vB Easy Archive - I bought an Iphone from ebay, it's stolen or lost

Pages: 1

I bought an Iphone from ebay, it's stolen or lost
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: SaM5246

I bought a used phone on ebay and when I got it and turned it on it was someone elses phone! It has their music, pics, everything!

If I do a master reset can I activate this phone or use it with my SIM that's in MY iphone (I have an iphone already this is a gift for someone)?????

When I bought my iphone I asked the guy what if it gets lost or stolen. He said it would be black listed with AT&T and Apple? What exactly does that mean? I plan on giving this phone to my little sis, and since I bought it fair and square I don't feel that I should return it.

*this might be an older version of the iphone, which means unlockable

Posted by: Imahottguy

I agree that you shouldn't have to return it, however you must forgive the lack of replies due to many thieves pose as the unsuspecting buyer. You can restore it and it will be like brand new. However if it has been stolen I would contact ebay right away and get your money back, as well as after the money is returned turn the iPhone into AT&T. I hope you payed w/ paypal as you will be protected.

If it had been stolen and reported, then the imei has been blacklisted by AT&T. So you'd be better playing the good samaritin here and taking the longer route, in the end 2 people would have gotten an iPhone.

Posted by: SaM5246

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imahottguy

I agree that you shouldn't have to return it, however you must forgive the lack of replies due to many thieves pose as the unsuspecting buyer. You can restore it and it will be like brand new. However if it has been stolen I would contact ebay right away and get your money back, as well as after the money is returned turn the iPhone into AT&T. I hope you payed w/ paypal as you will be protected

I know I can settle it with ebay and get my money back. I got this phone for $340 which is a good deal. That's why I want to keep it.

Also I feel bad for the person who lost it/had it stolen, I know how to get the pictures off of the phone but how do I get the contacts out? So for example, I can email the file which holds the contacts and he/she can drag and drop the file into their new iphone. I think I can do this with outlook since it syncs and then send the outlook file, but that would require that the person use outlook and not everyone does.

Posted by: Donnation

I don't get why you think its list or stolen. If you bought it used then maybe the seller just forgot to erase his information off the phone.

Posted by: celtictech

Why don't you contact at&t with the IMEI # and ask if it had been reported stolen or blacklisted. If it's not then you can go ahead and use it.

Posted by: Quake97

I agree with celtic. You could also try and contact the person using the information on the phone. Do they have any email accounts setup on it?

Joe

Posted by: SaM5246

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quake97

I agree with celtic. You could also try and contact the person using the information on the phone. Do they have any email accounts setup on it?

Joe

Yes there is, but maybe the idiot that sold it forgot to delete his stuff. Either way it's a 4GB iphone which should mean that it can be unlocked.

Posted by: crd945

It may be used but who says it is stolen? If I sold you my iphone right now and was too lazy to delete everything from it you would have my pictures and contacts.... this sounds fishy to me.

Posted by: toomer

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaM5246

since I bought it fair and square I don't feel that I should return it.

As long as you are never informed that it is, actually, stolen - the law is maybe on your side. However, it's shaky ground at best.

If you are ever made aware that the iPhone was, in fact, stolen - then you would be guilty of Posession of Stolen Merchandise if you did not surrender the phone to law enforcement.

http://forums.realpolice.net/showthread.php?t=74665

Posted by: wellduh11

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaM5246

You say you feel bad for the person who lost or had it stolen, yet you still want to keep it? How would you feel if yours was lost/stolen, and then someone emailed you all your contacts/photos, and said they really like their new phone, sorry you cant have it back? Be the nice guy and do a little digging like the replies above say. You'll feel better in the long run.

Posted by: BornInBremen

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaM5246

When I bought my iphone I asked the guy what if it gets lost or stolen. He said it would be black listed with AT&T and Apple? What exactly does that mean?

It doesn't mean jack, since neither Apple nor AT&T (or any carrier in the USA, for that matter) "blacklist" phones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaM5246

I plan on giving this phone to my little sis, and since I bought it fair and square I don't feel that I should return it.

