I bought an iPhone that is locked to owner, is there something I can do?

aluz74 wrote:

Thank you, i tried thru apple site, didn't get luck, they say that it's not possible, I will try going to a physical store and ask, because the invoice has the imei and its a proof of sell. I'm pretty sure that the phone was not stolen, and if it was, I would like to return it to the owner.

It will unfortunately be a waste of your time to go to an Apple Store. Stores do not unlock iPhones for people And even if you have a receipt, it would need to be the original purchase receipt from Apple or an actual Authorized Seller, which clearly shows the serial number of the iPhone on it. The team you contacted at Apple is the team who unlock phones and they have already told you no.

Apple also won't help you reunite the phone with the owner who locked the phone. They maintain a strict policy of never getting involved in lost or stolen devices. And sad to say, but you have most assuredly purchased a stolen iPhone if you have no way to contact the seller. I wrote the user tip about the Sad Reality of Buying Used devices above and we see people like you here daily who made unfortunate buying decisions.

You will find the phone is useless to you or anyone else forever and the best thing you can do with it is recycle it responsibly. Apple WILL do that for you at least.

I would say the easiest way to find out would be to try. Apple doesn't say one way or the other if the receipt has to be in your name, just that you should keep it. Unlike other people who have responded, I would think that it would be extremely unlikely that a thief would have the device and the receipt for its purchase from Apple, hence your having the receipt should be acceptable. Only Apple can say.

Apple can completely reset a device if a person can provide sufficient evidence of valid ownership. Do this online at: Activation Lock support request - https://al-support.apple.com/#/additional-support Apple says, "Proof of ownership documentation is required," but does not detail what currently constitutes proof. Prior to this new online service Apple typically required the original receipt issued by Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller and documented provenance (so typically it would be the original owner who does this, or a descendant with legal proof of ownership). This will give you access to the device but won't restore access to the account used to lock it. There is nothing that can be done to expedite an Activation Lock request.

Apple recommends you "Keep your receipt after you buy an Apple device" --> Keep your receipt after you buy an Apple device - Apple Support

P.S. I'll add that a person might just be able to change their name on their account to match that on a receipt, so again just having a receipt regardless of name should be sufficient.

Do let us know if it works for you!

You need to open an Item Not As Described on eBay. They know who the seller is and can force a refund.

The receipt very likely has to be from Apple itself, or an authorized Apple vendor. A receipt from anybody else will probably be rejected.

IMEI plays no role in this. It is proof of nothing.

aluz74 wrote:

Hello, i have a question.

I bought an iPhone 12 mini on ebay that was not working, the person in question said that it had no icloud on, but he send the purchase invoice together, result, I fixed the iphone but guess what, locked to owner, my question is, with the invoice I can or cannot ask Apple to unlock it with the invoice? The phone was not stolen, only I cannot find the person who sold it to me.

Thanks

Probably not since purchase receipt isn't under your name.

You've been duped if you can't get a hold of the seller.

report them to ebay.

It is a big gamble purchasing a used device over the internet. Activation Lock is just one of the problems you could encounter.

The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community

I do not see Apple unlocking the phone with a receipt that does not have your name on it.

KiltedTim wrote:

Return it and get your money back. If the seller refuses, file a claim under the eBay buyer protection program. The seller lied about the state of the device in regards to activation lock.

I think we may have a case of "seller refuses." The OP said

The phone was not stolen, only I cannot find the person who sold it to me.

So the seller stayed on eBay only long enough to dump the Activation Locked phone, then became impossible to contact? I might be too untrusting, but if I was the OP, I'd be rethinking the assumption that "The phone was not stolen".

Return it and get your money back. If the seller refuses, file a claim under the eBay buyer protection program. The seller lied about the state of the device in regards to activation lock.

Not too untrusting in the least. We see this all the time, often multiple times every day. eBay, Facebook Marketplace and Offer Up are three of the absolute worst places out there one can buy used devices from. eBay may not offer any buyer protection if the seller account is closed, which I'd be willing to bet it is.

Sorry you had to learn an unfortunate lesson. Do read my user tip about buying used devices and if you ever think you might again, don't buy one you can't see in person was prepared correctly for a new user (they open to the Hello Page if they have been prepared appropriately) and never from someone you don't know. Apple has a Refurbished store where you can not only get a good deal on a used iPhone, but it comes with a new battery and screen and on year warranty too boot.

Certified Refurbished Products - Apple