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Someone sold me a stolen iPad

i have an iPad I bought for 200 a year ago. Turns out I was fooled and it was stolen. Anyway to contact original owner to either buy back iPad or remove the activation lock or should I just throw this thing away?

Posted on Jun 18, 2021 1:31 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 18, 2021 2:13 AM

As described, the iPad is useless to you. Unless you have the means to independently trace the original owner yourself, unless the iPad is showing contact information on the screen, you have precisely zero chance of receiving assistance in tracing the owner.


Here are the Apple support pages that outline the Activation Lock - and the only mechanisms by which it can be turned off:

Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Turn off Activation Lock – Apple Support


As you will discover, unless you are the owner of the AppleID that was last used to activate the device, you’ll not be able to defeat or bypass the Activation Lock. With documentary evidence that you are the original owner (such as sales receipt showing the serial number), Apple may be prepared to assist - otherwise they and nobody here will be able to help you.


Please don’t throw away the iPad. Instead, pleas return the iPad to an Apple Store for responsible recycling. If you don’t have a nearby store, Apple will send a prepaid shipping container free of charge.

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 18, 2021 2:13 AM in response to RyTheLion

As described, the iPad is useless to you. Unless you have the means to independently trace the original owner yourself, unless the iPad is showing contact information on the screen, you have precisely zero chance of receiving assistance in tracing the owner.


Here are the Apple support pages that outline the Activation Lock - and the only mechanisms by which it can be turned off:

Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Turn off Activation Lock – Apple Support


As you will discover, unless you are the owner of the AppleID that was last used to activate the device, you’ll not be able to defeat or bypass the Activation Lock. With documentary evidence that you are the original owner (such as sales receipt showing the serial number), Apple may be prepared to assist - otherwise they and nobody here will be able to help you.


Please don’t throw away the iPad. Instead, pleas return the iPad to an Apple Store for responsible recycling. If you don’t have a nearby store, Apple will send a prepaid shipping container free of charge.

Someone sold me a stolen iPad

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