yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Galaxy Note 4 General] nohcho:
Its a big issue in the states too. People om Craigslist selling phones for cheap and then sometime later its gets reported stolen or the orignal owner just stops making payments. You ask them to meet at tmobile store and they immediately reply that the phone had just sold.

It never made sense to me why would someone sell a just released note 4 for 250 less what they have just paid not even a month ago.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] simonhcai:
I nearly got scammed on an s5,the guy showed me a real one all working told me it was his daughters and she didn't use it anymore,I looked it over and it was definitely a real s5 so I went to cash machine and drew out the money which was £170 I then asked him to try my sim in it just to check it was unlocked when he put the sim in and passed it back to me I noticed the icons looked faded especially s-health they weren't as clear as before and the status bar icons were different then I spotted an fm radio icon in the app draw so it was a case of f*ck right off if you think I'm falling for you switching it for a Chinese copy as I took my sim back I'd gotten about 3 paces when he showed me the phone again saying it's not fake look, I looked again the phone was up and running and the apps that were there a minute ago had gone how it booted back up in 3 Seconds to full working from putting the battery in was proof enough to walk away knowing he had another phone in his pocket...there's some real scumbags out there ,cheeky sod asked me just before I left did I want some big screen TVs if he thinks I'm buying a holed out tv frame with a house brick in the back he's a bigger idiot than he thinks I am lol...
[Galaxy Note 4 General] NeoXTC:
I saw a "too good to be true" note 4 price selling here in Australia. Lucky I didn't buy and went with my gut instinct instead of my tight ass instinct :P
[Galaxy Note 4 General] Pat.:
Problem is now alot of them aren't cheap, the crooks are asking close to the correct price to convince you it's OK & also (obviously) take more money.

They know that alot of people smell a rat if it's a bit too cheap.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] TraNe15:
[MENTION=6235709]infamousgeek[/MENTION]

Hi!

I'm planing to buy a N910F. In my country samsung sell N910C model and I found this guy on a buying-selling website. Do you think that is there any problem with this one? Thank you.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xchdjqawcq9hu8j/AmZm0k0myYgHCqJt1giHj9-KI4x59W6Fv3W1VsjxfEuo.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/sxhc33kso5bv32h/AvWBiQgaFQVK8DPIV5n3VHnWkMLkG9SqNZDb2GSbvyKX.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lv46p1ymv63pf2h/AhnMYhQ3GbaEnhSa3gXAjIdBnaKKkMj4dnN2416P4kXZ.jpg?dl=0
[Galaxy Note 4 General] infamousgeek:
There is no way to tell just by looking at the box. You need to turn on the device and look for samung apps and check the About Device page in settings to be on the safe side.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] mike2518:
Was this NYC lol?
[Galaxy Note 4 General] simonhcai:
It was London UK, we have a lot of Irish gypsies who come here and try ripping people off..

Dirty pikey bastards lol...
[Galaxy Note 4 General] zurkx:
what are the real specs of the fake phone ? i wouldnt mind having a cheap fake with stylus and large screen as long as it was usable as a backup phone.

$150 is pretty good for a large screen fake.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] sam5154:
What about the S-pen? does it work? is it a wacom or similar technology or it's just a normal capacitive stylus?
[Galaxy Note 4 General] LMMT:
Search "Fake Note 4" on YouTube. You'll find all of the info, and specs, as well as comparisons to the genuine Note 4. These have been out and available, for months. They may have even come out before the real Note 4.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] EP2008:
I don't understand the reasoning behind these fake phones. I mean, they are a great deal for $150, but why use Samsung logos or fake specs? Are these intended to deliberately screw people over? Id be more that halt to get one as an unbranded phone and honest specs, but these seem so sketchy!

Sent from my SM-N910U
[Galaxy Note 4 General] zurkx:
i ordered one from dhgate/skinnygirl for $160 incl shipping due jan 20th lol.

will post a review then.

seems they have the following decent specs :

5.7-inch 1920 x 1080 display.

quadcore Mediatek MT6592 CPU.

1GB RAM.

8GB internal memory.

Android 4.2 OS (jellybean).

WCDMA 850/2100Mhz, GSM 850/900/1800/1900Mhz

2 mega-pixel front camera.

