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how do I run a serial # on a used Mac to be certain it's not stolen

looking at buying a used MacBook Air m1 for my wife. Seller found on Facebook. no box , no receipt . I want run serial # which he gave me to be certain he's the rightful owner.

MacBook Air 13″, OS X 10.11

Posted on Aug 17, 2023 12:32 PM

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Posted on Aug 17, 2023 1:05 PM

You can check the serial number on the Apple website, but that will not have any info on stolen or not. Apple does not track stolen property.


There may be a voluntary internet registry for stolen property; I've never looked. Do a search and find out.


Other than that, you just have to be savvy about who you buy things from. Always get a a receipt will full seller information on it. If the seller is legit, there should not be any hesitation in providing the data.



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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 17, 2023 1:05 PM in response to fredfromhermosa

You can check the serial number on the Apple website, but that will not have any info on stolen or not. Apple does not track stolen property.


There may be a voluntary internet registry for stolen property; I've never looked. Do a search and find out.


Other than that, you just have to be savvy about who you buy things from. Always get a a receipt will full seller information on it. If the seller is legit, there should not be any hesitation in providing the data.



Aug 17, 2023 1:21 PM in response to fredfromhermosa

I wouldn’t touch that sale with a proverbial barge pole, not the least of which is because of Activation Lock.


Online markets are rife with offers of lost or stolen property.


Which will be useless once purchased, when Activation Lock is set.


And there is no reliable remote means to verify Activation Lock is unlocked.


Details of: Activation Lock for Mac - Apple Support


Trusted sellers only. Or if you’re willing to speculate, sellers that you can meet and check before payment.


One unfortunately common scam with used iPhone sales involves blacklisting it after the sale, too.

how do I run a serial # on a used Mac to be certain it's not stolen

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