Have you ever heard of stories where someone who intended to buy gadgets especially a phone, works into a tech/gadget market and buys a headache? I have. In fact, i see it everyday!
The gadget market is controlled by the exchange rate. The story of unfortunate smart phone buys didn't just start but it only just got worse! Even so called phone experts fall victim.
You might have heard or read stories about people who went in phone village/tech market or computer village to get their dream phones, only to come back home dejected; some, with nothing to show for their hard earned money, others, a phone clone to painfully put up with, till another means emerges. Disappointment! On a large scale.
I once heard a friend go to the famous computer village situated in ikeja lagos, to get his long anticipated smart phone. On that faithful day, he'd even gone with a friend. They were both excited so they hurriedly left to buy the phone only to see them later in the day confused and downcast. It happened that they've been ripped off!
i know you might be thinking of the usual tale where phone buyers get to buy home soap bars in stead of the gadgets they longed for, no! You're wrong. They actually brought home phones and sure did see cartons depicting the phones were sealed up, the problem there was, they bought phone clones.
FIRST THINGS FIRST! WHAT ARE PHONE CLONES?
There are so many confusing definitions of what a phone clone is, but if you have been a victim, having bought a phone that seemed quite alright until it develops a fault and the phone engineer tells you, a replacement part can't be found. Simply because the actual replacement parts in the market are original while that of your phone is a clone, you'll sure understand that clone phones gave no other definition but "fake!"
Clone phones are fake phones created by some nameless manufacturer who attempts to make cash by initially rolling out fake copies of high quality smartphones at embarrassingly ridiculous prices.
The misconception
There are misconceptions that guide the mind of gadget buyers. These misconceptions have overtime mislead gadget buyers, thanks to the criminalist ingenuity of clone phones manufacturers and of course, the sellers!
misconception 1 - price
Many people believe that prices of clone phones are way cheaper. Yes, You're right! Originally it was. In fact, it is! But, retailers and importers have devised a means of packaging and raising the pricetag a little higher than the original phones or just a little lower, so as to make it as enticing enough as it is competitive.
An original samsung j5 in the nigerian phone market might cost N60,000 however, it's clone will either be raised to N62,000 to be sold at N54,000 after negotiations, so an unsuspecting buyer jumps at the offer.
Misconception 2 -specifications
Clone phones have false specifications. These false specifications will entice non-tech oriented buyers.
Misconception 3- packaging
There's always this extra added to the package of clone phones, the goal of which is solely to entice the unsuspecting buyer.
So he smiles home feeling fulfilled, unaware of the disappointment waiting gently in his shopping bag!
Source
How not to fall victim
In buying gadgets, one has to be very careful and pay attention to details. Most clone phone makers have mastered the act of copying gadgets almost to 95% similarity.
Things to look out for
go for popular brands, at least
I'll tell you for free, 70% of mobile phones imported into Africa, are either of unknown brands, substandard, stolen or clone phones!
You doubt?
Walk into computer village or prominent phone markets to confirm this.
If you go for popular brands it becomes easier for you to compare your phone to another,
Source
However, if your phone is a rare release of a known brand, it keeps you on a safer side and hopefully, replacement parts will only be available at designated experience/ repair centres. Although it might be expensive, you'll sure have your phone back, good as new!
*type #06# it just might be the pointer you need!
When you dial *#06# you'll see a 16digit imei number pop up peculiar to your phone, most times most authentic phones begin with 35....... 
If your phone doesn't start from
...01
...35
Then something is possibly wrong!
The ...35 that begins the numbers means tge phone is a 3band phone.
While 01 means it's a one band phone. But most clone phones either didnt go through proper regulations or the regulatory tests are inadequate. So some of these phones begin with numbers ...88, 85, e.t.c
Check the camera!
Most clone phones have unstable focus, they capture pictures in quite amazing modes but the picture eventually displays surreal and has blurry zones no matter how small.
Check the about session of the phone in the phone settings
This is where there are anti clone phone revelations.
Click on settings
Then click on about phone, you should see something like this...
This is also peculiar to which ever phone you use..
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*check the manufacturer's website for the phone specifications
If you have a samsung phone like the GT- family e.g grand neo and it's supposed to have an android 4.2.1 O.S but you find out it claims to work on an O.S 6.1, be weary of this, because you might never really have come across any android version 6.1! I haven't except in clone phones.
Check the graphic display!
Another give away for clone phones are their graphic displays, it looks usually over-exaggerrated at first and later it's under-functionality or under performance becomes evident after first 30minutes of usage.
There are many things to check in order not to fall victim of clone phone purchase... Pls take your time in looking out for these. I hope you found this helpful.
If you did, pls upvote! Resteem! Or donate sbd! wink