Question Fake / Clone / Counterfeit Samsung S23 Ultra Phones - Don't get caught out.

[benbird7]

Don't get caught out, there's a number of these fakes circulating now. Please make sure even if it's a sealed phone you review my comparison of the packaging further down just to be sure. Even then to avoid being scammed always ask for the device to be opened to check first, don't meet in random locations and don't pay cash.

There's loads of these on Facebook now in and around the London area. I can see these becoming a really problem for those that don't look for the tell tail signs.

Do not be fooled into buying one of these devices off Facebook, gumtree etc it may be sealed but when you open up you'll have a dud by which point your seller will be long gone.

I tried searching the internet but found nothing relating to the IMEI or Serial number that's been used on the clone phones. Thought I'd post this help anyone check against that IMEI number.

Serial Number RFCW106BSAV
IMEI 1: 354484225250842

See below screenshots from different sellers.

The box once opened you realise it is completely fake, one of the key differences being the s pen mounting location is not central, and towards the back of the device. The box to the untrained eye looks genuine the device is absolutely awful to use, rubbish cameras and the pen's rubbery texture means it hardly comes out. Don't be scammed.

Location of hole on genuine S23U is central as below:

To help spotting the differences I put the below image together, you'll note the rear and end sticker has white guide brackets on the genuine one but the fake doesn't have these.
Spot the difference on the packaging below:

 

[spart0n]

Well that makes me genuinely curious as to what that device actually is

 

[benbird7]

Well that makes me genuinely curious as to what that device actually is

It's a fake/clone s23u.

 

[oVeRdOsE.]

I saw few video , and it's very hard to spot. There's a S23u copy rightnow that is very convincing, and the youtuber indicate that if you don't own a samsung device or if you don't have a genuine s23u next to it to compare , it is very hard.
And this imply that you have the phone in your hand , powered up !

IMEI check is the safest way.

I dont trust reseller at all, especially when FB pop me up few S23U 256gb for 1000$ cad brand new... yeah.

I dont know your country, but here there's ZERO deal to do with providers. The lowest prices are the samsung official website prices. So why a random guy on internet would do a brand new phone 5-600$ cheaper?

** edit : the link is out already, Ive reported him

 

[oVeRdOsE.]

just for fun, the 1st click I spotted on FB : fake
- you can see a sensor on the top right corner that the real one dont have.
- you can see a rounded bezel , the S22/23 U got a square bezel.
- date on the phone is old
- registered in 2023
- asking 1300$ while its 1900$

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[ekerbuddyeker]

I don't know. The biggest giveaway is one of the boxes says FAKE on it in big red letters. Must be that honor among thieves thing. That should help to spot the fake one.

 

[oVeRdOsE.]

back in the days, around iphone 4 - 5 , copies were ''acceptable''.
1st most android were ok performance for the year, lasted 2-3 y before comming uber slow (not hyper powerful as today) , so copies were usable.
Also it was obvious.
And they were cheap.
It was more like a ''prank'' to friends, having the latest iphone when nobody can put their hands on, nor afford it.

Now the copies looks very convincing, but metidatek , allwinner , chipset are slow, but not enough to make it obvious when you rush to buy it.

 

[benbird7]

I don't know. The biggest giveaway is one of the boxes says FAKE on it in big red letters. Must be that honor among thieves thing. That should help to spot the fake one.

would rather it was clear between the two otherwise I'd be getting asked questions to clarify.

Many moons ago got caught out with a fake Nokia n95 with the flip out qwerty if you remember it. Had to get carphone warehouse manager to write and confirm it was fake to PayPal.

 

[Jake.S]

These clones are geting more worse and now they even begun to copy IMEI off real phones. For example the fake clones of iphones have IMEI number from an actual iPhone. Just to make it look more real but once you take it to apple that's where they will tell you it is fake and not an actual iPhone. So idk if they started doing same on android phones by copying the IMEI from existing samsung phone or so.

