iPhone Serial Number Question

[randyc]

Sorry if this is the wrong place for this question but I couldn't really find a better place.

I put my iPhone for sell on craigslist today and got a reply from somebody saying

hi there
can you please call me ? (XXX) XXX XXXX
i just need the serial number and i will drive out.

Does this sound iffy to anybody? Why would he need to know the serial number of my phone?

 

[jmann]

It doesn't really matter. All he will be able to do with it is check the warranty. But you still shouldn't give it to him. It isn't needed like an ESN/MEID number would be needed before a used CDMA phone was purchesed, becuase CDMA phones don't have sim cards and can be blocked from being used by the carrier if it reported lost or stolen. IMEI/SN numbers aren't blocked by any US carrier.

 

[randyc]

Alright thanks for the quick reply!
I think I'll just wait for somebody to email me for the phone as I'm just trying to sell it to get money for a 3GS.

 

[iPhoneKiller]

Alright thanks for the quick reply!
I think I'll just wait for somebody to email me for the phone as I'm just trying to sell it to get money for a 3GS.

It is quite a common practice by apple employees and people who know Apple employees. They check the history of the phone and warranty through the Apple database.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

They can use the serial number to make sure it isn't stolen. Give it to him.

 

[kAoTiX]

I've done this before, there is nothing he could do with your serial that could cause harm to you or your iPhone's usage.
As others have said, people can track the history of the phone through its serial number and find out if its reported stolen.

This is craigslist after all, I'd be the majority of items on there are stolen! lol jp.