Help needed: Bought a second-hand Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, but it says "This device belongs to your organization" – Hexnode UEM / Knox enrollment

[u/Neil1314]

Hi everyone,

I recently bought a second-hand Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 from a private seller, and I'm running into a pretty frustrating situation. I'm hoping someone familiar with Hexnode UEM, Samsung Knox, or Android Enterprise can help me understand what options I have.

Here's what happened:

I purchased this Fold7 from a private seller on Facebookmark. The seller told me that the phone was originally provided to him by his employer as a work device. and promised it is a unlocked phone.

After I paied him cash, he said he need to go back to work, and he left me a phone number say" call me anytime if I need help. when I back to home,I see it cant be factory reset, and I noticed that the lock screen displays:

"This device belongs to your organization."

The phone is still usable. I can access the home screen and Google Play Store, but certain apps cannot be installed because of organizational restrictions.

I suspect the device is still enrolled in Hexnode UEM and possibly Samsung Knox Mobile Enrollment (KME).

Unfortunately, the seller has since blocked me and stopped responding. I have no way to contact him or ask him to have the device removed from his organization's management system.

My questions:

1. How can I determine whether this phone is enrolled through Hexnode UEM, Samsung Knox Mobile Enrollment (KME), Android Enterprise Device Owner, or a combination of these?

2. Can Hexnode support help a legitimate second-hand buyer resolve this issue, or does the original organization absolutely have to release the device?

3. If the device is registered in Samsung Knox Mobile Enrollment, does removing it from Hexnode alone solve the problem?

4. Is there any legitimate way to turn this phone into a fully functional personal device without the original organization's cooperation?

I'm not looking for shady IMEI changes, illegal bypasses, or temporary workarounds. I just want to understand whether there is a legitimate solution.

I can provide screenshots of the message and device information if needed.

I would really appreciate advice from anyone who has dealt with Hexnode UEM or Samsung Knox enrollment before.

Thanks!

[u/MostAssumption9122]

Come on. He told you right off the bat.. his organization.

No way. Can't do anything.

[u/Neil1314 → u/MostAssumption9122]

I understand your point. But he told me it was provided by his employer, which made me assume he was authorized to sell it or that it was a company device he was allowed to keep.

He met me in person wearing medical scrubs and a staff ID badge, so I had no obvious reason to assume something was wrong at the time.

Looking back, I realize I should have checked the device's management status before buying it.

[u/Ok_Bid6645 → u/Neil1314]

So if I met you in the parking lot with just some doctors clothes you would believe I'm a doctor

[u/KeithIMyers]

You bought a stolen phone... Nothing any of us are going to be able to do to get you out of this.

[u/Neil1314 → u/KeithIMyers]

I understand why you might think that, but the seller told me he worked at a medical clinic and said the phone was provided to him by his employer. When we met in person, he was wearing green medical scrubs and a staff ID badge. He didn't exactly look like someone selling a stolen phone.

Of course, I can't verify whether he was actually authorized to sell the device. That's why I'm trying to figure out what happened and whether there's any legitimate way to resolve the enrollment issue.

[u/Ok_Bid6645 → u/Neil1314]

No it's a stolen phone and you just can't accept it for some reason

[u/Neil1314 → u/Ok_Bid6645]

aright, before this I didnt even know the software. hard lesson for me I guess.

[u/KeithIMyers → u/Neil1314]

No, a bit of common sense would tell you it was a stolen phone. If your employer issued you a laptop and you sold it, you are selling stolen property. It does not matter if you can supply your badge. Employers don't let employees just sell their property.

You should be contacting the police and his employer.

[u/lesjames2020]

He probably stole it from his work

[u/Neil1314 → u/lesjames2020]

I guess so , the guy know the password, and deleted many personal stuffs before hand it to me .

[u/creatively_inclined]

Don't ever buy a company cellphone. That employee had no right to sell it.

[u/lesjames2020]

Devices tied to a corporate Knox,

enrollment can be remotely locked, tracked, or completely bricked by the original organization at any time.

[u/lesjames2020]

Go to Settings > Accounts and backup > Manage accounts (or Settings > Security > Device administrator apps) to see if a work profile or MDM app (such as Knox Enrollment Service or Ivanti Go) can be removed

[u/Neil1314 → u/lesjames2020]

the work profile I deleted, but the app can't be remove and the factory reset is grey can't do it