I bought an iPhone that was reported stolen by the seller

Unless you have access to the number, there's no way. Why do you need those old numbers anyway?

Both of you have created a big mess, and you're getting stuck with all the problems. It would be best to get rid of this phone, and get a new, legitimate phone with a new account. Using stolen phones leads to nothing but trouble.

They don't see it that way. They know nothing of this transaction between you and the seller, so if the seller reported the phone stolen, you're the bad guy, at least as far as ATT is concerned. You bought a stolen phone, so it's not surprising to find out that ATT won't talk to you.

The person from whom you purchased the iPhone was most likely the one who stole it. If you have a bill of sale or a receipt you could pursue the seller through the courts, but it would end up being a civil matter rather than criminal because you received something for your money. So the police won't be able to do much other than file a report.

iLS6 wrote:

Now, att, hello! Im the bad guy from buying a phone from their own customer, who contacted me via his actual number, the one this so called stolen phone was registered to? come on bro, somebody must have a brain here, I didnt buy it from just somebody.

You do realize you could make all this go away by simply ditching the phone you stole and getting a new phone for yourself from an authorized Verizon store. ATT probably won't want you as a customer anymore, and you're now going to have a police record for dealing in stolen goods.

I'm not saying you stole the phone. I'm saying that's what ATT believes. And if ATT believes it, that's all that matters. This phone is more trouble that it's worth. If I were you, I'd just get rid of it and start fresh... What did you pay for it, btw?

Hey, I was in a Publix last week in Key Largo! Nice store, but they were out of hamburger buns.

So you're in for $252 for a broken and repaired iPhone 4, not counting the headaches. You realize a new iPhone 4 is $99?

I used to live in Florida. The Publix's are all nice stores, but I've never known them to be completely out of hamburger buns, just ones I like.

Unless you have some receipt and third-party (NOT your friends) witnesses who will attest to the seller saying thay you have no knowledge of the history of the phone, you are assumed to be part of the theft ring.

The person who reported it may not even be the seller, but the one from who the seller stole it.

You did use the phone, and called people. The phone company and police can use those numbers to find YOU.

You are in a mess.

A visit to a lawyer will help you figure out the depth of the mess. If you pay the lawyer, you are a client and what you say cannot be repeated to the police. Screw the money you paid for the phone and repairs ... that is gone.

But you need to know the right things (not lies, but how exactly how much) to say before dealing with the police.

And stop bothering ATT before you talk to the lawyer. Even if someone does believe you about the theft, ATT may not like you anymore. And it sounds like you are too young to be getting your own phone service in your own house or apartment, so I will tell you that at least 50% of the wires for telephones are controlled by ATT, and you may find yourself unable to get anything other than Verizon/Spirnt/TMobile cellular service for a very long time.

All you would've had to do was just ask the guy to sign a receipt before you gave him your money. Since he was planning to rip you off he likely would've balked and then you could've just walked away.