8 mega-pixel rear camera.

2000mAh battery

evidently they also have a working stylus, gps and play store but will see once i get it.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] sidmuer:
Simple.

Street cred.

ie: the label.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] JippleStar:
I tried this because, after reading this thread several times, I started to get paranoid about my phone even though I got mine at BestBuy; however, I'm not sure what the Download Mode screen should look like. I got a screen with a Yellow Triangle asking me if I want to continue (I can't remember exactly what it said) or reboot. Was this the correct screen?

This wiki on xda said there should be an "Android robot working on construction," but I did not see it :(

I am able to use the GearVR though... so it sort of puts my mind at ease... I'm guessing the fake note 4's can't use GearVR?
[Galaxy Note 4 General] RISHI RAJ:
yes,definitely its genuine.Fake ones don't have download mode
[Galaxy Note 4 General] androidlover1977:
I would try my best to buy another to get the same seller. Then, well, the next part is up to you!
[Galaxy Note 4 General] Hurrian:
The easiest way, by far of telling a fake Note from a real one is by testing out the S-Pen button and hover.

Fake Notes just pack a tiny capacitive stylus, no fancy EMR coupling tech in the pens.

For other Samsung devices, Download Mode could probably tell you, though they could quickly catch on to this and make fake Download Mode skins. There should probably be a sticky about this...

If/when China clone factories start putting EMR tech into their clone phones, they'll be an absolute steal at ~$150. The Rockchip/Mediatek/Allwinner quad-cores perform "okay" at that price range.

Sad to hear your story OP - I got a refurb'd Note 3 that was passed off as brand new a few months ago.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] ultramag69:
Unfortunately there will always be people out there trying to take you for a ride.

The clone phones generally come out before the real one does. Unfortunately most of these phones are pretty good facsimiles until you hold up to an original. They pass the quick look test.

If you ever are going to get a Samsung device the best idea is to go to download mode and recovery mode as these are generally not the same on the clone phones. This will work only until the cloners wise up and skin the recovery and download mode the same.

Another thing you can check, as long as you can turn it on is the memory, though this too can be faked. Most clones come with only 1 Gb of ram and a smaller rom partition. As I said though I have seen some clones that say one thing and have another...
[Galaxy Note 4 General] egren58:
I would file fraud with back n paypal. You should of def get your money back.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] poog:
Easiest way to know a fake Note3, Note4, S5 is to check if it can do 4k(UHD video

I almost bought one offered as "Authentic International version from Korea"............

I didn't care what version it was as long as it was not stolen, authentic and carrier unlockable.

Instead of asking model, describe how this and thatlooks, bla bla bla, I just asked one simple thing...............please go into camera video recording settings.............what is the max resolution it can do. If it's no more than 1080p......................it is fake.

If it can do 4k........then it is most likely authentic. then one could proceed to check everything else. If not, don't bother. proceeding.

The seller in my case, the seller told me he couldn't get into the camera settings,................then I told him to install Open Camera from the market............ . He told me he he already had that on the camera .........and started chuckling like he was had...........................and said yes max settings on the stock camera is 1080p. And played it like he was clueless.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] zurkx:
easiest is to check if the button on the stylus works. recording option can be faked easily just like ROM size or picture size is.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] force70:
if you have the cell number and any police friends get them to run the number and get the billing address for the account.

then go say hello to the scumbag who ripped you off.

sent from Canada via my Note 4, 3, 2 or S3
[Galaxy Note 4 General] kamranhaghighi:
sorry for you fake phone :( but thanks for sharing it!
[Galaxy Note 4 General] xairsoft808x:
Fakes are definitely out there, I just learned the hard way. It was a good fake but there were small signs that I look back upon now and I should have known better and just walked away. Too good to be true.

On that note, if anyone wants a fake Note 4 I'll be sure to cut you a deal! haha
[Galaxy Note 4 General] Kernel ranger:
This is specifically for those vendors who will not allow you to unpack/break the seal to see the note 4's content before you buy it.

If you take the serial number on the box of a brand new note 4 you intend on buying even before you open the seal, check for the e-warranty status before you give out your hard earned money for that note 4.

To check for the e-warranty status of the note 4:-

-First read the imei no. shown on the box.

