Ozzie94
Level 1 (8 points)
iPhone

Q: Found an iphone

Hi Guys,

I found an iphone in my shop and have waited more than a month for someone to return.

The owner has not returned or even tried contacting the phone...

Im guessing it was a tourist. plus the phone is still connected to a network which is an asain company and in another another language.

 

Since they are not coming back i want to know if i try restore the phone will it get rid of the passcode?

iPhone 5s, iOS 7.0.3

Posted on Aug 7, 2016 8:55 AM

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Ozzie94

Q: Found an iphone

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Aug 7, 2016 8:57 AM in response to Ozzie94
    Level 9 (58,471 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 7, 2016 8:57 AM in response to Ozzie94

    Turn it into the police.

  • by Ozzie94,

    Ozzie94 Ozzie94 Aug 7, 2016 9:00 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 7, 2016 9:00 AM in response to Meg St._Clair

    To be honest if i do what are they going to do with it if they cant contact the owner.

  • by Michael Black,

    Michael Black Michael Black Aug 7, 2016 9:08 AM in response to Ozzie94
    Level 7 (24,214 points)
    Aug 7, 2016 9:08 AM in response to Ozzie94

    A simple restore will not remove activation lock. You won't be able to do anything with it.

  • by TOBALL,

    TOBALL TOBALL Aug 7, 2016 9:11 AM in response to Ozzie94
    Level 2 (193 points)
    Aug 7, 2016 9:11 AM in response to Ozzie94

    nope the activation lock is on the appel's servers just the right owner can erase the phone

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Aug 7, 2016 9:20 AM in response to Ozzie94
    Level 9 (50,297 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 7, 2016 9:20 AM in response to Ozzie94

    Ozzie94 wrote:

     

    To be honest if i do what are they going to do with it if they cant contact the owner.

    It will save you from being the one who stole it.

  • by Bakhtina,

    Bakhtina Bakhtina Aug 7, 2016 9:21 AM in response to Ozzie94
    Level 3 (721 points)
    iCloud
    Aug 7, 2016 9:21 AM in response to Ozzie94

    1. Get the serial number.

    Find the serial number or IMEI on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch - Apple Support

     

    2. Contact the local police to see if anyone has reported this phone as lost.

     

    3. Contact the carrier to see if they can contact the original owner of the device.

     

    I don't know in which country you are and which laws apply to unclaimed lost electronic devices, but the police should tell you at step 2.

     

     

     

    Assuming no one is able to contact the original owner of the device and you get to keep it... is the iPhone usable?

     

    3 things can potentially keep you from using the iPhone :

     

    1. Blacklist : Maybe the person who lost the iPhone thinks it was stolen. They can have is blacklisted so no one can use it with any carrier.

     

    2. Activation Lock : Check https://www.icloud.com/activationlock/. If this feature is enabled on the device, you won't be able to use it, even if you erase the device, because the activation system won't let you activate it.

     

    3. Carrier lock : If the iPhone is locked to a carrier, you can ask them to unlock it (see How to unlock your iPhone for use with another carrier - Apple Support), but some carriers may not offer unlocking, especially if you are not even in the country they do business in. You could still leave the SIM card in so the phone will activate even if there is no service on that SIM card anymore. It will basically become a big iPod (no phone calls, no SMS messages).

  • by Ozzie94,

    Ozzie94 Ozzie94 Aug 7, 2016 10:15 AM in response to Michael Black
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 7, 2016 10:15 AM in response to Michael Black

    ive heard that a restore removes the password, tbh im not after the phone but seems like the owner was in holiday and left it here or would of come back long time.

  • by Ozzie94,

    Ozzie94 Ozzie94 Aug 7, 2016 10:18 AM in response to Bakhtina
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 7, 2016 10:18 AM in response to Bakhtina

    Hi thanks for you suggestions.

    The phone is fully working its connected to a carrier and internet but i cannot read the which carrier. in chinese writing or something like that.

    I dont actually need the phone but just wondered this since the owner has not contacted and can give the phone to someone in need.

  • by Michael Black,

    Michael Black Michael Black Aug 7, 2016 10:20 AM in response to Ozzie94
    Level 7 (24,214 points)
    Aug 7, 2016 10:20 AM in response to Ozzie94

    You heard wrong - it will not bypass activation lock (and activation lock would be utterly pointless if it were that simply defeated). And I'd ignore the previous advice about calling the police. The police are not going to give out any information about someone else or their property to any private citizen caller. They'll tell you the same thing - bring the device to them and they will investigate if it is reported stolen or not.  But they are not going to divulge anything to you just because you asked about it.