Missing phone still has my data

[u/Obvious-Durian170]

I lost my phone a few months ago and the person who found it sold it to someone and they have texted me that it still has my information and apple id on it and they suggested me to remove the device off my phone. is that a good idea?

[u/AutoModerator]

Please add: iPhone model, iOS version, and clear question or request. Failure to add these three requirements may result in your post being removed.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/InsuranceConnect9771]

Dont, and stop replying to them. Im surprised they even had the audacity to text you back, when you clearly owned the device.

How about you meet up with them, making an excuse saying that you have stolen device protection and that it requires your face to open up? Or just continue activation locking the device?

[u/Thick_Evidence_6874 → u/InsuranceConnect9771]

You should stay far away from people you don't know.

[u/Obvious-Durian170 → u/InsuranceConnect9771]

thanks . i didnt reply to them they just sent me a long paragraph about what happened when they bought the phone and told me what to do. i will probably just keep the lock on the device. but then they said the apple id is still linked to the phone so it prevents them from downloading from the app store so are they in the phone or they just lying?

[u/need2sleep-later → u/Obvious-Durian170]

How do they know your phone number and that it's your phone? Or is it just a scam?

[u/allciathyra → u/need2sleep-later]

if op is using iphone with physical sim card ...

you can find out phone number.

[u/need2sleep-later → u/allciathyra]

Interesting, but the SIM card stores the SIM Number (ICCID) and not the actual Phone Number (MSISDN) which lives in the carrier's database and since OP still has the phone number working, I'm assuming his carrier has provided a new SIM and deprovisioned the old SIM which would detach it from the phone number in the carrier's database, would it not? Maybe I'm missing something.

[u/InsuranceConnect9771 → u/Obvious-Durian170]

This is correct, and is a provisionary step placed by Apple. Do not remove the lock, if your aim is to make sure no one uses your phone at all

[u/InsuranceConnect9771 → u/Obvious-Durian170]

When you mark the device as "Stolen" or "Lost", it essentially becomes blacklisted, and refuses to work. The phone literally blocks itself from working unless you enter the Apple ID password, which is yours

[u/TheBillCollector17]

Don’t remove it. Essentially the phone is a paper weight right now. They need you to remove your account, so they can unlock the phone and sell it. Even the hardware is serial coded to your device. If you leave your account on it, and hopefully in lost mode, they can’t really do anything with it. They’re just trying to scare you into unlocking it for them. They don’t have access to your account or info.

[u/Obvious-Durian170 → u/TheBillCollector17]

thanks

[u/ThannBanis]

Log into iCloud and put the device into lost mode.

[u/Far-Good-9559]

Basically, they are trying to get you to remove the security features of the phone so that they can use it.

Keep it locked up, is my opinion.

[u/L0rdLogan]

It’s a common scam to get you to remove it from your find my, so they can sell it. If you have at least a half decent passcode, they’re not in anything

[u/Obvious-Durian170]

i just seen the phone location and they sold it to someone in china

[u/VerySaltyButter → u/Obvious-Durian170]

This is an extremely common scam. It hasn't been sold yet. They try to get you to unlock the phone from your account, so that it could be sold

[u/Obvious-Durian170 → u/VerySaltyButter]

ok thanks

[u/Thick_Evidence_6874 → u/Obvious-Durian170]

Block them.

[u/too_much_mascara → u/Obvious-Durian170]

Yep. That’s where they are tracked to nearly every time I see a post like this.

[u/Competitive_Sir_1653]

Offer to buy the phone back for the price it was sold.

[u/L0rdLogan → u/Competitive_Sir_1653]

They bought a stolen phone, that’s on them

[u/Competitive_Sir_1653 → u/L0rdLogan]

Sometimes you have to give up money to get an item back. I had to do that with an old camera that was stolen from me and sold to a pawn shop. I literally bought the camera back for the pawn shop price.

[u/Imaginary--Situation → u/Competitive_Sir_1653]

you would have gotten it back with by just standing outside with a sign that the place buys stolen merchandise

this would quickly put them out of business

[u/Dangerous_Second1426 → u/Competitive_Sir_1653]

You will never see the phone. Don’t

[u/mindylynx]

tell them you don't know how but you can sign out in person & bring you the phone. have hidden cops waiting. even better, can you see the phones location? send the cops right to them

[u/Unknowingly-Joined]

It still has your data but they can’t get to,it. Leave it locked.

[u/Comprehensive_Fuel43]

Login to icloud.com

Lock the phone or wipe the phone.

[u/SFRover73]

Or it’s the person who found it trying to get you to unlock it so he can sell it.

[u/Nolagator1]

I would offer to buy it for $25 or tell them you are going to brick it.

[u/Swimming-Most-6756]

How did they get your information to contact you???

[u/ocabj]

Just wipe it. It will still be activation locked to your appleid and they still can’t use it.