Refurbished Phones - Paranoid?

[FranklyFlawless (Frank Lý)]

@privacylearner

But could my device somehow be formerly tied to criminal activity engaged in by the former user? Perhaps as identified through the IMEI?

Yes:

Hardware Identifiers - Mobile Devices Privacy and Security

@privacylearner

Am I just being way too paranoid here?

That depends on your threat model.

Related:

How good is a factory reset for buying used or refurbished?

I’m thinking about picking up a used Samsung device. While I know that the likelihood of tampering in order to steal my data is low, how effect is a factory reset to making sure that my device is good to go? I’ve seen folks on here talk about buying refurbished in the context of a Pixel that will get GrapheneOS, but in the context of the average person just buying a used device. Also, if you have any additional tips on things to check for when buying used, like diagnostic tools or settings to l…