Activation Lock (I know, I know)

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Level 1

9 points

Activation Lock (I know, I know)

I do repairs for a local shop. Mostly laptops, small engines, tools, tvs... etc. Basically anything they are trying to sell that is not working correctly.

They purchased an Ipad 4. It was not locked at the time of purchasing, but it did have an icloud account on it. I have read countless threads, articles and all sorts of oddities about this system and I understand its purpose. Theft deterrent.

Someone decided, "It would be best for whoever sold it to us if I wiped it, instead of selling it with their gmail, facebook, whatever, all loaded on there". They did not remove the iCloud account.

This is the part I am aware of... what will be said "That is their fault for not having the person remove it before purchase!".

It was a loan, they stopped paying said loan. In terms of a loan situation, they cannot wipe the device as it does not belong to them until the contract is up.

That said, Shops in this area are required, by law, to maintain every item purchased in a police run database. There is even a division specifically tasked for monitoring these places for stolen goods. I have met them and even talked to them about this device. I contacted my local police department as well and gave them the serial number of the device.... if it was stolen, I have done my due diligence to attempt a return to the person. If I *hand* it over to local police (they don't want it and have told me so) it will be tossed into a bin for auctioning off... they have no more information about it than we do.

So... rant over... here is the question.... Is there *ANY* system in place that would possibly allow Apple to email the iCloud user for me? If I could just pop the serial number into some system and click submit... it would reach out to iCloud account on file and say "This person has your iDevice. If you sold it legitimately, please log into your iCloud and remove it. Otherwise, here is some avenue for retrieving it".

I get it... I really do... the theft deterrent aspects of this have reduced the number of stolen devices.... its a handy system... that said, there are cases where it leaves someone or some company up a creek... so to speak. I am not asking for help in bypassing the activation lock... nor anything illegal.. just to see if I missed some process that could help (I called apple support too). I am also just venting a bit... I find it irritating. Before they tried to wipe it, I at least could have gotten the email address thats tied to the thing... now all I have is C**********@gmail.com...

/grumble

iPad, iOS 8.2, Ipad 4 wifi only

Posted on Jul 12, 2015 2:10 PM

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Answer 1

lazloH1057 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 12, 2015 6:03 PM in response to lazloH1057

Pete.. I concur... and as a result that store has better practices in place. Like I said... I just fix the stuff... I don't run the store. Its already been taken as a loss. I personally know better than to do something bone-headed like this... but they are limited by their knowledge and by other things.

That said... there are struct rules in place as mandated by law for shops like this. If they take a computer in on loan, they will ask for the admin password... but they are not allowed to wipe the computer or change anything on it... as it is not technically their computer to do so.

Its the same with iDevices. Lets say I bring my iPhone into their shop and ask for a loan. They hand me 100 bucks and my phone gets to sit there until I pay it off with interest. Say I decide "forget those clowns... I aint payin".. and remote lock it with iCloud, or even just change the password... straight out of luck.

It happens... ive seen it happen. And trust me.. I have read every post you could possibly imagine where everyone says the same exact thing.. "It's the shops fault for not knowing better!" That is honestly a bunch of horse-pucky.... A company like Apple cannot honestly rely on its user base to keep apprised of all of their changes and policies. Again.. I am a techie.. I know better... and I would never let this happen if I ran that shop or any shop.... I just get paid to fix stuff as a side business.. (honestly.. its mostly just for fun.. don't need the small amount of income... I just like learning how things go together and would otherwise never take apart a 55 inch plasma samsung TV... haha)

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Answer 2

lazloH1057 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 12, 2015 2:32 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

I had hoped it would be apparent that I know how the device unlock works. My point/rant/complaint is that I have a device that *IS* in fact useless to me.... with absolutely 0 options. I have no skin in this device... I know better than to buy something like this.... the kids that work in this shop did not.

I am aware that Apple will not assist in removing the iCloud Activation lock and I even mentioned that I am not asking anyone to do that (other than the account on the thing).... I am just asking for a method to reach out to the previous owner... (even using Apple as proxy so that no customer information will be shared). So that there will be no changes to the existing system, and the small percentage of cases where there is a legitimate case can be remedied.

I would be willing the venture a guess that there is a larger number of legitimate cases than you would imagine. I had one from a different shop that had not been wiped but still had an account on it. When I reached out to the guy, he responded with "I will unlock it... for 100 bucks". Thanks for the extortion attempt... ( we got that one unlocked with some local help from the law as a result )

It just ***** that I don't have an option... and this thing is a brick as a result.

