Can I get in trouble for buying a stolen iPhone?


You can be arrested for receiving stolen property. Then call the police and report them if you like. Yes, if the phone is stolen and you are caught with it, you would be in possession of stolen property. Receiving stolen property is a crime, whether it's a phone, a TV, a car, etc.

What if you buy stolen iPhone?

As soon as you think it's stolen you need to call the police on 101 or take the item to your local police station. They'll try to return it to its original owner. You shouldn't keep the item or return it to the seller yourself – this might be considered ‘handling stolen goods', which is illegal.

Can a stolen iPhone still be used?

Even if your ‌iPhone‌ is fully erased, the person who has it can't use it. Activation Lock stays on and there is no way to bypass it. As soon as the ‌iPhone‌ boots up, it asks for an ‌Apple ID‌ and password and it won't go past the activation screen without the information.

Can stolen iPhone be sold?

Once you exhausted all efforts to find the owner on the device, check with the police to see if it has been reported stolen or is needed for evidence. If all is clear with the authorities, you do have the option of selling it or even unlocking it and using it yourself.

Does a stolen iPhone get blacklisted?

An iPhone can become blacklisted for any number of reasons, including if the previous owner has unsettled bills or if someone reported it as stolen or lost. A blacklisted device cannot get connected to any wireless carrier unless it becomes un-blacklisted.

Can stolen iPhone be sold?

Once you exhausted all efforts to find the owner on the device, check with the police to see if it has been reported stolen or is needed for evidence. If all is clear with the authorities, you do have the option of selling it or even unlocking it and using it yourself.

Can you go to jail for buying stolen goods without knowing?

It is a crime and is punishable by law – so too is the receiving of such suspected stolen goods.

How do police find stolen iPhones?

Look for your device on a map To find your device, sign in to iCloud.com/find. Or use the Find My app on another Apple device that you own. If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch doesn't appear in the list of devices, Find My was not turned on. But you can still protect your account if Find My was not turned on.

Can I use a iPhone I found?

If you find a lost iPhone, Activation Lock will prevent you from using it if it's protected by Apple's Find My service. It's essentially a paperweight for as long as you have it in your possession. So don't expect to use an iPhone you've found.

Can a stolen iPhone be permanently disabled?

The “Find My iPhone” application aims to thwart unwanted phone usage, and your cell phone provider can always deactivate your device. If your iPhone has a SIM card, the thief can easily disable “Find My iPhone” by removing the card, so it is important to locate the phone as soon as possible.

Are iPhones tracked by police?

Can Police Track Your Phone? The police won't track your phone without reason, but they can access your device's location history in an emergency or if they suspect criminal activity.

What happens if I buy a blacklisted phone?

If you choose to keep a device with a blacklisted number, you will most likely not be able to use cellular services. In other words, you will not be able to use your device as a phone. However, you will still have the ability to play music, movies, or games.

Can you Unblacklist a stolen phone?

Only the owner who reported the phone lost or stolen can request to remove an IMEI block. If the seller was not responsible for blacklisting the phone, contact your mobile phone service provider.

Can stolen iPhone be sold?

Once you exhausted all efforts to find the owner on the device, check with the police to see if it has been reported stolen or is needed for evidence. If all is clear with the authorities, you do have the option of selling it or even unlocking it and using it yourself.

What to do if you bought a stolen phone?

This is easy. First, contact the seller and tell them to Refund your purchase price in full, as you are Thinking about taking the matter to the police. Second, then report the matter to the police right away.

What happens if you buy something that turns out to be stolen?

If you purchased a stolen good online without knowing it was stolen, you won't likely face any criminal charges. The law typically gives a break to those who unknowingly buy goods from a thief. If you find out at a later time that the item you purchased was stolen, you should report the activity to police officials.

Can you keep something you bought that you later found out was stolen?

If you have received stolen property, you could be charged with a crime in California. Under California Penal Code Section 496, it is illegal to buy or receive stolen property.

Can police trace an Apple ID?

Unless they have the passcode or a suspect unlocks the device for them, there is nothing at all that either law enforcement or Apple can retrieve from the device.

Can police track iPhone IMEI number?

Its operational use aside, the IMEI number can help network providers track down a device in case it gets stolen or is lost.

Can I sell a locked iPhone I found?

You may be able to sell your carrier-locked iPhone as long as it is legally yours. If your iPhone is currently locked to a network, it is legal to sell it even if you still owe money on the phone contract. Most networks do not want the phone back if you can't pay your bill or decide to sell it.

Can a stolen iPhone be reset?

It can't be factory reset without information the user won't have. Anyone can use iTunes or finder to erase a device. There is no way to stop anyone from doing that.

Can an iPhone be tracked after factory reset?

Method 3: Use iCloud to Find Your Lost iPhone Even When It's Powered Off/ Factory Reset. You can also use iCloud's website to track your lost iPhone even if it has been powered off or doesn't have enough battery backup.

What do thieves do with stolen phones?

Some thieves will use the information they find on phones (such as photos, texts or emails), then use it to hold the original owner to ransom. The best thing to do is to remotely wipe your phone as soon as you find out it's stolen – this can be achieved with apps such as Find My Device (free – Android and iOS).

Can a stolen iPhone be used with a new SIM card?

The iPhone has a unique Device ID (including the IMEI, MEID, ICCID, EID, SEID, and serial number). Replacing the SIM does not change the Device ID. You will not be able to activate the phone on a carrier network or get past the Activation Lock.

Why don t people steal iphones?

That's because the iPhone or any other Apple device is linked to a user's Apple ID and without access to this, the device is practically unusable for a thief. With an iPhone, there is a much more complicated process than stealing an Android device, simply replacing the SIM card and resetting the phone.

Can you get a warrant for an iPhone?

Usually, iPhones have pretty good technology, where unless they have your passcode, the police and prosecutors cannot get into your iPhone. So, they can get a search warrant, which they are required to do if they want to search your iPhone, but most of the time they are not able to do that.