HI . My sister thought her iPhone was stolen and reported it to police and company she has a contract with . They sent her a new phone. Weeks later she found her old phone. Can I use this old phone ? I dont want her to get into trouble with the police as they may think she was making the whole thing up which of course she was not. How do I unlock phone ?
MAny thanks
iPhone 5c
Since it has been reported as stolen and your sister got a replacement, the carrier/provider probably deactivated the cellular services for that device.
Send it back to the provider.
1. she should report that she has it back.
2. When she still knows the Apple ID to turn off FindMyMac and the iHone password, she can clear it completely:
What to do before selling or giving away your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
3. Even if it still locked to the provider she can ask the provider to unlock it, if they do't want to do that you can put in your own sim card of that provider.
Since she reported it to the carrier, it may well be blacklisted and thus utterly useless as a cell phone. If you are in the USA that will certainly be the case as all USA carriers participate in a universal blacklisting system of devices reported as stolen or lost. Also, if the phone was replaced under a carrier insurance program, she is may be obligated to turn it in to her carrier.
Bottom line is to be sure you don't get her into trouble, she needs to contact the carrier, explain the situation and ask them if she can keep and re-use her old phone.
Michael Black wrote:
Since she reported it to the carrier, it may well be blacklisted and thus utterly useless as a cell phone.
My carrier will remove the phone from the stolen list if the original owner reactivates it on the original line. But, if there was an insurance claim involved, the owner should definitely be notifying the insurance company.
Can I use my sisters iPhone which was reported stolen? She found it after thinking it was stolen and now has a new phone
