iCloud (Find My Phone) - activation block

Question

iCloud (Find My Phone) - activation block

Why does Apple not retain owner information so they can contact original owner on behalf of new owner when a iPhone is purchased second hand (e.g. swap meet/boot sale) with an active "Find My Phone" (iCloud) lock? I bought a phone, not stolen. I checked with carrier, not reported stolen or on block list. The phone was purchased at swap meet (flea market). Apple says they can only see first name of previous owner. AT&T won't contact or give out previous owner information. I don't won't to talk to, contact or know anything about previous owner, just want them to remove registration from iCloud. Apple has turned my iPhone 6 into a peper weight through unfair business practices that stop me from activating a legitimately purchased phone. Does Apple offer an recourse to reolve removing the lock from a phone I purchased lawfully? If no, why not?

iPhone 6, iOS 8, activation lock

Posted on Oct 6, 2015 10:45 AM

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Answer 1

Niel

Community+ 2026

Level 10

743,555 points

Oct 6, 2015 10:48 AM in response to FamilyUsesiPhoneIUseSamsung

1. No, unless you’re the device’s original owner.

2. Because it may have gotten lost or stolen at some point.

(134521)

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Answer 2

Oct 6, 2015 10:50 AM in response to Niel

If Apple asked original owner to provide contact details, and I found out it was stolen, I would mail it to them tomorrow. I can't even do that now

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Answer 3

fromsouth

Level 5

4,945 points

Oct 6, 2015 12:43 PM in response to FamilyUsesiPhoneIUseSamsung

Apple is not legal entity - police is. Return phone to police and they will return it to original owner. Apple will assist police since police is legal entity, you are not. For ATT or Apple to provide with any information about another person/customer would also be breaking customer's confidentiality. Surely you would not want harassment calls from Middle East to unlock your stolen phone would you? According to you they have right, since their phone company would definitely tell them that phone was not stolen. If you feel that buying something at flee market makes you legal owner you should review laws about buying stolen property, surely they exist in every country.

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Answer 4

Oct 6, 2015 1:57 PM in response to fromsouth

Wow. 2 issues with your post:

1) Phone isn't stolen. I checked with AT&T and Apple, it is not listed or reported stolen, if it was, I would hand over to police. Activation Lock means phone is registered under iCloud which doesn't equate to stolen. If you read above, I don't want customers info. I want Apple to send original owner e-mail requesting owner to remove the phone from iCloud or notify Apple it is a stolen phone at which point I will give the phone to Apple to return.

2) Please don't spread your bigotry on these forums. Despite the propaganda you choose to subscribe to, people in the Middle East are not all bad people. They are like us in the US. I know this and I am from Texas. Of course, given your earlier statements, I assume you will make a comment about that too. Maybe something about Mexicans and flea markets. Just stop yourself before you generalize.

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Answer 5

fromsouth

Level 5

4,945 points

Oct 6, 2015 2:43 PM in response to FamilyUsesiPhoneIUseSamsung

Two points are wrong with your post.

1. Phone is stolen or lost. ICloud activation lock is proof of that - the owner who put that lock on didn't remove it.

2. Never said they were bad people, just the region where most of US stolen phones winds up most likely besides Korea. So bigotry from Texas is all yours.

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Answer 6

VSDTh

Level 1

5 points

Oct 6, 2015 5:46 PM in response to Niel

Hey.my sister forgot all about her appleID.if i send to apple imei and her infotmation,have apple unlock her iphone?

she is device's original owner

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Answer 7

ckuan

Level 10

120,932 points

Oct 6, 2015 5:51 PM in response to FamilyUsesiPhoneIUseSamsung

This Apple supported doc describe what your seller should do if it belongs to them in the first place.

Read here for you next purchase: What to do before selling or giving away your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

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Answer 8

fromsouth

Level 5

4,945 points

Oct 7, 2015 3:43 AM in response to VSDTh

VSDTh wrote:

Hey.my sister forgot all about her appleID.if i send to apple imei and her infotmation,have apple unlock her iphone?

she is device's original owner

Have your sister call apple with original receipt on hands.

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Answer 9

Niel

Community+ 2026

Level 10

743,555 points

Oct 7, 2015 7:13 AM in response to VSDTh

She’d need to provide the original purchase receipt; in her case, she’s probably better off regaining access to that Apple ID by using Apple’s iForgot service or contacting their Account Security team.

(134553)

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Answer 10

VSDTh

Level 1

5 points

Oct 7, 2015 7:38 AM in response to fromsouth

Thank a lot

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Answer 11

Oct 7, 2015 8:16 AM in response to FamilyUsesiPhoneIUseSamsung

It took a month, but I managed to contact the guy who sold me the phone. Turns out it was his personal phone before and he unlocked the activation. I still say this is nuts. If the guy hadn't happen to be a regular at the location, I would never had found him and I would have been out hundreds. I get need for security but there has to be some way to offer the security to the current owner while still offering solution for purchaser. I would recommend that before you lock a phone with "Find my phone" that Apple require the person locking the phone to submit contact info to Apple. Never should that data be released to the purchaser, but apple could at least be able to contact the previous owner this way. It would have saved me a month of worrying that I bought a paper weight or worst a stolen phone. Please Apple consider playing man in middle by collecting data so second hand buyers have some way to contact original owner even if through Apple as intermediary.

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