Is it possible to use a stolen iPhone for GiveBack?

Question

Level 1

5 points

Is it possible to use a stolen iPhone for GiveBack?

Ten weeks ago, I was in a hospital in Puerto Real, Spain, were my boyfriend just arrived because he just had a terrible motorbike accident. I was totally stressed, not knowing if everything would be ok. In that same moment, in the Urgencies of the hospital, my iPhone was stolen. I found out when I went home real quick to get my boyfriend some clothes, I took my MacBook Pro with me, and noticed I couldn't find my iPhone anywhere. I opened Find My iPhone, and I saw my iPhone just leaving the hospital, while I was at home, in another city. Just in that moment the battery of my iPhone died.

Now, I'm looking to buy a new iPhone, and I noticed the GiveBack option, I entered the serial number of my stolen iPhone, and Apple didn't say that the iPhone was reported stolen. So, my question is, is it possible that Apple actually has my stolen iPhone because someone used it to buy a new iPhone with a 250EU discount?

iPhone 7, iOS 12

Posted on May 4, 2019 4:18 AM

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Answer 1

kb1951

Level 10

126,173 points

May 4, 2019 5:06 AM in response to scfreeling

Apple would not take a phone for trade in that could not be erased. If you had a passcode lock on your phone, that would prevent anyone from being able to erase your phone. See here for help with a stolen phone https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201472

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Answer 2

kb1951

Level 10

126,173 points

May 4, 2019 5:39 AM in response to scfreeling

Hackers may be smart, but they have not found a way past a phone passcode or activation lock.

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Answer 3

scfreeling Author

Level 1

5 points

May 4, 2019 5:10 AM in response to scfreeling

I just got off the phone with Apple Support.

Because of the privacy of the thief they can and will not look for my stolen iPhone.

So if you're looking for a cheap iPhone, just steal one, use Apple CashBack and you get a big, fat discount on your new phone. Have fun with it.

I hope the thief of my iPhone has a beautiful, brand new iPhone and enjoys his privacy.

At least my boyfriend is still alive.

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Answer 4

scfreeling Author

Level 1

5 points

May 4, 2019 5:14 AM in response to kb1951

I'm sure there are ways to do this, even if you don't know the code. Hackers are very smart nowadays. Anyway, there is no way to find out for me, since Apple won't help me because of the privacy of the thief.

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Answer 5

kb1951

Level 10

126,173 points

May 4, 2019 5:59 AM in response to scfreeling

In the U.S. a few years ago, the FBI spent millions trying to get into an iPhone without success. So, with all of the computer experts helping them without success, I don’t thing any hacker could do it either

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Answer 6

scfreeling Author

Level 1

5 points

May 4, 2019 5:45 AM in response to kb1951

I hope you're right!

I prefer to think that the thief of my iPhone stole something useless (to him), then it'd just be karma for stealing a phone in the Emergencies of a hospital.

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