I think I unknowingly bought a stolen iPhone 4S

Syd Bargain Girl on 04/01/2014 - 17:58

I bought an iphone4s off a Facebook local buy and sell page. We communicated by messenger and I went to her house to pick it up. Gave her cash and went to Telstra to ask them to unlock it. The Telstra guy tried to do so but the phone is still linked to another Apple ID/ account. She said she herself bought the phone second hand from a friend, but I now suspect she lied and it is a stolen phone. I asked her if ahe can get her 'friend ' to login to find my phone and unlink her account but she is not replying to me. I sent her the link on how to do this.

I know I have lost my money but perhaps if the phone is stolen there might be a way I can return it to its rightful owner? Should I hand the phone into the police and explain the above. I've taken screenshots of the Facebook sale and have a record of my private messages to this 'woman'/'con artist '.

Mobile Apple Mobile Phone

Comments

  • PLA74 on 04/01/2014 - 18:07
    +7

    You can check the IMEI number of the iPhone to see if it's blocked or clean on this website: http://www.amta.org.au/pages/amta/Check.the.Status.of.your.H…

  • scrimshaw on 04/01/2014 - 18:09
    +4

    Report it to the police. Say you were sold an iPhone that is stolen and had it's SIM blocked.

    You must preserve all evidence that proves that you entered the transaction with the buyer. This invovles all phone calls, SMS's, Facebook msgs and emails.

    You can by the way, check if the IMEI has been blocked via the AMTA website.
    http://www.amta.org.au/pages/amta/Check.the.Status.of.your.H…

  • Syd Bargain Girl on 04/01/2014 - 19:49

    I can't get the Imei because I can't get past the activation screen. Any other way to get the Imei?

    Thank you both for your comments.

    • p1 ama on 04/01/2014 - 20:15
      +1

      Emergency dialler, enter "*#06#" without the "

    • CI on 06/01/2014 - 13:19
      +2

      Hey the imei is also printed on the sim tray. Plus there is another way around to rid off the previous account. But that won't matter if the iPhone is imei blocked.

  • Syd Bargain Girl on 04/01/2014 - 19:55
    +1

    I found the imei on the sim tray but whose to say that is the actual imei since sim trays can be swapped.its coming up with Result Your IMEI Number is currently unblocked.

    Hmmm….

    • scrimshaw on 04/01/2014 - 19:57
      +1

      What information can Telstra give you? Did you try calling Apple or Telstra|

      It may be possible for Telstra to contact the original owner. They have their records.

      From my experience, when I contacted Voda to report a missing phone that I found lying around, the telco gave me the contact details of the person. But in order to make the connection, you need to provide the phone number and /or IMEI number of the device, before they can trace the person.

      Without the correct IMEI or SIM number, you probably won't be able to do a thing though…probably go into a Telstra or Apple store and see what they recommend.

      • bich.light on 04/01/2014 - 20:05
        +1

        Yeah, Apple would definitely have specialised software to assist you! :)

        And since you went to her house to pick it up, you also know where she lives? At the very least, if she borrowed the house the owner is a friend of hers. Wouldn't be too difficult to track her down, for the police at least!

        • Mikinoz on 04/01/2014 - 21:56

          Apple wont assist you to de-activate another user.

        • Shwayne on 06/01/2014 - 15:27

          But they can contact the original owner to see if it was stolen.

    • Sick of This on 06/01/2014 - 12:05
      +1

      If she arranged for you to go to her house to make the deal, then she's not the most careful thief in the world and therefore probably hasn't gone to the trouble of fiddling the IMEI number in the SIM tray.

  • Mikinoz on 04/01/2014 - 20:23
    +1

    I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often, someone goes to sell their phone and wipes it. Doesn't realise they need to unlock it(put apple id password in). Once you have upgraded to ios7 the phone becomes locked to the apple id of previous user. Unless they actually go to set it up, they may not notice.

    Could be dodgy or an honest mistake, and now they are trying to work out how to get the apple id password from their friend

  • larrytate on 04/01/2014 - 20:58

    If you went to her house to pick it up, tell the police as you have her address or atleast threaten her they are on there way on a suspected stolen item…im sure youll soon get it unlocked or atleast an answer.