LOL...buying stolen merchandise, and paying for stolen merchandise, doesn't make it "fair and square". If it's stolen, and the police come (which could happen IF it's stolen, IF it was reported stolen, IF the S/N and/or IMEI was reported to AT&T & Apple, and IF you activate it or possibly just use it on the AT&T network), they'll not only take it from you, you'll be out what you paid "fair and square", and could be looking at criminal charges for possession of stolen merchandise and/or trafficking in stolen goods. Small chance of that, though.

Posted by: bowlofweedies

how is 340 a good deal brand new there 400

Posted by: wellduh11

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowlofweedies

how is 340 a good deal brand new there 400

And its only a 4gb. Since its unlockable that ups the value somewhat, but its still only 60 less than an 8gb.

Posted by: coomac

I agree with crd945.. there is no way you can say the phone is stolen based simply on the fact that it contains the previous owner's data. That just proves it was used. Is there something else you're not saying?

Posted by: turbo-sc

something sounds fishy... Why not contact the seller and make sure or AT&T and save yourself a headache. Seems you're more worried about unlocking it.

Posted by: usrbin

i bought a used laptop that had the persons information including her resume, like you, i assumed it was stolen. I contacted her and she stated she had sold it to the individual i bought it from but was unable to remove her info because laptop had a bad power cord. The unit came without a power cord. So, don't assume its stolen, contact the person by email. You'll sleep better, i know i did.

P.S. Phones are not 'blacklisted' I really wish they were. My sister is an NYPD Sergeant, she states folks get 'punched in the face' and have their sidekicks stolen constantly in the city subways. Huge demand for stolen phones, unfortunately.

Posted by: SaM5246

Quote:

Originally Posted by coomac

I agree with crd945.. there is no way you can say the phone is stolen based simply on the fact that it contains the previous owner's data. That just proves it was used. Is there something else you're not saying?

Yeah the guy that sold it might have forgot to clear the data that's what I'm thinking now.

Posted by: photojoe83

Another good question to ask would be: Did the seller include the box and other accessories like the dock, USB cable, headphones etc? If he did, then it was obviously his phone. Otherwise if all he sold in the auction was just the phone itself, then there's something fishy going on.

Posted by: Donnation

This whole thing to me sounds like the op "found" and iphone and is wondering whether or not he is gonna get nailed for using it.

Posted by: SaM5246

Quote:

Originally Posted by photojoe83

Another good question to ask would be: Did the seller include the box and other accessories like the dock, USB cable, headphones etc? If he did, then it was obviously his phone. Otherwise if all he sold in the auction was just the phone itself, then there's something fishy going on.

Yeah it had a box, charger, usb dock, everything that I got when I bought mine a few days back.

Posted by: SaM5246

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnation

This whole thing to me sounds like the op "found" and iphone and is wondering whether or not he is gonna get nailed for using it.

I contacted the seller, he confimed it was his and he didn't know how to clear it. Not everyone is as tech savy as some of us.

So now the question is:

Since it is a 4GB phone, it can be unlocked for sure right?

Posted by: VERSACE

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaM5246

I contacted the seller, he confimed it was his and he didn't know how to clear it. Not everyone is as tech savy as some of us.

lmfao

no normal person would ever sell a phone with his/her personal data until he/she finds out how to remove all of it. everybody knows how to dial 1-800-my-iphone, no? not a rocket science.

something's shady

Posted by: ~~Tito~~

Dudes do I smell fish? Anyways just think of it this way, if its an iphone under 1.1.2 then it fan be unlocked. It dosent matter the size of the memory, that doesnt cange anything..

Posted by: romster522

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaM5246

I bought a used phone on ebay and when I got it and turned it on it was someone elses phone! It has their music, pics, everything!

If I do a master reset can I activate this phone or use it with my SIM that's in MY iphone (I have an iphone already this is a gift for someone)?????

my question is.....if you know is someone else phone why are u all ready to delete everything off the phone?....we don't encourage fraud or theft here so please don't come to hofo with those kinds of questions...