test calls when buying a used phone?

I'm buying a used phone off I found on Craigslist to use with my Verizon service. I'd like to check the phone to make sure it functioning properly before I buy it. Do either the #832 test call or the *228 update work on phones that are not activated? If not, is there some other way I can check it?

If you are simply checking for functionality, either #832 or *228 will tell you that. The network will answer in both instances (usually to let you know that you are not currently activated), even though the phone is not necessarily activated on the network.

I just tested one of my old phones and only *228 works on non-activated devices.