  • Syd Bargain Girl on 04/01/2014 - 21:46

    Okay I went into both telstra and Apple stores this morning before my post. They both said to contact the seller and there is nothing they can do. The seller is ignoring my messages but looking at their Facebook account public posts their daughter actually goes to the same school as my son! I'm hoping this is a genuine mistake of her friend not factory resetting the device.

    • Sick of This on 06/01/2014 - 12:08
      +6

      Ignoring your messages + selling "for a friend" = not a genuine mistake.

  • ukmark on 05/01/2014 - 03:03
    +3

    There is a possibility the person you bought it off bought it and came across the same problem you have. So they onsold it to the next person, you in this case.

    I would go back to the house and ask for your money back, or for it to be unlocked by their friend. Be polite, and don't threaten anyone. Most of the time, someone coming around your house is enough motivation to do the right thing.

  • Ramrunner on 05/01/2014 - 10:27

    Wow, can you not factory reset/recover iPhones using iTunes any more??? That's what we used to do???

    Been out of the iDevice game for a while so I'm just curious.

    • Mikinoz on 05/01/2014 - 10:33
      +3

      not since ios7

      • Ramrunner on 05/01/2014 - 11:26

        Well, I guess one way it's fantastic for security so kudos for that.

        On the other it's now going to be an absolute pain in the rear on situations like this especially if there's no forthcoming help from Apple to identify the previous owner and verify legibility of the ownership transfer.

        So even the hard recovery thing won't work now? Pressing power and home for 10 seconds to reset the firmware? (Basically completely wiping even iOS7 off the device).

        If this is true, and Apple do not help with change of ownership, I'd have to say this is quite a negative against Apple. You can effectively make a phone useless this way???

        • Mikinoz on 05/01/2014 - 11:27
          +2

          Nope doesn't work anymore, when it starts the setup after wiping it asks for the previous owners iTunes password

        • [Deactivated] on 05/01/2014 - 12:25
          +3

          Sounds like a good way to kill of the second hand phone market. Buyers would be very weary of whether the phone had been properly wiped when buying from eBay etc

        • neonlight on 05/01/2014 - 22:59

          So how do you ensure selling your phone wipe everything and get rid of the unlock password prompt back to factory? Any ideas

        • Wallyt99 on 06/01/2014 - 00:02

          Exactly the reason they would do it. Is it me or are big corporations becoming more and more unscrupulous every day. Thank god for Hackers.

        • Mikinoz on 06/01/2014 - 08:08

          It will ask for itunes password after wiping when it restarts, enter your password and then set it up, without adding an itunes account

        • Untameable on 06/01/2014 - 13:30
          +4

          Each time I've sold my iPhone I've had it set up and running in front of the buyer so they can use it and see it works, then I've wiped it in front of them.

          Yes it will kill the dodgy second hand market. But the rest of the world will continue as per normal.

        • [Deactivated] on 06/01/2014 - 21:06
          +9

          Doesn't have to be the dodgy market. It will also mess with those who are less tech savvy or well informed. .

  • batrarobin on 05/01/2014 - 17:59

    Yeah I also came across that situation, that's stupid iOS7 feature that needs the original owner to uncheck "Find my Phone" option from icloud.com.

    It's unfortunate but you can't use that phone until the original owner removes the phone from his apple login.

  • t_c on 06/01/2014 - 07:27

    is it possible that 'find my find' option could be checked on 2 accounts,

    ie, I bought my iphone s/h last year and I'm using find my phone but if I then upgrade to ios7 could it get blocked cause I'm not the original owner/login?

    or does me being able to use find my find now does that mean that the phone isn't associated with any previous owner?

    • Mikinoz on 06/01/2014 - 08:52
      +1

      Can you get past the itunes lockout for ios7? this is not just a carrier unlocking

      • onlyletters on 06/01/2014 - 09:02
        -6

        Yes. Its genuine unlocking its not jail breaking the phone.

        • Mikinoz on 06/01/2014 - 09:26
          +1

          So to clarify if the phone is locked to an itunes account with ios7 you can get past that? if so its the first time i have heard of anyone getting past this.

