Blacklisted phone advice

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dazzazzad

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So carrying on from my thread here...

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/572005-What-is-wrong-with-my-S3

Took me a month to work out my phone had been blacklisted. Took me 2 weeks of butting my head against a wall with Telkom Mobile, who I have never been with, but who blacklisted the phone from their network. Now I finally get an email from their fraud department laying things out...


This instrument was fraudulently obtained from Telkom Mobile and is linked to the following police cases – The case numbers are Claremont CAS 241/2/2013 and Sea Point CAS 268/2/2013

Telkom Mobile (Powered by Telkom) became aware of individuals who applied for Telkom Mobile services under false pretences. All devices which were purchased by this individuals were blacklisted and their IMEI numbers blocked to prevent the use of these illegally obtained devices.

The above IMEI number was one of the many blacklisted as a fraudulently obtained device. We confirm that this IMEI number was allocated to Telkom Mobile by the original equipment manufacturing company (Samsung).

Please be advised that as a result of the aforementioned circumstances, Telkom Mobile is not willing to delist this device. Telkom can further not be held liable for any losses suffered, due to the fact that the device was purchased from a person or dealer who did not have the authority to do so on Telkom’s behalf.

Now, I had the phone for a year before this happened. So I'm not sure why it took so long to blacklist but I'm going to assume that they are right and it's not a case of a wrongly entered IMEI number or something like that.

The website I bought the phone from is no longer in existence so that certainly lends credibility that the site was dodgy.

But now I have a phone that is a wifi device and not a phone. Is there anything I can do?

Obviously I need to go to the police with the email from telkom, the invoice from the purchase, the proof of payment from the bank for the guy I paid along with the emails of our correspondence.

I'm just wondering if there is anything the police can do to get my phone de-blacklisted...do I have cause to get my money back from this guy? Never had anything like this happen to me so am hoping someone can help me out.

Also really don't have money for a new phone, certainly not a good one, and I love my S3 :cry:
 
The cases were opened in February of this year, and it's likely that the process between then and the time that Telkom got the request to blacklist it, was a fair amount of time.

As to getting it removed from that list... good luck. According to them you've purchased a stolen or illegitimately obtained device and it's not that easy to get past that.
 
froot said:
The cases were opened in February of this year, and it's likely that the process between then and the time that Telkom got the request to blacklist it, was a fair amount of time.

As to getting it removed from that list... good luck. According to them you've purchased a stolen or illegitimately obtained device and it's not that easy to get past that.
Click to expand...

Do I have any recourse to get my money back from the guy who sold me the device? Via the police of course. The site is gone but I have the bank details and, I presume, his name. Plus there are still a few references to the "company" online. Such as...

http://capetown.yalwa.co.za/ID_105078481/Mobile-gear.html
 
Doing a search for Mobile Gear I found a bidorbuy link for a Mobile Gear seller. When clicking the link it takes me to a seller called Online Madness (possibly changed name?) and on there are several negative reviews from people saying their phones have been blacklisted. The seller now has no items for sale. Perhaps he's done a runner.

I think I found the guy on Facebook. Should I message him asking WTF, gimme my money back or rather just leave this to the police?
 
This should probably have been posted in offline. Maybe mods could move?
 
Iam surprised that service providers can actually blacklist a device when it has been stolen from them directly. But if the customers report stolen devices, they fail to blacklist. Telkom explain this for me
 
Well it's not even stolen. Sounds like it was just purchased under false pretences.
 
Managed to finally get hold of the guy. He said that's never happened before. He'd have to speak to his supplied and replace the phone. Fair enough, but what worries me is he said he'd need the phone and the box but I'm not keen to hand that over unless he's handing me the new phone right back. It would be different if it's a company but this is just one guy and even when Mobile Gear was operational I get the feeling it was just him.
 
Hey dazzazad. My wife also purchased an S3 from the same guy about a year ago and it also just got blacklisted. Making a nice paperweight at the moment. How did you get hold of him? Fb? I'm not sure him or his supplier will be too willing to replace a bunch of phones...
 
I'd hunt him down and drag his ass to the police station... But that's just me.
 
I have traced the person for you. If the police still did not manage to identify him, please let me know and I will be able to provide all his information.
 
Only problem is he is in Cape town and we are in jhb...
 
rorz0r said:
Only problem is he is in Cape town and we are in jhb...
Click to expand...

Yes, he lives in Cape Town. But do have all his information. There was a criminal case opened it appears, so will gladly provide the info for purposes of the investigation.

Just keep it in mind should you ever need it.
 
Last edited:
Hi guys

An update for you. He said it would take "a couple days". Now it's 8 days later. Have emailed, sent SMS and called and haven't heard back. He did send one email the next day from a new email address - [email protected] reiterating that he'd contact me when he had the replacement.

I just mailed him this...

Hi Nizaam

I can't get hold of you at all. You said my phone would be replaced in "a couple days" but I haven't heard anything and am finding it impossible to get in contact with you.

I don't have any confidence that you will refund or replace my phone. I'll give it to Monday and then I will take all my information to the authorities. Really don't want to do that but feel I don't have much of an option.

I'm available on whatsapp yaddayadda

My bank details are

yadda yadda

The phone cost R4750.00

Will be happy to send you a scan of the invoice if needed.

I hope I hear from you,
Darren
 
House said:
Yes, he lives in Cape Town. But do have all his information. There was a criminal case opened it appears, so will gladly provide the info for purposes of the investigation.

Just keep it in mind should you ever need it.
Click to expand...

Hi House

If you could PM me your email that would be great. I do have his name as I made an EFT payment to his account. His personal email address which I found backs up the name, unless he's using someone elses. Also found him on Facebook.
 
rorz0r said:
Hey dazzazad. My wife also purchased an S3 from the same guy about a year ago and it also just got blacklisted. Making a nice paperweight at the moment. How did you get hold of him? Fb? I'm not sure him or his supplier will be too willing to replace a bunch of phones...
Click to expand...

Did you pay via EFT? How did you purchase the phone? If you want to also give me your info I can present it to the police on Monday, if this tool hasn't got back to me.
 
dazzazzad said:
Did you pay via EFT? How did you purchase the phone? If you want to also give me your info I can present it to the police on Monday, if this tool hasn't got back to me.
Click to expand...

I sent you a PM.

If interested, I can help you guys to compile a proper case docket and assist with your affidavits. Hell, I will even have the docket registered for you, but it will take a while to be transferred to Cape Town. Alternatively, I can help to compile everything and mail it to you and I will arrange with someone in the Cape to meet you to collect and register the case.
 
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