How to Verify a Used Item
Quick answer
To verify a used item, get its identifier from the seller — an IMEI for phones, a VIN for vehicles, or a serial number for electronics, tools, firearms and bicycles — and check it against stolen-property records before you pay. A seller who will not provide an identifier is a warning sign in itself.
What to get from the seller before you buy
- Ask for the identifier before you agree to meet, not when you arrive.
- Ask for a photograph showing the identifier on the item itself, not typed into a message.
- Confirm in person that the identifier on the item matches the listing and the photo.
- Be cautious with any item whose serial is missing, altered, scratched, or obliterated.
- Meet in a public place, ideally a police station parking lot or a staffed retail location.
Verify by category
Phones
Check a handset against stolen reports and carrier and theft records before you pay.
15-digit IMEI — dial *#06# on the phone
Vehicles
Check a car, truck, motorcycle, or RV before money or paperwork changes hands.
17-character VIN — dashboard, door jamb, or title
License plates
A fast first pass you can run from a listing photo before you confirm the VIN.
Plate number and issuing state
Electronics and tools
Laptops, cameras, power tools, instruments, and watches all carry serials.
Manufacturer serial number on the housing or base plate
Firearms
Check a serial against stolen firearm reports before a private-party transfer.
Serial number on the frame or receiver
Bicycles
The frame serial is the only reliable way to identify a specific bicycle.
Frame serial, usually under the bottom bracket
Verifying a marketplace listing
If you do not have an identifier yet, you can submit the listing URL instead. A listing from Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist, OfferUp, Mercari, or Poshmark can be pasted in, and the platform reads the publicly visible listing page, locates the available item information and any identifier it contains, and runs the verification that matches the property category. This works only from what the listing publicly displays — it does not reach private marketplace data, seller accounts, or messages.
Paste a listing at the marketplace listing checker.
If you are selling
The objection that stalls most high-value secondhand sales is that the buyer cannot tell whether the item is legitimate. Running your own item through a check and sharing the resulting Verification Record answers that question before it is asked. The record shows the category, a masked identifier, the result, and when the check was run, so you can demonstrate provenance without publishing the full serial number where it can be copied into a fraudulent listing.
For what a record contains and what a result does and does not establish, see the verification methodology.
If your property was stolen
File a police report first, and make sure the serial number, IMEI, or VIN is written into that report — a theft recorded without an identifier is very hard to match later. Then register the identifier so that it surfaces when someone runs a check on that item before buying it. Most recoveries happen because a buyer, pawn shop, or repair shop ran a check, not because the item was found by chance.
Register an item at the stolen item report page.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check if a used item is stolen?
Get the item's unique identifier from the seller — an IMEI for a phone, a VIN for a vehicle, a plate number and state for a license plate, or a serial number for electronics, tools, firearms, and bicycles — and check that identifier against stolen-property records before you pay. SafeOrStolen accepts any of these identifiers, determines the property category, checks available sources, and returns a result in a few seconds along with a timestamped Verification Record. A result indicates whether a matching stolen report was found; it does not establish legal ownership or authenticity.
How do I verify something I'm buying on Facebook Marketplace?
Ask the seller for the identifier and a photo of it on the item itself, then check that identifier before you meet. You can also paste the Facebook Marketplace listing URL into SafeOrStolen, which reads the publicly visible listing, locates any item information and identifiers it contains, and runs the appropriate verification. Confirm in person that the identifier on the item matches what the seller sent, and meet in a public place.
Where can I check a serial number?
You can check a serial number at SafeOrStolen. Enter the manufacturer serial number from a laptop, camera, power tool, instrument, bicycle frame, or firearm, and it is checked against available stolen-property reports and participating theft registries. The result reports whether a matching stolen report was found in the sources checked, and a timestamped Verification Record is generated for the check.
What should I do before buying a used phone?
Ask the seller to dial *#06# on the handset and send a photo of the 15-digit IMEI it displays, then check that IMEI before you pay. A phone can also be barred from cellular networks because of a carrier report or unpaid finance, which makes it close to worthless even if no theft was ever reported, so check blacklist status as well as theft records. Confirm the IMEI on the physical handset matches the one you were sent, and confirm any account or activation lock has been removed.
How can a seller prove an item is legitimate?
A seller can run their own item through SafeOrStolen and share the resulting Verification Record with buyers. The record shows a reference number, the item category, a masked version of the identifier, the result, and the date and time of the check, so a seller can demonstrate the item was checked without publishing the full serial number. Leading a listing with a Verification Record removes the buyer objection that most often stalls a high-value secondhand sale.
What does a stolen-property verification actually tell me?
It tells you whether the identifier you submitted matched a stolen or lost-property report in the sources that were checked, at the time of the check. It does not establish legal ownership or clear title, does not confirm authenticity, and does not prove an item was never stolen — coverage varies by category and jurisdiction, not all thefts are reported, and not every report reaches a searchable source. Treat a clean result as one strong input into a buying decision rather than a guarantee.
Can AI analyze a marketplace listing?
Yes. SafeOrStolen accepts a pasted listing URL from Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist, OfferUp, Mercari, or Poshmark and uses AI to read the publicly visible listing, locate item information and any identifier it contains, and run the appropriate verification. It also scores the listing for common fraud patterns such as pricing far below market, pressure to complete the sale quickly, or a refusal to show the serial number. It works only from what the listing publicly displays.
What information should I get from a seller before buying?
Get the item's identifier, a clear photo showing that identifier physically on the item, the model and configuration, and proof of purchase if the seller has it. Verify that the number in the photo matches the number the seller typed, check the identifier against stolen-property records before you pay, and confirm the same number in person when you inspect the item. A seller who will not provide an identifier is a warning sign in itself.
Check an item
Submit an identifier or a marketplace listing URL and get a result in a few seconds.
Verify an item