          Are you at a location or a business?

        • [Deactivated] on 06/01/2014 - 09:49

          Why wouldn't Apple block his account as soon as the unlocked iPhone is started using his details?

          Wouldn't the IMEI give it away instantly? Just curious

        • Ramrunner on 06/01/2014 - 11:12

          I'm curious as to how this is done also. The fact that eXtremist mentions factory restore it WOULD SEEM just the bare metal recovery mode as described here:

          http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1808

          I mean I've had to do that one a few times last year with my customers, but I have yet to have a customer that screwed up their phone with IOS7 on it, hence I did not know this procedure does not work any more.

          Weird.

        • Mikinoz on 06/01/2014 - 13:14
          +1

          Was wondering when the penny would drop ;)

  • unitato on 06/01/2014 - 09:27

    You can try doing a complete reset on the phone. Plug the phone into iTunes, and as soon as you do, hold down the home and power button together for about 10 seconds, then let go ONLY of the power button (still holding the home button) until it goes into reset mode. If that doesn't fix it then nothing will.

    It should start to reset and then you just need to wait until it is finished… this is different than a standard reset through the settings of the phone.

    • Mikinoz on 06/01/2014 - 09:48
      +2

      Read above this wont work for an itunes locked out device with ios7

  • Mikinoz on 06/01/2014 - 10:19
    +4

    Okay to clarify there are 2 ways to solve the problem which is iphone locked to another user account in ios7

    One way is to get the user to log into icloud and remove the device the other is to do the below

    1. Speak with a Senior Advisor/Supervisor
    2. Have proof of ownership that you can provide to the rep.
    3. They can enter the info into some system to create a case for purchase/ownership verification.
    4. You get a case number and email address to provide your documentation of ownership too. They claim that in 2 business days or less from receiving your valid proof of ownership, they will allow the phone to be activated.

    Taken from here

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5395808?start=90&tstart…

  • hippies on 06/01/2014 - 11:32

    telstra didnt block it, apple software did. the way iOS7 works is different. if the device still using the ios6 then you may just activate it without being ask for the " current user apple id and password". is that make sense ? Eventhough you restore it. but it already being flagged by apple that only that " current user apple id " can activate it. Its new feature on iOS7.

    hope this help

    • Mikinoz on 06/01/2014 - 11:53
      +1

      I think we have already established that it is not a carrier lock. everything else is correct

  • [Deactivated] on 06/01/2014 - 12:20
    -2

    Hard reset it

    http://www.wikihow.com/Restore-an-iPhone

    Dont back up but restore from new

    • Mikinoz on 06/01/2014 - 12:24
      +3

      Again read before posting, its an itunes lock

  • ghostdom on 06/01/2014 - 12:21
    +1

    Send an email to the linked apple ID email address and see if any response?

  • ilostnemo on 06/01/2014 - 12:51
    +2

    You don't receive the full email address on the screen.
    It's more like a****[email protected]

    You can't DFU these phones as the email and password are on Apple Servers not stored on the phone.

    I look forward to the outcome.

    Look on ebay you can buy heaps of thesed phones/ipads/ipods with the activation lock.

    At the moment this lock is stopping thieves in their tracks, with only gullible people buying.

    For anyone else buying a iphone, there are 2 rules

    Make a call from the phone.
    Make sure Find my Iphone is switched off.

    If your phone is network locked to UK Orange you won't get much change out of $200 to factory unlock it.
    If its activation locked, you have a paperweight.

    • Syd Bargain Girl on 06/01/2014 - 22:06
      -2

      Thanks, I guess I am gullible. Honestly I did not expect a mum whose child goes to the same school as me to rip me off. I think she bought it off a friend who has either stolen it or somehow acquired it. Guess there aren't honest people anymore.

      • Sick of This on 08/01/2014 - 09:56
        +10

        Yes there are. She's just not one of us.

  • orrinxu on 06/01/2014 - 15:50

    would jailbreaking help?

