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Apple ID is diffrent from mine? Bricked iPhone

I bought a second hand iPhone 4s. When got it, some of the last owners data was still left on it, i went into settings and started changing some of it. When i got to the option about iCloud data, I typed in my e-mail and password, after all i decided to wipe the iPhone, when I wiped it i filled in the information such as the language, location and wi-fi and it asked me to log into icloud, but the email that was linked with the iPhone wasn't mine, I now cant log in 😟

Please Help, should i take it to my nearest apple store?

iPhone 4S, iOS 7.0.4

Posted on Feb 20, 2014 6:07 AM

32 replies

Feb 20, 2014 6:52 AM in response to TJBUSMC1973

The owner told me that he found the iPhone and the original owner and couldn't have been contacted after 2 months. When i got the iPhone it was only Passcode locked.. i managed to break the code and get into the iphone, the user didn't have much on it a part from a couple of photos, mostly took in Asia, im guessing the person came over on holiday and lost it? I still don't get why the Apple ID that i entered didn't work on the actication. So what should i do? Let's just say the iphone was stolen, should i hand it to the police? keep it? or sell it?

Feb 20, 2014 6:54 AM in response to TJBUSMC1973

Oh right sorry, its a white iphone 4s alothough it was listed as iphone 4, in white, 16gb and i paid 70 for it.

deggie

Level 10

167,177 points

Feb 20, 2014 6:57 AM in response to PolishGingerTom

Because Find My iPhone on that device was activated by the person who had it before you and they never turned it off.

deggie

Level 10

167,177 points

Feb 20, 2014 6:59 AM in response to PolishGingerTom

Whether lost or stolen (and I'd lean towards stolen) you won't be able to use it.

Feb 20, 2014 6:59 AM in response to deggie

Don't you require the password to turn it off though? The original owners Apple ID

deggie

Level 10

167,177 points

Feb 20, 2014 7:01 AM in response to PolishGingerTom

The original owner can log into iCloud and disable Find My iPhone for that device. You don't have to have their password.

Feb 20, 2014 7:02 AM in response to deggie

Why would they do that though? Wouldn't they want to find it?

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,675 points

Feb 20, 2014 7:02 AM in response to PolishGingerTom

PolishGingerTom wrote:

The owner told me that he found the iPhone and the original owner and couldn't have been contacted after 2 months.

Which makes them guilty of "Larceny by finding" and makes you guilty of receiving stolen property.

deggie

Level 10

167,177 points

Feb 20, 2014 7:04 AM in response to PolishGingerTom

Yes, they would want to find it but the thief you bought it from turned it off so they could not find the device. The original owner then moved on and replaced their phone and left Find My iPhone active so they could find it if it turned up and prevent anyone else from using it.