It is no longer news that most Nigerian markets are replete with fake mobile phones, most or all of them from despicable Chinese factories. The Nigerian markets contain both original and fake mobile phones. One thing that has particularly made the fake mobile phone market flourish is that original, sophisticated phones are not within the budget of some people. Ignorance also plays a role. In addition, the government is yet to seriously tackle the madness.

Most fake mobile phones are advertised to have advanced features such as 3G, Bluetooth, hi-megapixel lens, media player, etc., yet their price makes one to wonder - unbelievably cheap. When bought, the advertised features, most likely, are non-functional or faulty, leaving you frustrated.

In this post, I will outline some tips to follow to ensure you buy original mobile phones and avoid fake.

Patronize Accreditated Dealers

It is advisable to purchase your mobile phones from an authorized dealer. It is about the easiest way to guarantee that you are buying an original mobile device. You are hardly at risk of buying a fake phone if you purchase from an authorized dealer. Every mobile phone brand accredits specific dealers to sell their products. Therefore, executing your purchases in an authorised dealer shop amounts to buying directly from the manufacturer. In addition, you are most likely to get a one-year warranty on any mobile phone you buy from an authorised dealer store. You may also be treated to free technical support.

Check newspapers and magazines for accredited dealers of the mobile phone you want to buy. Another option is to browse the Internet for accredited mobile phones dealers in Nigeria. Visit websites of phone makers and look for dealer’s link, if it is available. You may also search with a search engine like Google. For example, if you are interested in buying a Nokia phone, you can enter the search term "Nokia dealers in Nigeria" on your favourite search engine for a suggestion of websites that may carry such information. If you can not find an accredited dealer in your location, here are more tips to help you buy genuine phones when you are not sure of the dealer.

Verify Model Number

Most fake mobile phones are designed to like well known brands such as Nokia, BlackBerry, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, LG, etc. In some cases, manufacturers of fake phones do not attempt to imitate model number (not always true), so if that is the case, that is, if the model number of the phone you want to buy does not belong to a known design of the brand, then it is probably a fake.

But it may not be feasible for for you to know all model numbers of a brand. A way out of this is to first browse the Net for phone model numbers of the brand you want to buy and then make a list of the ones you may buy. Another option is to go to the market first and note mobile phones models that are available and then go online to confirm that they are models produced by the phone maker. Then you can go back and buy only authentic models. Make sure you are armed with information before going to buy a mobile phone. Fake mobile phones dealers thrive on your ignorance, if you are not well informed you will be conned easily.

Price versus Specifications

What is the quoted price of the phone? What are its specifications? Does it seem almost like a free lunch? Does the phone promise sophisticated features, such as, >3 megapixels of lens, 16 million colours, mobile TV, 3G, etc., yet the price seems unbelievably low? If you notice a phone promises lots of features at a very cheap price, you suspect such phones as fake. As a rule, the more features a mobile phone has, the more expensive it gets. If the deal is too good to be true, it probably is.

Physical Inspection

Physically inspecting a mobile phone may reveal its weaknesses. The packaging may look so sub-standard, there could be some unforgivable misspellings, the seal, if available, may be broken, the manual may be written in a non-English or non-indigenous language. If you are not comfortable with the packaging, the phone or the seller, just walk away.

Demand Receipt

Do not forget to collect a receipt. Even original phones can develop faults and your receipt entitles you to a warranty if anything goes wrong. Assuming the phone you bought is fake, your receipt can serve as a valid evidence that had a transaction with the seller, and with that, you could seek redress in a responsible market association or Consumer Protection Council (CPC).

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