    • massafiri on 06/01/2014 - 16:04

      I don't think they would be able to jailbreak; evasi0n software needs to run an app on the iPhone and prompts you to "unlock your phone" multiple times throughout the jailbreak process.
      It's worth a try though OP. Download Evasi0n and try jailbreaking your phone.
      Once it's jailbroken, they'll definitely be a way to exploit the security… how - that's another question.

      • Syd Bargain Girl on 06/01/2014 - 22:08

        No, it doesn't work. Tried it last night. It tells you that you need to activate phone before using the software.

  • The Gent on 06/01/2014 - 17:25

    Try a SIM that is compatible with the phone - whatever network it's locked to (big deal, you may be out another $5 there).

    Then you should be able to get into the phone, from there just open the Facebook ap, if not, the email app etc etc until you get the original owner's information - contact them and ask if their phone was stolen.

    There might be an old number which says "home" or "mum".

    Good luck - it sounds like you should be fine and it's just an unreliable person you're trying to contact - you do know where she lives, so you could go and ask her what's going on with unlinking at the end of it all.

    Good luck.

    • imcjb on 06/01/2014 - 19:23
      +1

      Why bother with the above unlocking and all that rubbish.

      Take the seller to the local small claims tribunal.

      Most likely the seller will settle long before the hearing.

      Edit - depends on the state if you can do this against a person and not only a business.

      • The Gent on 06/01/2014 - 19:45

        Because it might be a simple mistake.

        The points you made are exactly what I would recommend…after you find out whether or not the phone is stolen, which you can do using my suggestions.

        You're jumping the ball a bit there.

    • Syd Bargain Girl on 06/01/2014 - 22:10

      No, I bought Telstra sim. The issue does not appear to be unlocking. It is activation, as it is iOS 7, cannot get past activation without the original owner signing into the account.

  • tyank232 on 06/01/2014 - 19:21

    I have an iphone 4 using ios 7 with my apple id and am selling it. I am not the original owner but it is unlocked. What would i need to do to make it work with ios 7 for the new owner?

    • Mikinoz on 06/01/2014 - 19:24

      After wiping the device ie reset>erase all. Once complete go through the setup completely it will ask for apple id password enter to unlock done

  • tyank232 on 06/01/2014 - 19:26

    okay thanks for that. So it doesn't matter that i am not the original owner?
    cheers

    • Syd Bargain Girl on 06/01/2014 - 22:12

      As long as you know the icloud account and password that the iphone is activated under. Did you upgrade it from iOS 6.whatever to 7?

  • AG_ACT on 06/01/2014 - 19:41

    I know it's insanely expensive… but if you really get stuck, maybe try looking for a listing like this:
    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/iPhone-iOS-7-4-4S-5-5S-iCloud-Pas…

    • Syd Bargain Girl on 06/01/2014 - 22:24

      Thanks, found another listing for under $100 but definitely don't want to spend another cent on this phone.

      • ilostnemo on 07/01/2014 - 11:50
        +1

        Please do not waste anymore money on the phone….
        If you look at these listings, no one has ever received a positive feedback.

        There isn't a solution at the moment to bypass this.

  • andyken on 06/01/2014 - 21:23
    +3

    i dont know why no one advise you to going back to her house and return it, simple as that, say that this phone is locked to icloud and cant be unlock without previous owner…

    if she wont, just write her in letter and drop it to her mailbox saying that you has been advise this phone might be stolen iphone and you will reported to the police with your address.

    i am sure you will get your money back..

    for everyone info: ios7 had a new feature call FIND MY PHONE or something, no matter how hard you reset, you cant pass the screen even after you restore the full phone, it need the prev. email owner and pass.

    • Syd Bargain Girl on 06/01/2014 - 22:19
      -1

      I have tried messaging her explaining what to do, etc. I am a woman and do not feel comfortable just showing up at her house, demanding a refund. I have reported her to the admin of the Facebook group, and have messaged her giving her until Saturday (7 days from date of sale) to deactivate the icloud account it's linked to, or I will bring the phone back to her house for a refund, I suspect that money is tight and she mentioned that she spent the money already in one of her messages back. She also stated upon pickup that she bought this phone from her friend as her phone was on its last legs but now she needed the money more than the phone. Little did I know that she was selling me a brick :(

      • nimnomnimy on 08/01/2014 - 10:51

        It may not be stolen, ios7 locks the phone to an iTunes account on activation. Many people don't clear this before selling a phone because they don't know how

        Based on the comments, no one here knows how

  • Aceboy884 on 06/01/2014 - 23:29
    +1

    personally i don't think she know it's stolen

    you have to be dead stupid to give a house address to sell a stolen phone

    if anything, they would have met you at a public place without a trace

    not a home address,

    but then again, anyone watching American Hustle will know you can always rent a place to do the trade :)

    • The Gent on 07/01/2014 - 04:38
      +4

      DAT $400 LONG-CON.

