What do stolen iPhones do?

That's where the stolen iPhones go. Thieves who realize that they can't use the stolen iPhone will break the device into several parts and sell them to shady repair shops or stores for money. These types of stores need several parts of the iPhone, like the screen to fix someone else broken iPhone at a cheap rate.

Can a stolen iPhone still be used?

What that means is even when a thief or a third-party has your ‌iPhone‌, it's still tied to your ‌Apple ID‌ and can't be used with any other account. Your ‌iPhone‌ can even be wiped completely and it will still be locked down, making it almost useless to anyone but you.

Can stolen iPhone be unlocked?

It is difficult to unlock a stolen iPhone because there are different types of locks for the security of the device. There can be the Apple ID lock, screen passcode lock, or MDM lock. All these security locks require a different method to bypass them. Normally, when you get any stolen device, it has a screen passcode.

Do stolen iPhones get tracked?

Apple's iOS 15 update brings a big improvement to Find My that makes it possible to locate your lost iPhone even when the device has been turned off or the battery has died. This feature works automatically so long as you have the Find My network enabled on your iPhone.

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).

7 Things To Do if Your iPhone is Stolen or Lost

Should I erase my stolen iPhone?

If you have AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss, do not erase your iPhone until your claim has been approved. Erase your device.

What do thieves do with stolen iPhones 2021?

They will try to wipe out the data including photos, videos, documents, audios, etc. from stolen iPhones for resale. Thieves know several techniques to erase everything from the stolen phone. Plus, thieves are also capable of tricking the buyer that stolen iPhone is clean and unlocked.

Can I put my SIM card in a stolen iPhone?

If you have inserted a clean simcard on a device that is reported stolen the simcard will work for sometime but when the system detected that the simcard is being used on a stolen phone, the simcard will be suspended. When you transferred the simcard to the original phone the simcard will not work.

How do I activate a stolen iPhone?

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.

Can I unlock an iPhone I found?

YES. You can unlock it if you found a lost iPhone. The thing that put you in trouble is the iPhone's screen passcode as these days iPhone users set a screen passcode to protect the data stored in their device.

Can you factory reset a stolen iPhone?

If you've lost your iPhone or it's been stolen, never fear: Apple allows you to factory reset it remotely via iCloud.

How are iphones blacklisted?

A blacklisted iPhone is a phone reported lost or stolen by the prior or current owner. Another way a phone can be blacklisted is from an outstanding balance or unpaid contract bills. When there are outstanding or unpaid balances and bills, the phone carrier reports it as a blacklisted phone.

Can a wiped iPhone be tracked?

iOS 15: Find My network can still find your iPhone when it is powered off, or factory reset. With iOS 15, your iPhone is still traceable through the Find My network even when the device is powered off.

Can an iPhone be tracked when turned off?

You can find your iPhone even if its battery is dead or if it is not connected to the Internet. The 'Bluetooth location' feature by Apple enables you to locate an offline iPhone, as long as it is switched on.

Can stolen iPhone be tracked if SIM card is removed?

Yes, it is possible to track an iPhone if the SIM card is removed. The device just needs to be connected to the internet. Immediately it's online; it sends its GPS coordinates to Apple servers. The previous owner can therefore see the location on the map once they login into their account.

Why would you steal an iPhone?

In the past when iPhones first came out, it wasn't uncommon to hear about people stealing them. This is because of the value iPhones hold where the thieves could usually resell them for a decent amount of money.

Can Apple brick a stolen iPhone?

If a law enforcement officer contacts Apple, as long as they have the serial number of the device, Apple can and will upon law enforcement request permanently brick the device and render it permanently useless through software.

Can someone unlock my stolen phone?

A thief won't be able to unlock your phone without your passcode. Even if you normally sign in with Touch ID or Face ID, your phone is also secured with a passcode.

What happens when you erase a lost iPhone?

What happens when you erase a device in Find My? A confirmation email is sent to your Apple ID email address. When you erase a device remotely using Find My, Activation Lock remains on to protect it. Your Apple ID and password are required to reactivate it.

Can police track iPhone IMEI number?

The Police can request your mobile carrier via a warrant or judicial requirement to track a stolen device. The Police themselves do not track lost iPhones. The mobile carrier / company uses the IMEI to identify and track the iPhone. You can give the Police the IMEI if you want.

What happens if I put my SIM card in a blacklisted phone?

If a phone is listed on the blacklist, wireless carriers will not allow the phone to connect to the cellular network even if using a valid SIM card. Devices are listed by their unique IMEI Number. Many countries have a similar Blacklist, and these are shared on an international database administered by the GSMA.

How can I delete everything on my stolen iPhone?