Blocked IMEI - But eSIMs work. What's the deal?

[randal]

I bought an iPhone back in March 2025 from an eBay seller (here we go). 100% feedback, good comms, new and sealed device, tickety-boo. Put my eSIM on it, all fine.

Made the flip to Android again, sold the iPhone and the seller tells me the phone is blocked. Sold it on a reputable market place and the buyer is in good standing. He tried everything to get it working. I received the phone back and checked serials etc, tested it and confirmed that physical SIMs don't work in the phone. L'sigh.



I would have assumed that if the phone was nicked off the back of a lorry that they would have blocked ALL IMEI numbers on the device and not just the primary one? Else that seems like a massive loophole?

I also assume that I have little to no recourse given the duration since purchase, the fact it was eBay etc. Really annoying as it's an otherwise perfect condition iPhone 15 Pro 1TB with AppleCare until 2027!

 

[Earth[Tera].bin]

Did you sell the iphone immediately after the switch to andriod or at a later date? I'm thinking it might have actually been a contract phone from a mobile provider, and it's now blacklisted because the contract hasn't been fullfilled or the person who took out the contract has now reported it as stolen. ( A common scam on fleabay apparently ).

Does it still work with your esim though?

 

[Terminal_Boy]

Does the eSIM that works use the same network as the physical SIMs that don’t work?

I ask as not all networks observe the IMEI blacklist nor force a “Hardware ID check during the first registration of a device onto their networks.

 

[randal]

Did you sell the iphone immediately after the switch to andriod or at a later date? I'm thinking it might have actually been a contract phone from a mobile provider, and it's now blacklisted because the contract hasn't been fullfilled or the person who took out the contract has now reported it as stolen. ( A common scam on fleabay apparently ).

Does it still work with your esim though?

A few weeks after the switch, but I was using it from March to December with no issues with the eSIM. I'd have to transfer the eSIM back to the phone then back to the Android device to validate the last bit.

Does the eSIM that works use the same network as the physical SIMs that don’t work?

I ask as not all networks observe the IMEI blacklist nor force a “Hardware ID check during the first registration of a device onto their networks.

No, different networks but the phone shows no network restriction (was bought as Unlocked). That second part is interesting. The buyer and the SIM I tried were on Three, the eSIM is Mozillion (EE).

Hmm.

 

[Earth[Tera].bin]

Contract phones are all unlocked by default now, so maybe it was taken out with Three and they've blacklisted it for non payment.

You could always check your IMEI with services such as checkmend, see if you can get any kind of blacklist/block confirmation .

 

[randal]

Possibly that, or reported it as stolen and double dipped.

I've reported the seller via eBay and emailed Three's fraud department. eBay don't really give a fig given the time that's passed, but I'll be buggered if I'm going to let this drop without kicking up some sort of stink.

I'm trying to ascertain the date the phone was blocked at the moment.

 

[randal]

Fun fact. Apple won't honour AppleCare on a device with a blocked IMEI, they also won't refund it without a fight.

Reckon I'll be lucky to see half of the payment back if that.