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Splackavellie

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 16, 2016
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Hi guys

Think I have been sold a stolen iPhone 6S. I believe the phone is actually unlocked to any carrier but I think the IMEI number has been blacklisted through many carriers across Australia. Therefore I am restricted from making calls.

It seems I can SMS but am very limited as to what I can do such as phoning people.

I think this is known as a hard lock.

I wondered if you guys know a way of bypassing this?

The only way I can think of is changing the IMEI which I guess would be impossible for me.

Or even a jailbreak could fix it maybe?

I was told it will work overseas with any carrier but just not Australia.
 
I was told it will work overseas with any carrier but just not Australia.

No jailbreak fix is there.
You can use outside of Australia if you know that why u bought in first place. And anyone will buy he need apple id for activation. It's better to sell it.
 
Hi guys

Think I have been sold a stolen iPhone 6S. I believe the phone is actually unlocked to any carrier but I think the IMEI number has been blacklisted through many carriers across Australia. Therefore I am restricted from making calls.

It seems I can SMS but am very limited as to what I can do such as phoning people.

I think this is known as a hard lock.

I wondered if you guys know a way of bypassing this?

The only way I can think of is changing the IMEI which I guess would be impossible for me.

Or even a jailbreak could fix it maybe?

I was told it will work overseas with any carrier but just not Australia.

Tra-la-la-la.

Send it back. Or keep it and stare at it.

If you are a legit buyer, you would have contacted the seller right off the bat. It you are the thief, or bought the phone hoping a workaround was possible...guess again.
 
Last edited:
Hi guys

Think I have been sold a stolen iPhone 6S. I believe the phone is actually unlocked to any carrier but I think the IMEI number has been blacklisted through many carriers across Australia. Therefore I am restricted from making calls.

It seems I can SMS but am very limited as to what I can do such as phoning people.

I think this is known as a hard lock.

I wondered if you guys know a way of bypassing this?

The only way I can think of is changing the IMEI which I guess would be impossible for me.

Or even a jailbreak could fix it maybe?

I was told it will work overseas with any carrier but just not Australia.


Restore the phone to the new IOS and try to activate. If activates, that can mean that your sim card can be faulty.
Did you try another sim card ?
 
since when has it been illegal to spoof IMEI numbers? :eek:
It seems like at best it's somewhat in a gray-area in US, but in other places like UK there may very well be specific legal regulations associated with it. But certainly the whole idea of "spoofing" which also in connotation brings up "cloning" at the very least walks if not actually crosses that line of legality.
 
It seems like at best it's somewhat in a gray-area in US, but in other places like UK there may very well be specific legal regulations associated with it. But certainly the whole idea of "spoofing" which also in connotation brings up "cloning" at the very least walks if not actually crosses that line of legality.
Spoofing isn't illegal, in itself, however it can be considered a crime if the intention is to hide who's behind the crime, that's what i think i read, anyways?
 
Spoofing isn't illegal, in itself, however it can be considered a crime if the intention is to hide who's behind the crime, that's what i think i read, anyways?

Changing the IMEI number of any lost or stolen device is in fact illegal.
Doesnt really matter since it's not possible to change the IMEI on any current generation iphone besides the original iphone 2G with bootloader 4.6 and ios version 1.1.3
 
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Changing the IMEI number of any lost or stolen device is in fact illegal.
Doesnt really matter since it's not possible to change the IMEI on any current generation iphone besides the original iphone 2G with bootloader 4.6 and ios version 1.1.3
So is this practice only illegal on iPhones or on other phones too?
 
Every device.
Messing with IMEI's trying to change or alter them is illegal.
Why isn't spoofing a user agent string illegal?
Why isn't spoofing an IP address illegal ?
Why isn't spoofing the etag headers (that sites can use to identify returning visitors either by use of the cache or injecting further identifiers to see if they match) illegal?

I'm pretty sure you mean that it's only illegal if the IMEI number of a stolen device is spoofed, rather than the IMEI number of your own device.

You can tamper with data on YOUR OWN DEVICE can't you ?
 
Why isn't spoofing a user agent string illegal?
Why isn't spoofing an IP address illegal ?
Why isn't spoofing the etag headers (that sites can use to identify returning visitors either by use of the cache or injecting further identifiers to see if they match) illegal?
Cellular devices are different from computers and browsers and have different laws and regulations that apply to them. But those are all questions for your governing body and related organizations as they are the ones that set the laws, rules, and regulations in place.
 
Cellular devices are different from computers and browsers and have different laws and regulations that apply to them. But those are all questions for your governing body and related organizations as they are the ones that set the laws, rules, and regulations in place.

Please read my edit.
 
Why isn't spoofing a user agent string illegal?
Why isn't spoofing an IP address illegal ?
Why isn't spoofing the etag headers (that sites can use to identify returning visitors either by use of the cache or injecting further identifiers to see if they match) illegal?

I'm pretty sure you mean that it's only illegal if the IMEI number of a stolen device is spoofed, rather than the IMEI number of your own device.

You can tamper with data on YOUR OWN DEVICE can't you ?
It depends where you live. If you live in the UK, for example, you most certainly cannot change the IMEI number on your device without breaking the law:

The Mobile Telephones (Re-programming) Act 2002 made it a criminal offence to change the IMEI number on your device and can land you 5 years in jail.

Even owning equipment that can perform the reprogramming can be an offence with the same 5 year maximum jail term.

Here's a link to the law: http://origin-www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/31/contents
 
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Why isn't spoofing a user agent string illegal?
Why isn't spoofing an IP address illegal ?
Why isn't spoofing the etag headers (that sites can use to identify returning visitors either by use of the cache or injecting further identifiers to see if they match) illegal?

I'm pretty sure you mean that it's only illegal if the IMEI number of a stolen device is spoofed, rather than the IMEI number of your own device.

You can tamper with data on YOUR OWN DEVICE can't you ?

No, you cannot alter IMEI and international mobile device network identifiers even if the device is legally yours. There's safety and security reasons behind it and much more that I rather not get into cause you dont seem to get it or dont want to get it.
About your other questions or remarks not sure, research them and find out the laws yourself.
 
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