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I bought a damaged iphone and repaired it, but it's icloud locked and reported lost. Can I be put in touch with the previous owner?

I bought a severely damaged iphone (screen missing entirely, back glass shattered and chipped away, several components missing) and repaired it, but it's icloud locked and reported lost. Can I be put in touch with the previous owner? I would like to know if they will remove the lock, and accept payment for the phone


iPhone X

Posted on Mar 23, 2021 1:42 PM

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Posted on Mar 23, 2021 5:03 PM

Apple doesn’t get involved with lost or stolen personal property, and they do not give out client information except with a court order by law enforcement to do so. Sorry you bothered to fix it, but you’ll never be able to activate and use it.

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6 replies

Mar 23, 2021 2:23 PM in response to way2aware

way2aware wrote:

I bought a severely damaged iphone (screen missing entirely, back glass shattered and chipped away, several components missing) and repaired it, but it's icloud locked and reported lost. Can I be put in touch with the previous owner? I would like to know if they will remove the lock, and accept payment for the phone

no.

Mar 23, 2021 6:18 PM in response to way2aware

Okay. Just thought I'd ask. In light of that it seems like the 'find my phone' thing isn't much good, for lost phones.

The major benefit to Find My Phone is not reuniting owners with their stolen phones. Lost? Maybe.


it's how enabling it renders the phone useless to those who end up with the phone, as you have discovered.


This has greatly reduced the value of a stolen phone and thieves know it. Their success now relies on speed and gullible people who do not question where the phone came from.


In no way am I suggesting this is you.


In the harsh reality of this world, if your device is stolen... your chances of getting it back are very very slim.

Mar 24, 2021 4:49 AM in response to LACAllen

Well this is certainly a relief! I mean, I'm very relieved that no matter how much your compulsion to launch into some strange sort of pseudo-acumen proclaiming to know:

1)the reasoning behind Apple's software and policies

2)that the phone I am asking about, here, publicly, is not lost, but instead is stolen

3)what it is that thieves know, and what their success relies upon

4)which is, of course, speed. And those gullible simpletons who just never question where the stolen property that they prefer to buy has been stolen from


makes it appear that you are in just about every way implying that this is me (otherwise, it stands to reason that you'd have posted this irrelevant sojourn into your own psychology, elsewhere, no?) ... Thankfully you aren't suggesting that it's me, who is in fact questioning where it came from, for the purpose of getting the person (who lost it if it is lost) either payment, or possibly their fully repaired phone back... in spite of the harsh reality of your world.

That is all. And good day.

I bought a damaged iphone and repaired it, but it's icloud locked and reported lost. Can I be put in touch with the previous owner?

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