Nothing Phone 3 Amazon Scam — this is something I personally experienced, and I’m sharing this story to help others avoid facing the same problem. I recently ordered the Nothing Phone 3 from Amazon, and what happened next completely changed the way I look at online smartphone purchases.
I placed my order on September 19, paying around ₹45,000 for the phone. The box I received was perfectly sealed from the outside. Even the inner packaging looked clean and genuine. There were no signs of tampering or damage, so naturally, I believed I had received a brand-new device.

Official Flipkart link: https://fkrt.co/VXh76t
However, I decided to check one thing before setting up the phone — whether it was actually new or pre-activated. To my surprise, when I verified the IMEI details online, I discovered that the device had already been activated on August 16, 2025 — almost a month before I bought it. This meant the unit was not entirely new.
It was shocking because the product was listed as “brand new” on Amazon. Receiving a pre-activated phone not only questions authenticity but also impacts the warranty period. When a device is activated even once, the warranty starts from that date — not from when the new buyer activates it.
To confirm everything, I first contacted Amazon Customer Support. They told me that their system marked the phone as new and that they would raise an investigation to check how such a case occurred. They promised a resolution by September 27, but this incident made me realize how difficult it can be for buyers to prove that they’ve received a pre-activated unit.
Not stopping there, I also contacted Nothing’s official customer support to verify the warranty and product status. They informed me that the final confirmation could only be given after visiting an authorized Nothing Service Center. I visited the service center the same week, and after cross-checking the IMEI and activation records, they confirmed my concern — the device was indeed pre-activated and the warranty period had already started from the day of first activation.
That means even though I purchased the phone in September, the warranty was counted from mid-August. This clearly shows that the device had been in circulation earlier, even before it reached me as a supposed new customer.
This experience opened my eyes to a larger issue many buyers face — third-party sellers listing products as “new” when they are in fact used, returned, or refurbished. It’s a major problem on e-commerce platforms, especially for newly launched or high-demand devices like the Nothing Phone 3.
Many customers are unaware that such units exist in the market. The phone might appear sealed and untouched, but that doesn’t always guarantee it hasn’t been activated before. Pre-activation affects not only warranty coverage but also resale value and trust in the platform.
Based on my experience, here are a few tips for anyone planning to buy expensive gadgets online:
- Always purchase from authorized brand stores or verified sellers only.
- Check the seller’s name and rating before placing the order.
- Record your unboxing process on video as proof in case something goes wrong.
- Immediately verify the IMEI and activation status on the brand’s official website.
- If you find the phone pre-activated, report it immediately to both the retailer and the brand.
The Nothing Phone 3 Amazon Scam I experienced is a reminder that we need to be more cautious as buyers. Even large platforms can have third-party sellers who misrepresent refurbished or returned products as brand new.
Amazon has since raised an internal investigation, but I hope this story helps others make informed decisions. If you’re planning to buy the Nothing Phone 3 or any high-end smartphone, always double-check everything. Buying from authorized stores might cost slightly more, but it guarantees peace of mind and genuine warranty coverage.
Also Read: Nothing Call Recording: Official Feature Now Rolling Out with AI Enhancements
My experience shows how something as small as an activation date can reveal the true story behind what you receive. Always verify, stay alert, and never assume that “sealed” automatically means “new.”
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