  • Scrooge McDuck on 06/01/2014 - 23:42

    Send her a letter of demand.

    If that fails, sue her in small claims court. It's quite a straight-forward process, Google it!

    • Aceboy884 on 07/01/2014 - 12:20
      -5

      you can't sue an individual without business registration.

      especially when it's a cash transaction.

  • Syd Bargain Girl on 07/01/2014 - 09:13
    +1

    Actually now that I think about it, it may not be her house. She said that she was at a different street before (near our kid's school) but now she is in a different suburb to the kids school (where I picked the phone up from) so either she moved or it is someone else's house, however she did have a small chihuahu and a kitten (both hers, as she has plastered pics of them on her public fb wall) and her two kids there at the time I picked up the phone.

    • [Deactivated] on 07/01/2014 - 16:59
      +18

      Have you considered stealing one of her children?

    • Forfiet on 23/01/2014 - 17:47

      Why does this keep sounding worse the further I go in this post…..

  • Daedalus on 07/01/2014 - 13:01
    -1

    just report it as stolen and see what happens?

    • Sick of This on 07/01/2014 - 13:28

      Such as kimmy176 getting in trouble for making a false police report? She's in possession of the phone, she can't report it as stolen.

  • Syd Bargain Girl on 07/01/2014 - 14:23
    +3

    Well I did what was suggested and asked her to reply to me (she stopped replying to me) and I said that if she didn't reply, I would report her to the police for selling stolen property. Her reply is below. I'm pulling my hair out with this woman!

    ME:
    If you don't respond I will go to the police and report it as you selling stolen property
    HER:
    Hey do not threaten me ever again I've had no credit and I got more problems I'm getting kicked out of my home behind in my rent and everything when I got the money again u can stick it up your xxxxxx xxxx.

    Try an cause xxxt for me when I got your children ur a bxxxx

    An no as if I'd sell something for that price u coming to my home knowing where I live as if I would have done this purposely !!!!!!

    Do why u otta do

    Ur real hard aye!!!!

    Ring this xxxxxxxxx take it up with my mum n back off

    • laurence on 07/01/2014 - 15:16
      +21

      I don't know why you even considered buying from her, the appalling grammar is a giveaway..

    • blitz on 07/01/2014 - 18:23
      +3

      Have you been to the police?

    • CVonC on 07/01/2014 - 23:38
      +3

      lmao she's crazy. and has the nerve to turn it back around to you too.

      just go to the police already.

      hopefully her life is as bad as she makes it out to be, or even worse.

    • Sick of This on 08/01/2014 - 10:11
      +5

      "Try an cause xxxt for me when I got your children"

      She's most probably just letting off steam in her own stupid way by saying that, but still that threat on your kids should be mentioned to the cops just in case she really does end up doing something uncool.

      My sympathy for having to deal with one of these world-owes-me ratbags.

    • Forfiet on 23/01/2014 - 17:50

      Now where is my Rosetta Stone…. I need to translate this mumbo jumbo quick!

  • xXxRoMeOxXx on 07/01/2014 - 15:08
    +2

    try to unlock yourself for free thats the way….
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V48tYnkT4QI

    • XeSSiV on 07/01/2014 - 15:20

      I was just about to post this
      Seems legit and not too difficult - worth a try?

    • andyken on 08/01/2014 - 12:12

      It wont work, if you lucky enough, it only pass the screen, once you lock, it will need activation again.