-Compose a text message like this:- "CHECK*IMEI NO.#" without the speech marks; the IMEI NO. is the actually note 4's imei no. that you want to buy.

-Send the SMS to the number Samsung Smartcare Centre will give you.

Shortly after you do so in like 2 to 5 literal minutes an SMS reply MUST return giving you details on the phone's status. If it is fake it will respond saying that it is possibly a grey product.

For those of you who may be allowed to access the phone and turn it ON, your best bet is to reboot into odin mode and read the knox status which is usually 0x0 or 0. If it is fake, it will have some jibberish (mostly chinese) written instead of any readable text

---------- Post added at 09:42 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:13 AM ----------

I have used the likes of one and there is only one thing that pops up in my whole experience - UBER FRUSTRATING!!!!!!!!!!

If you make a call sometimes the screen from time to time will not respond when you try to hang up, meaning if your call is diverted to voice mail, it will drain your account for nothing, you'll need to restart the phone. If you lock the screen with a pattern, the screen at times malfunctions and as you move your finger across the screen it brings up the camera instead of unlocking the screen. The screen for some funny reason will not pick up your touch at times. Picking up the phone from the table to hold it for use while the screen is ON and it is unlocked might automatically start an app randomly on the Home screen. A touch sometimes can be interpreted as a double tap causing doubling or tripling of characters and you type text. This causes what's app to start recording ambient sound when you press send to send your text. If you enable gestures to allow hover motion to manipulate phone content, when the phone's screen is off and in your pocket, it will turn on from rubbing against your inside pocket as you move around and will access emergency dial menu and will do all sorts of crazy dialing. The gestures feature while ON also causes a remarkable battery drain when the screen is off funny enough. I don't even want to go on... my head hurts just by recalling my experience with one. Am glad that I didn't buy it. I just wanted to have the clone experience.

I can only say one thing about them... I HATE CHEAP RETARDED PHONES!!!! :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:
[Galaxy Note 4 General] thedicemaster:
the box of the fake one actually looks identical to a European box.

with the 2 QR codes and the sticker guide L lines.

the European boxes are made from recycled material, which explains the beige color.

N910F is also the version sold in several European countries.

there's also no mention of where the box was made/printed.

I wonder if you have any of the following on the box of the fake one(they are on the real box):

left side bottom half: carbon trust logo and explanation, recycling and soy ink logo and text stating the box is made with 100% recycled paper and soy ink.

right side: completely empty.

top side(opposite the side you showed a photo of): upside-down "European sim card only" warning, and an L shaped sticker guide

bottom right of the back side: a table containing country codes for all countries where that model is sold.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] DgnrtnX:
Is there any simpler way!!
[Galaxy Note 4 General] Kernel ranger:
Unfortunately you need a hawk eye. Most of the fake ones are model SM-910 or SM-9100 or SM-910F with the words Exynos Octo core in its specifications with the layout more like the way the s4's specifications are written than the actual Note 4; something like so:-

[IMG="Note 4 fake phone specs layout"]http://s4.postimg.org/iiyb1iyz1/Samsung_Galaxy_S4_Unboxing_3.jpg[/IMG]

The real ones look exactly like these:-

[IMG="Real Note 4 Exynos"]http://s7.postimg.org/elvn7wqxn/Note4_3.jpg[/IMG]

Also notice how the fake ones don't have knox feature shown on their boxes
[Galaxy Note 4 General] damdemonk:
fastest way to check

I got dupe too and not notice your page until now....just want to point out for future ref is best test I discovered. Imei test *#06# is not possible because it has none. This is the easiest and fastest determining way to get those bastards.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] Kernel ranger:
That isn't the best way at all! Just check videos on some note 4 high copies, they give off a valid imei. Nothing beats the odin mode knox status check. That they can't counterfeit easily. If at all your vendor doesn't allow you to open the box, the knox feature should be indicated on the box plus especially the country intended letter corresponding with whether it is an exynos or snapdragon. Should these lack or mis-match on the box, then your note 4 is definitely a clone.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] robdevil:
Buying second hand? Always Check Download mode and knox info!!!
[Galaxy Note 4 General] schweigster:
I bought a T-Mobile note 4 on craigslist I am kind of skeptical about. I pulled the battery out and it says made in China with no reference to Samsung (picture attached). However, everything else seems to check out although the stylus seems kind of hit or miss with the button on it. Download mode shows Knox. I was able to flash TWRP and install a custom ROM. I looked at the hardware via Samsung phone info app and it seems to check out. Says it was manufactured in Vietnam which I believe is where T-Mobile versions are manufactured. Can anyone with T-Mobile note 4 confirm the sticker I am showing is correct?
[Galaxy Note 4 General] daniel4653:
I don't have the T-Mobile variant, I have the W8 Canadian variant, but the phone looks real. I'm basing my opinion on flash and heartbeat sensor. Looks like mine.

