A Seven Kings man is warning residents to beware online phone deals after he was sold what he believes to be a fake smartphone.

The man, who did not want to be named, paid £330 for the Samsung Galaxy S4 after seeing an advert on website Gumtree.

It was described as used for a week but in “mint condition”.

He met the seller in Sainsbury’s in Beckton on August 22 to make the purchase.

The buyer said: “I paid him £330 cash, after checking that the phone had a box, charger and hands free kit.

“When I got home and did a master reset, all the writing was in Chinese.”

He added that some features on the phone did not work and strange glitches appeared, including switching to plane mode at random.

The phone matches descriptions of sophisticated counterfeit smartphones being manufactured in China.

Although the seller promised a refund after being told the phone was fake, he has not been contactable since.

The man has now brought another, genuine, Samsung Galaxy, which was a present for his wife.

The seller is described as Asian and in his 20s. On the day of the sale he was wearing a black pinstriped shirt and dark suit trousers.

If you have information or think you have been sold counterfeit goods, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.