Stolen iPhone found text message sent to an old iPhone

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Stolen iPhone found text message sent to an old iPhone

Three days ago I had my iPhone 14 stolen.

I went to my network provider Vodafone in Oxford St, London who cancelled the SIM. Then I went to the Apple Store in Regent St, London who helped me change my Apple ID password and sorted me out with a replacement iPhone 14. I have reported the theft to the police.

My stolen iPhone is still showing on 'Find My', with 'Erase Pending'.

But last night my wife received a text message on her iPhone, which was an old iPhone 12 that I erased and gave to her last year, saying that my iPhone had been found and to click on a link (which obviously we didn't).

But how did the scammers get access to my wife's phone number to send the message to? I assume they really waned to send it to me?

Thanks

[Image Edited by Moderator]

iPhone 14 Pro Max

Posted on May 14, 2023 12:12 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

SravanKrA

Community+ 2024

Level 10

413,956 points

May 14, 2023 1:04 AM in response to cj1739

Don'ts

If the device is removed from an account after it is erased, Activation Lock will be turned off. This allows another person to turn on and use the device.

An example of my iPhone 5 is given in the GIF below. There is no "Undo" after you remove it from your account.

Find IMEI & Serial No. of the Lost Device

You may use a web browser to get the Serial Number and the IMEI Number. You cannot track using the IMEI number. but you may need it so keep it handy

Log in to https://appleid.apple.com with your Apple ID credentials. All your devices will be listed there. Click on any to get the details.

Do's, If you had enabled "Find My" before it was lost

Mark As Lost.
Erase your device. If your missing device is covered by AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss, you shouldn't erase your device. Instead, file a claim for your lost or stolen device.

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Answer 2

May 14, 2023 1:04 AM in response to cj1739

Switched Off? Still traceable

Even if the iPhone is switched off it is findable, see the pic below.

Device Offline?

I see my device in Find My, but it's offline

If you see "Offline," "No location available," or "Location Services Off," your device might be offline for one of these reasons:

Don't see your device?

You might not have Find My turned on.
If you're using the Find My app, you can't see your device's location if more than 7 days have passed since its last location was sent to Apple.
If you're using iCloud.com/find, you can't see your device's location if it's powered off, the battery has run out, or more than 24 hours has passed since its last location was sent to Apple.
Learn how you can still protect your information.

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Answer 3

May 14, 2023 1:04 AM in response to cj1739

Beware of Phishing!

Be careful and be smart to --> Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phoney support calls ...

Note: Apple will never send you any info on Lost/Found iPhones. It (Phishing) may appear as the image given below.

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Answer 4

cj1739 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 14, 2023 1:37 AM in response to SravanKrA

Hello SravanKrA and thanks for your responses.

At the moment on Find My the stolen iPhone is showing as 'Erase pending..." which I assume will happen if the phone ever gets tuned on. There is a red trash bin symbol next to the message. Is this ok? Or should I cancel this?

Also, do you have any idea how the scammers got access to my wife's phone number (she uses my old iPhone 11) to send her message? I assume they really waned to send it to me?

Thanks again

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Stolen iPhone found text message sent to an old iPhone

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