: Always deal in cash and never use wire transfers, cashier's checks, or prepaid cards [9, 19].
: Sellers who won't meet at a carrier store often have something to hide [10, 11].
: Uses PayPal for buyer protection and manually reviews listings to prevent scams [8, 10, 16]. buying iphone 7 on craigslist
: Test all buttons, the camera, and the speakers. Bring your own SIM card to verify that it can receive a signal [1, 8]. 3. Safety and Scam Prevention
Buying an on Craigslist in 2026 is generally not recommended due to its age and the high risk of scams. The device is now a decade old, and while it may still handle very basic tasks, its software is outdated (capped at iOS 15), leading to slow performance and limited app compatibility [23, 27, 33]. : Always deal in cash and never use
: Check Settings > General > About > Carrier Lock . It should say "No SIM restrictions" if it's truly unlocked. A locked phone might only work with a specific carrier [1, 5, 9].
: Copy the IMEI number from the "About" page and check it on sites like CTIA Stolen Phone Checker to ensure it hasn't been reported stolen or blacklisted [1, 8]. : Test all buttons, the camera, and the speakers
: Common issues include degraded battery life (check if capacity is below 80%) and potential wear on the home button or charging port [1, 8]. 2. Essential "Before You Buy" Checklist