Found iPhone. How to find the owner.

Question

Level 1

27 points

Found iPhone. How to find the owner.

We found an iPhone 6S Plus. It has an activation lock on it, stating it was lost and erased. How can I find the owner to return this phone? I've called Apple, who told me that there was no contact information associated with the IMEI number. I've also called AT&T (according to the SIM card), who said that they can't pull up,account information, unless the owner is there or authorizes it. It seems ridiculous that someone that is trying to be honest and return such an expensive item to its rightful owner, can't get anyone to help them. I'm not looking for them to give me the owner information. I want them (Apple or AT&T) to contact the owner and pass along my information to them.

Posted on Nov 1, 2016 9:57 AM

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Answer 1

Mrsdaysie Author

Level 1

27 points

Nov 1, 2016 6:02 PM in response to KiltedTim

I didn't want the owners information, which is exactly what I said in my post. I know about privacy laws.

Please tell me how you know that someone with AT&T wouldn't try to contact the owner and/ or pass along my contact information.

I'm trying to do the right thing here, with an expensive product, and would appreciate some actual help, instead of what sounds like criticism to me.

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Answer 2

Nov 11, 2017 1:12 AM in response to Mrsdaysie

I got a iPhone from this guy Thursday an I think he sold me a iPhone that belongs to somebody

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Answer 3

KiltedTim

Level 10

224,892 points

Nov 1, 2016 10:01 AM in response to Mrsdaysie

Turn it over to the police. No one (Apple, AT&T, etc.) will provide that information to you. Doing so would violate numerous privacy laws.

Apple won't do anything with it. AT&T would be the only ones who could, assuming the IMEI was registered on their network. They will not pass along your information to the person it was registered to. They may be able to return it to the owner if you give it to AT&T. If they say they can't do that, there is nothing more to do.

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Answer 4

Nov 1, 2016 10:23 AM in response to Mrsdaysie

Before you do anything with that phone, think. How often would someone who has lost their phone both remotely wipe it and not leave instructions to recover it? From my background, I wouldnt be surprised if no one went to retrieve it.

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Answer 5

Jonathan UK

Level 10

164,015 points

Nov 1, 2016 6:04 PM in response to Mrsdaysie

As previously advised, the best course of action is to hand the iPhone in to the police.

If the owner has reported it lost or stolen, the police may be able to reunite them with it, including by reference to the IMEI.

Apple does not operate a lost and found service for any Apple device.

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Answer 6

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,291 points

Nov 1, 2016 6:04 PM in response to Mrsdaysie

Please re-read Tim's post. No where did he criticize you. He said they may be able to return it to the owner if you bring the device to them and let them handle it. They would not provide your information to the device owner, for the same reasons that have been discussed. Check back with AT&T. They are your only chance, unless you turn it in to the police.

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Answer 7

Nov 11, 2017 2:24 AM in response to Mrsdaysie

I found an iPad once that had the battery dead. I charged it up and when I turned it on I found the owners info and it did state it was erased. That info included a phone number so I called the person and told them I was in possession of their iPad and offered to give it back to them. We set a meeting place in a Starbucks and I gave them back their iPad. I was offered compensation for it, but I refused. We talked over coffee and I made a new friend because of that. She did restore it to it's condition before she lost it. So yes I can understand your frustration, but that lock screen should've included a phone number. Or any piece of info that you could use to contact them.

Guess people need to be less careless about stuff.

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Answer 8

Jonathan UK

Level 10

164,015 points

Nov 1, 2016 10:00 AM in response to Mrsdaysie

Hi

Hand the iPhone in to the police.

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