  • Syd Bargain Girl on 07/01/2014 - 19:37
    +2

    Thanks, I followed the steps but it won't work either :(
    The phone won't go into voice over mode when you get to the part where you press the home button thrice.
    Perhaps the hardware can still be usable, I could just sell it for parts and maybe get 10% back?
    I don't want to take it to the police because she seems one screw loose. She knows what suburb I live in (fairly small suburb) and she saw my car (what if she took down my number plate, finds where my car is parked and one of her bogan friends throws a brick through my home window?).

    This is just really bad on apple's part. There are so many second hand buyers that have been burned by this, from what I can see by just googling. Of course the thieves are profiting and the innocent, naive buyers are out of pocket.

    • cookie2 on 07/01/2014 - 22:12
      -7

      dont bother talking about it anymore if ur 2 scared 2 do anything about it. live in fear instead on acting.

    • anisaac on 08/01/2014 - 17:15
      +2

      Park in front of a neighbours house.

      • The Gent on 09/01/2014 - 16:14
        +1

        You're just a pillar of the community, aren't you?

  • netsurfer on 07/01/2014 - 20:29
    +2

    If you want to find out whether there is anything you can do from a legal point of view, consider visiting Community Legal Centres and get some free legal advice.

    • arcticmonkey on 08/01/2014 - 18:07
      +4

      Hasn't Tony Abbott closed them or limited their funding?

      Community services serve no purpose to the Liberals or the greedy rich.

  • Wallace on 07/01/2014 - 21:24
    +3

    "Try an cause xxxt for me when I got your children ur a bxxxx"

    THIS SOUNDS LIKE SHE'S THREATENING YOUR CHILDREN !!!

    If you don't want to involve the police then report this to the school so they can keep a lookout for your son and perhaps the school staff could help mediate.

    • Syd Bargain Girl on 08/01/2014 - 07:50
      +1

      No, I think she isn't threatening my children, she just can't use a phone (or spell) such as with auto correct, I read it as:

      Try an cause s**t for me when (I've got) children ur a bxxxh

      • Sick of This on 08/01/2014 - 16:24
        +2

        The word "your" is the difference between those two interpretations. And it's definitely there, she even managed to spell it right.

  • Brick50 on 07/01/2014 - 22:38
    +5

    Go back to her house and talk to her
    "Hello, the item you have sold me is not as described. i cannot use the product without these login details and it is useless to me. Please refund me $XX.XX"

    Don't tell her your going to turn up just do, If she threatens you remember what she said. Write it down and then contact the police. Tell her your going to contact the police about the matter and about the threats as well and i'm sure she's not going to do anything to you because the police will know who did it.

    I purchased an iPhone 4 off a forum last december, The guy barely contacted me after I sent the money and for days and days I got no replies at all about him sending it. He told me that it had been returned to the sender (he lied about this) And then told me he'd send it on the monday. Well monday a week later he still hadn't sent it. Still wouldn't reply for ages until I told him I was going to report it to the police. He then replied and apologized. Then no more words. I then told him that I have opened up a report with the police and have his name address & phone number.

    Phone turned up 2 days later via express post

    • [Deactivated] on 07/01/2014 - 23:05
      +1

      Well, there's the solution folks. I'm going to have to lock the thread now, thank-you to everybody for their contributions.

      …… sorry I just wanted to experience what that felt like

      • Brick50 on 08/01/2014 - 08:51

        Yep,

        And in my story I bought the iPhone on the 14th of Decemebr and it turned up 3 days ago

  • nimnomnimy on 08/01/2014 - 10:03
    +1

    I can unlock, activate and jailbreak it for you for $30 if you want. You can pay after I've done it

    For the noobs:
    I won't unlock a stolen phone, will check the imei and stolen registry

    I run a business, I can provide you a tax invoice too

    • Mikinoz on 08/01/2014 - 10:59
      +2

      So can you really unlock an ios7 phone thats locked to someone elses itunes account?

      • nimnomnimy on 08/01/2014 - 12:02

        Yes but there are rules to comply with apple and telcos

        • Mikinoz on 08/01/2014 - 12:26

          How?

        • nimnomnimy on 08/01/2014 - 13:58
          +3

          You need to be an apple developer and have the developer hardware hit and call telco with account number

          End users can't do it themselves , you have to be certified

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