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She’d bought it two weeks ago from a guy on Facebook Marketplace. “Flawless condition, unlocked, clean IMEI,” he’d promised, smiling as he counted her $600 in cash. Now, sitting in her parked car outside a closed coffee shop, she felt the cold weight of a bad decision settling in.
She typed a new note on her cracked Android: Then she set an alarm for 8 AM—police station, then small claims court if needed.
That night, she learned what millions of people learn too late: the smallest number on a phone—the IMEI—holds the biggest truth. And a quick online search is the difference between a deal and a disaster.
The report loaded in seconds.
At 12:15 AM, she called the non-emergency police line. An officer told her to come in tomorrow with everything she had. “And next time,” the officer added, “check the IMEI online before you hand over the cash. There are free tools for that. Takes thirty seconds.”
She felt stupid. But also angry.