What if you buy stolen iPhone?


If you do not know the required information, are not the signed-in owner, or do not have Apple accepted proof of purchase, get the owner of the account to remove the lock, or return the device for a refund, or recycle the device. The device is otherwise useless to you.Here are some potential scenarios that could occur if you purchase a stolen iPhone:
1. The phone could be blacklisted: If the original owner reports the iPhone as stolen, the carrier may blacklist the device. …
2. Legal repercussions: Depending on the circumstances of the purchase, buying a stolen iPhone could be considered a criminal offense. …

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Can a stolen iPhone ever be used?

So long as the stolen iPhone is still listed as a device in your Find My iPhone app, it cannot be unlocked and used until your Apple ID and password have been entered or until the iPhone has been removed from your Find My iPhone account.

Does a stolen iPhone get blacklisted?

Apple doesn't put devices on any blacklist. Cellular carriers or individuals who report their phone stolen do.

Will Apple give you a new iPhone if stolen?

Apple will only replace an iPhone if you had AppleCare+ theft and loss plan, and you had “Find My” turned on in that device. Without AppleCare theft and loss Apple will not replace the device. And just a side note, Apple doesn't replace it, the insurance does.

What usually happens to stolen iPhones?

Sell iPhone parts in secondary market If the burglars can't retrieve iPhone data, they dismantle the iOS device and sell each part in the secondary market.

Can stolen iPhone be reset?

If your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or Apple Watch is lost or stolen, you can erase it in Find Devices on iCloud.com. To sign in to Find Devices, go to icloud.com/find.

Can a stolen iPhone be tracked after factory reset?

So yes, even after doing a factory reset, it can still be tracked. If you are the owner, you can remotely erase the phone to keep your data from being stolen and you will still be able to find your device using Find My.

Can Apple block my IMEI number?

No, Apple does not get involved with lost or stolen phones. But, you can lock the phone so it cannot be used. And, you can call your carrier to have them blacklist the phone.

Does Apple track stolen products?

You can check the serial number on the Apple website, but that will not have any info on stolen or not. Apple does not track stolen property.

How do I block my stolen iPhone?

Say the phone is stolen, and you want to take action: Go to http://www.apple.com/icloud on another device and open the FindMy app. From the app, you get an option to completely erase all the information on the phone, and in turn, the phone locks up, and can only be used again by typing in your Apple ID and password.

How much do I need to pay if I lost my iPhone?

how much will it cost to replace if I have apple care? If you did buy Apple Care with Loss and Theft coverage, and the stolen iPhone is the XR in your tag line, the deductible for it is $229 in the U.S. Prices vary by country.

Can a reported stolen phone still be used on WiFi?

Yes, any smart phone can use WiFi. It is blacklisted against using mobile networks only.

Is it possible to unlock a locked iPhone?

Only your carrier can unlock your iPhone. Contact them and request an unlock. After you submit the request, it might take a few days to complete. Contact your carrier to check the status of your request.

Can I use an iPhone I found?

Make Contact or Hand It In. 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.

Is it possible to unlock a locked iPhone?

Only your carrier can unlock your iPhone. Contact them and request an unlock. After you submit the request, it might take a few days to complete. Contact your carrier to check the status of your request.

Is it better to lock or erase a stolen iPhone?

With Activation Lock, a passcode, and Lost Mode, an ‌iPhone‌ is essentially locked down, but erasing data can give peace of mind if you lose a device you don't expect to get back. If you do have to erase your ‌iPhone‌, it may still be locatable through ‌Find My‌ even after it's wiped because of Activation Lock.

Can an iPhone be tracked if iCloud is signed out?

Can I still track it even though it may not be signed on to my iCloud anymore? If it is offline, it's not trackable. A device needs to be powered on and connected to the internet to be trackable.

Can police find anything if the iPhone is factory reset?

If you factory reset your iPhone 13 Pro, it generally makes it very difficult for anyone, including the police, to retrieve your erased data. Factory resetting your device erases the data on the phone by overwriting it with random data, making it highly unlikely to be recovered using standard methods.

Can a lost or stolen phone be activated?

A stolen phone can not typically be activated. That doesn't mean that there aren't ways to do it regardless. There are people out there that can change the IMEI to one that isn't on the blacklist as well as the possibility of activating it in a different country.

What happens to an iPhone when the IMEI is blocked?

If the IMEI is blocked, you'll not be able to use Cellular services with any Carrier. Only the Carrier that registered the IMEI block can remove it.

Can you unlock a blacklisted phone?

You could but it is kinda risky, to be fair i'd just unlock it directly with the carrier or a third party tool. If you change the IMEI there's always a chance your device might be useless afterwards. I had two devices that were blacklisted and this is how I managed to unlock them.

Can a brand new unopened iPhone be tracked?

Your lost iPhone was not activated under your Apple ID so you are not going to be able to do anything about it, personally. Your Proof of Purchase will play a major role if Apple can help you.

Can a carrier locked iPhone be tracked?

Apple cannot track the device if it wasn't activated. You can ask the carriers to blacklist it but they won't do it (because they make more money on insurance).

How do I factory reset my iPhone?

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone. Do one of the following: Prepare your content and settings to transfer to a new iPhone: Tap Get Started, then follow the onscreen instructions. When you finish, return to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone, then tap Erase All Content and Settings.

What happens if IMEI is stolen?

Block your phone from being used on a network. If you report your phone as stolen, your phone carrier can block your IMEI number from being used on their network. This will prevent the phone from being used to make calls, send text messages, or use the internet. Use your phone to commit fraud.

What happens if an IMEI is reported stolen?

2. **IMEI Blacklisting:** The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, a unique identifier for each mobile device, can be added to a blacklist. Mobile networks use this list to prevent blacklisted devices from connecting to their networks, making it difficult for thieves to use or sell the stolen device.