And the Sim tray has a serial number that is similar to mine as well (share the first 3 or 4 letters and digits). :)

Sent from my SM-N910W8
[Galaxy Note 4 General] atilla88:
Who buys stuff on craigslist anyway? Scumheaven
[Galaxy Note 4 General] avishayil:
I just received a fake Note 4 after ordering one from eBay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281618129589 - seller is edburrows2012, beware of him.

Just to let you know - PayPal has their buyer protection so eventually you can get your money back.

For that to happen, you need open a case within 180 days from the date of the transaction, and supply the necessary evidence.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] batteriesNI:
now im kinda paranoid mine might be fake, is there a way to definitively tell?
[Galaxy Note 4 General] nookcoloruser:
Enter your imei here

http://www.imei.info
[Galaxy Note 4 General] batteriesNI:
is that safe
[Galaxy Note 4 General] nookcoloruser:
yes ....

its not a gloryhole. :D
[Galaxy Note 4 General] Glp38:
I enter mines and it came back galaxy s3 slim?
[Galaxy Note 4 General] nookcoloruser:
Eek not good. Mine came back as correct version.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] zurkx:
that site is a fake. stop recommending fake sites. it has bad data in the imei db.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] nookcoloruser:
How is it a fake. My phone came up with the imei I inputted ? How would I know it is a fake or not?

So instead of demanding people stop recommending fake sites in such a patronising manner you could have the courtesy of phrasing your post as 'I wouldn't recommend that site, it has bad data' etc.. It is less insulting and doesn't paint you as being a giant douche to someone who was only trying to help another person.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] Braxos:
Don't enter your imei on any site except registering it at samsung.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] nookcoloruser:
That's not true at all. Sites like Swappa have an imei verification tool to protect users (buyers) from buying dodgy phones.

Likewise many of the unlock sites require your imei to get your unlock code.

Paranoia doesn't protect your phone. Even if by some sheer freak your imei number was pinched I fail to see how it would affect you. You have an official phone and your warranty is valid. What do you honestly think is going to happen?
[Galaxy Note 4 General] batteriesNI:
well I used the verify genuine app and it says it is.... as well as in the about phone it has knox version etc. download mode is fine, I'm gonna assume it's real

just checked knox flag using a check knox status app and it's 0x0 warranty valid.

guess I can rest easy now?
[Galaxy Note 4 General] byasini:
Buy from original vendor.

There is a phrase in Persian said " cheap is not cheap"
[Galaxy Note 4 General] thedicemaster:
it exists in Dutch to.

"goedkoop is duurkoop" (translates to "cheap is expensive")
[Galaxy Note 4 General] GTCC:
Irish saying, 'cheap is sh!t'
[Galaxy Note 4 General] burnin:
Portuguese saying: "O barato sai caro" in english its something like "Cheap becomes expensive"
[Galaxy Note 4 General] abs0lut3z33r0:
Anyone looking for difference between fake and real , also check this thread some info on this one is wrong

http://xdaforums.com/note-4/help/fa...sion-n9100-t3090757/post60303363#post60303363
[Galaxy Note 4 General] roebling:
Paypal/eBay back sellers, not buyers

FYI, I bought from eBay a key blank advertised as being BMY & fitting my Beamer. The blank that arrived, though, was not BMW or even a good fake. It was fatter & malformed & wouldn't even fit in the lock cylinder. But eBay/Paypal, after a month of emails back and forth, proclaimed the dispute resolved & kept my money.

Fortunately, it was only $8, a lot for a phoney key but a bargain as educations go!

