How to tell a Verizon phone has a clear ESN?

Im about to buy an Verizon LG Voyager from ebay.. and it claims it has a Cleared ESN.. but on the pictures there is one with the phone turned on and on the main screen it doesn't have the '; Initial programing required'; message.. and usually when i see a ESN cleared phone it has that message on it.. is there any other way I can tell the ESN is cleared before i buy the phone?How to tell a Verizon phone has a clear ESN?
I had a phone that I reported lost and found like a month after, I gave it to my friend and she was unable to activate it but the front of the screen still says ';initial programing required'; so I doubt that has anything to do with the ESN being clean or not. Maybe the pic was taken before the phone was deactivate it.


You can look at the sellers reviews to see if theyre good.