 

[benbird7]

These clones are geting more worse and now they even begun to copy IMEI off real phones. For example the fake clones of iphones have IMEI number from an actual iPhone. Just to make it look more real but once you take it to apple that's where they will tell you it is fake and not an actual iPhone. So idk if they started doing same on android phones by copying the IMEI from existing samsung phone or so.

Yes that's exactly what they are doing. When you check the imei on the fake device it shows as genuine which it clearly isn't. They are getting one step ahead just make sure you do your research before buying one of the fake phones. As they are very poor quality and not even worth £50.

 

[Kash]

Thanks for the thread, really useful information and highlighting an important issue as there are quite a few of these on sale on Facebook and gumtree.

So if the IMEI numbers on the box are copied from actual S23U's, how is the best way to check you are buying an real one - ? checking *#06# on the phone bring up the phones true IMEI number, and then checking that on an IMEI website be most accurate?

 

[EtherealRemnant]

Thanks for the thread, really useful information and highlighting an important issue as there are quite a few of these on sale on Facebook and gumtree.

So if the IMEI numbers on the box are copied from actual S23U's, how is the best way to check you are buying an real one - ? checking *#06# on the phone bring up the phones true IMEI number, and then checking that on an IMEI website be most accurate?

The best way to not get screwed is to not order on a website that doesn't force a return policy and allows the use of payment methods that don't guarantee your money. Use Swappa or eBay. You'll pay more but have buyer protection.

 

[Alexandru06]

the big question is if we can find a solution to flash them a clean firmware or something

 

[EtherealRemnant]

the big question is if we can find a solution to flash them a clean firmware or something

The entire point is that the hardware isn't the same. They're grabbing the cheapest hardware they can to simulate an S23 Ultra, selling it, and disappearing.

 

[oVeRdOsE.]

exactly, cheap hardware with bugs on gps, wifi and bluetooth connectivity.


Performance, depending of the fake model, expect not more than a galaxy 4 or 5 range. Usable, but very limited on more hungry apps.

camera wise, expect around galaxy S quality.

apparently, on higher end fake, battery is pretty good. no surprise when the phone is slow af.

 

[nitanmarcel]

You can also check if it's a fake by using the getprop command via adb, if for some reason you are not 100% is fake.

It will show the real specs of the device, along with some proprieties used to fake the device UI and such. Leaving the output of a S23 Ultra 5G fake

 

[EtherealRemnant]

You can also check if it's a fake by using the getprop command via adb, if for some reason you are not 100% is fake.

It will show the real specs of the device, along with some proprieties used to fake the device UI and such. Leaving the output of a S23 Ultra 5G fake

MediaTek 6582... Wow...

Mediatek MT6582 SoC

Benchmarks, information, and specifications for the Mediatek MT6582 CPU

www.notebookcheck.net

That's definitely not going to be a usable device with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage even before you take into account that awful chip...

 

[varcor]

Only purchase from reputable sources or dealers. Using Facebook Marketplace, Swappa or Craigslist is asking to get taken for a ride. If the seller won't accept a credit or debit card that's a big red flag.

 

[dezborders]

I don't know. The biggest giveaway is one of the boxes says FAKE on it in big red letters. Must be that honor among thieves thing. That should help to spot the fake one.

For me the biggest giveaway of a fake phone is the LOW PRICE - $100s below the average FB price

If something seems too good to be true it usually IS

Also there are genuinely easy checks to make:-

View sellers profile ...
if their account is less than 12 months old
If their home town is more than 50 miles away from your search area (or if they live in a different country / different continent!)
If the profile has no image or no posts
Price is more than $100 below every other ad

If any of the above are true be suspicious

 

[OnnoJ]

For me the biggest giveaway of a fake phone is the LOW PRICE - $100s below the average FB price

If something seems too good to be true it usually IS

Also there are genuinely easy checks to make:-

View sellers profile ...
if their account is less than 12 months old
If their home town is more than 50 miles away from your search area (or if they live in a different country / different continent!)
If the profile has no image or no posts
Price is more than $100 below every other ad

If any of the above are true be suspicious

Be aware, not everybody outside CONUS is suspicious