How to avoid buying a stolen computer

If you are in the market for a computer, it’s buyer beware. You need to watch out for stolen computers.

Here are some resources to avoid stolen computers:

• Don’t buy your computer on the street
• Get a purchase receipt
• If you buy online or from a pawnbroker, get the serial number and confirm with law enforcement it’s not stolen
• If it’s a used computer, ask for original documentation
• Pay with credit card, as a form of payment that can be verified
• Make sure the power cord is included
• Run the computer to make sure the specs match your expectations
• Is it a fair-market price? Avoid computers that seam like "a steal".
• Avoid heavily discounted computers on auction sites such as eBay
• Ask why the computer is being sold
• Does the seller seem nervous or rushed?

Take your time with a computer purchase. Do your research and feel comfortable that you are getting what you pay for. Remember, it’s not just used computers that get stolen from homes or cars; it’s also new computers stolen from warehouses.

Tags: stolen computer, stolen laptop, buying a computer, computer purchase, buyer beware, consumer tips