listing doesn't say, ask before you negotiate. See how to message sellers.
How to pay
Use the platform's own payment system (eBay checkout, Vinted payment, Leboncoin payment) or PayPal Goods & Services. Never pay by bank transfer, PayPal Friends & Family, or any method the seller insists is "the only way". If a seller pushes you off-platform, that alone is a scam signal. The same guide ranks which platforms protect buyers best if a deal goes wrong.
The 30-second summary
A good used iPhone deal should survive these five questions: Can you show me the About screen? Is Find My off and the Activation Lock clear? What's the battery health? Is the screen original? And — if it's cheap — why? If the answers are clear and honest, it's probably a fair deal. If anything feels dodgy, the next listing is one search away.