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Answer 3

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,351 points

Jul 12, 2015 2:14 PM in response to lazloH1057

lazloH1057 wrote:

So... rant over... here is the question.... Is there *ANY* system in place that would possibly allow Apple to email the iCloud user for me? If I could just pop the serial number into some system and click submit... it would reach out to iCloud account on file and say "This person has your iDevice. If you sold it legitimately, please log into your iCloud and remove it. Otherwise, here is some avenue for retrieving it".

There is no system in place. Apple will not assist with removing the iCloud Activation Lock on any device unless requested by the original owner. If you do not have the information for contacting the owner, then the device is useless to you. Your only option is to contact the owner and ask them to remove the device from their iCloud account. They do not have to have the device in their position, they can do that from a computer at home.

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Answer 4

kb1951

Level 10

126,161 points

Jul 12, 2015 3:02 PM in response to lazloH1057

As noted and as you know, you need the prior owner to unlock it. I have seen some suggestions to activate Siri and ask who owns the device. That may give you some information. Apple will not help in this situation. If the store that received this item doesn't have any way to contact the owner, then there is nothing further you can do. Then it is a brick and useless to anyone.

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Answer 5

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,351 points

Jul 12, 2015 3:02 PM in response to lazloH1057

Apple will not assist in contacting the previous owner. It is a privacy issue. I guess I wasn't very clear in that when I said Apple wouldn't help. I never said you didn't know what you were talking about, so I guess it all is some miscommunications.

With Activation Lock in place, the only time Apple will intervene is with the original owner bringing in the original proof of purchase to a physical Apple Store and requesting assistance. Apple will not assist others in trying to remove the lock, and there is no other system in place to remove the lock.

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Answer 6

petermac87

Level 5

7,453 points

Jul 12, 2015 3:06 PM in response to lazloH1057

You need to change your store practices and have the owner remove the device from iCloud and sign out from their Apple ID BEFORE accepting the device and train your staff in this practice. Take the loss of that one device as a lesson.

Cheers

Pete

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Answer 7

lazloH1057 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 12, 2015 6:05 PM in response to lazloH1057

And Chris.. I understand the privacy issue.. that is why I said "contact the previous owner by proxy through Apple"

I already get a million emails from Apple a day... they know who I am. Let THEM email the person. That way I never end up seeing who owned it, just a basic web form with an entry for a serial number.

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Answer 8

lazloH1057 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 12, 2015 6:10 PM in response to lazloH1057

if you want to see great privacy issues... go buy any computer from a shop like this... or any phone.

9 times out of 10, it still has someones info on it.. including their email... which is just absolutely frightening when you think about it.

How many systems have a forgot password link that just mail it to you? (give you a hint... iCloud).

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Answer 9

Skydiver119

Level 9

53,501 points

Jul 12, 2015 6:22 PM in response to lazloH1057

Your only real option could be to run an ad in the paper....with the stipulation 'if you are the owner, provide us the serial number/iCloud unlock code to prove ownership' and hope someone reads the paper....that or it may be good for spare parts.

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Answer 10

lazloH1057 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 13, 2015 4:50 AM in response to Skydiver119

I like the thought in terms of alternative problem solving means... As someone who is up on news, I can honestly not tell you the last time I looked at a newspaper... :-D

I think its important mostly that the issue be presented some how to Apple... even if it is just their forum... in hopes that they will listen.

they cant listen if we don't talk.

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Answer 11

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,351 points

Jul 13, 2015 6:26 AM in response to lazloH1057

lazloH1057 wrote:

And Chris.. I understand the privacy issue.. that is why I said "contact the previous owner by proxy through Apple"

I already get a million emails from Apple a day... they know who I am. Let THEM email the person. That way I never end up seeing who owned it, just a basic web form with an entry for a serial number.

I believe the main reason that Apple does not get involved in this stuff, except for the original owner coming into the physical Apple Store is similar to the scenario that you presented about the loan. Who is to say that you contacting Apple and requesting they contact the original owner is some other ploy. I can understand their reluctance to act as a proxy or a notification service. You have the option to try and contact Apple, I just don't believe it is going to go your way. Given the fact that these types of kill switches are going to be mandated on all electronic devices in the very near future in the US, it will only get worse, if you want to call it that. There will be more devices in this condition. Can you imagine, given the amount of this we read about and double it for the amount we don't read about, where Apple would be inundated with these types of email requests. I just don't see a manufacturer getting involved in this. This is my opinion, and you don't have to agree with it, I just provided it.

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