---------- Post added at 01:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:00 PM ----------

Great "heads up" post, informative, well illustrated, timely and accurate. Thanks!

Android Central has a good article on the subject, too, at http://forums.androidcentral.com/sa...de-spot-fake-counterfeit-galaxy-note-4-a.html

I only today became aware of the glut of counterfeit Samsung GN4s when I noticed the oddly printed factory film protection applied to a GN4 on Craigslist.

One simple "tell" I devised that no one else seems to have mentioned is to ask GN4 sellers do a screen dump of the home screen & send it to you. My idea is that the image would include the time the screen shot was taken & metadata sent with the screen print would reveal the possibly counterfeit phone's actual screen resolution. Counterfeit Samsungs don't have the resolution of real Samsung screens and all Android image viewers have funtionality to read & display that info. I just ask sellers to simultaneously push volume-down and power buttons, then send me the picture it snaps.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] saerdna1234:
Not surprisingly - most people never know they bought a fake

I recently bought my first counterfeit phone - also a Note 4 SM-N910F (why does it seem that they are all N910F? ) from Ebay. Luckily, the bad rating and the threat of Ebay protection seems to have been enough to force a refund on this one.

What I find interesting, is that this seller, and others seems to be quite successful in selling counterfeit phones. Lots of positive reviews from people who love their new Note 4. I'm not surprised - the basic functions all work, and it took me easily 10 minutes of trying to put it in download mode before I began wondering about all the Chinese characters. There is no way that your average user would ever notice.

So, I suppose it is pretty easy to make money this way. My only surprise is that if you are going to sell on ebay, you should immediately refund anyone who asks. It is perfectly easy to just find another sucker.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] saerdna1234:
An imei check isn't enough

I found out that I purchased a fake Note 4. The IMEI reports the phone as a Note 4 N910C (although the label claims it is an N-910F).

The IMEI looks just fine as you can see from the report. However, the Modem and software versions are clearly wrong, and when you go to the download sequence (Vol Down + Home + Power), you get an interesting Chinese menu rather than the Samsung download menu.

I have to admit this was a remarkably well-done fake. Things aren't quite right, but they aren't clearly wrong.

Update:

The IMEI I ran the report on is the one printed on the back label. Is is (shocking, I know) fake. The IMEI reported by the SW is clearly wrong (all 6s). I never put my SIM card in, or let the phone connect to any networks, so I don't know what the actual IMEI was.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] nine5raptor:
Fakes are really well done. Check highonandroid for a good list of differences and a video. I can't post links yet but it is:

highonandroid dot com

/android-smartphone-news/how-to-spot-fake-galaxy-note-4

Also use swappa or call your carrier for an imei check.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] DarkGuyver:
Actually you can, most boxes have allot of spelling errors and wrong model numbers, If you take a good look at the label on the box and the back of the box you can see if it's a fake. Just be sure to do your research on the phone before you do the comparsion on the box.
[Galaxy Note 4 General] ismaeel96:
does the finger print scanner work on the fake one?
[Galaxy Note 4 General] Kernel ranger:
This will shock all of you greatly! True about clones.. beware!! :- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiJrC2TKgrY
[Galaxy Note 4 General] Judy West:
Why not use the fake phones if you get stuck with one and need some help please

Does any one know if the genuine battery works in the fake phone. I got ripped off and spent $300 on Kijiji Toronto and I will be dammed if I won't use it because that is a lot of money for this old gal. The phone works good enough for me simple texting and emergency calls only or calling home etc...

The worst thing that is obvious to this light user is the battery life and I am not used to charging my phone every few hours. I am hopeful that a new genuine battery will help that situation.

Why not use the phone instead if you get stuck with a rip off?

ALSO can anyone tell me if doing a factory reset would be helpful to battery life,,the previous person had so many things installed it seems compared to what is normal I think.

Thanks for your consideration, please try to help me with the answers.Hoping it will make my stupid mistake of buying a fake a little more reasonable.

Judy...
[Galaxy Note 4 General] Judy West:
Counterfeit Ebay sellers are sellers who have shares in Ebay>

In my opinion the sellers whoa get away with counterfeit sales are share holders of Ebay and they monopolize Ebay just look at the sellers who sell Genuine Louis Vuitton Bags for thousands and they are allowed.