Samsung trade-in scam — Image by Cybernews

A Reddit user has revealed how a company’s trade-in deal could be used to scam people on secondhand retail markets.

A woman bought a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra on Facebook Marketplace and later learned she may have been involved in a trade-in scam.
The scam seems to exploit Samsung's trade-in discount system.
A scammer buys a smartphone at a discount but doesn’t return the old one.
Reddit users advised the victim's family to contact Samsung directly to obtain the seller's details and to file a police report to pursue the fraudster.

Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.

Buying a brand-new smartphone, especially a flagship, can be costly. But in this day and age, there are several ways to get the latest smartphones for a lower price.

One option is buying a secondhand device, which is usually still in good condition but costs a little less. However, buying from individuals you have never met may come with some risks.

At least that’s what happened to one Redditor’s family. User @Connect-Hold5855 shared how their parents were scammed after buying the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra smartphone on Facebook Marketplace.

Their mom decided to buy the smartphone as a gift for her husband. The man used the smartphone for a couple of months before receiving a notification stating:

“This device will be locked in 72 hours as it is linked to an incomplete trade-in order from [Samsung]. Complete your trade-in order (by returning your old handset) to continue using this device.”

The user shared that the seller had a real estate business and bought the smartphone for it. However, they didn’t use it and decided to sell it.

That’s how the Redditor’s mother ended up buying it. Now the user wants to know what can be done while their parents try to contact the person who sold the smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra restart — Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. Image by Wongsakorn 2468 | Shutterstock

After sharing their situation and reviewing the comments, the original poster agreed that their parents were victims of a scam and that they would contact the police.

How is such a scam possible?

According to users online, the smartphone in question was bought under the agreement that the original buyer (or the seller on Facebook Marketplace) would trade in their old smartphone.

However, the old device was never sent to Samsung. That’s why the company issued a warning about locking the new smartphone.

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“I'd recommend going to a Samsung store and explaining the situation to a manager,” wrote one Redditor.

“Logically, Samsung has the details of the seller – they should be able to cancel the trade-in and charge the seller the value. Or they could provide the details of the seller to the police,” concluded the netizen.

Another user was quick to point out that the person who sold the smartphone could’ve paid for it with a gift card.

“That's why they get the message since Samsung can't charge the original payment method now,” noted the user.

My dads phone second hand phone randomly showed this message yday
by u/Connect-Hold5855 in samsunggalaxy

Is secondhand retail a paradise for scammers?

The situation also prompted an online discussion, with many pointing out that it's better not to buy expensive electronics on platforms like Facebook.

While some people strongly opposed it because of the risk of being scammed, others said this way of buying products is “better for the environment and cheaper.”

One user also noted that some platforms offer better purchase protection policies than others.

“The same thing happened to me when I bought an S22 Ultra a few years ago from eBay,” shared one user, adding, “the seller kept saying they definitely completed the trade in and to just hold off on disputing with eBay. Disputed either way, and eBay recognized the scam and got my money back.”

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From the provided screenshot, it seems that the smartphone was purchased in the UK.

According to Samsung UK's trade-in policy, users are required to return their old device to the company within 7 days after receiving the new device and a “pre-paid postal pack.”

It also notes that “if you receive an instant discount for a new device but fail to return your old device, you will be required to repay the discounted amount in accordance with the Terms and Conditions.”

Last year, the company launched Samsung’s “Galaxy Easy Compensation” program in South Korea, promising to expand it to other countries.

The idea behind the program was to allow users to sell their old Samsung smartphones without having to buy a new one.