"New" 3gs Locked to Phone #?

just purchased "new", locked at&t 3gs off of ebay. cannot life of me activated.

during activation process displays "your current number ###-###-#### not phone number. when enter billing zip code , last 4 of social displays at&t cannot verify information entered.

spent 2 hours on phone at&t , apple - at&t linked imei of phone sim # , apple instructed reboot , restore factory settings. did , it's still coming phone number doesn't belong me (it's michigan # , seller located in michigan).

@ point i've been advised return phone. have other options? should bother setting appointment @ genius bar or don't waste time?

or suggestions appreciated.

thank you.

 

iirc, iphones ordered online come partially activated under account of person ordered it. if previous owner did that, , never activated phone, it's sort of stuck in condition.

i've seen other threads on here condition, don't remember details. may worth doing searching.

if phone in condition, apple store folks can't don't have access activation servers.

have tried new sim?

 

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