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Person who found my stolen iPhone contacted me?

L

littlet4lks

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 18, 2017
3
2
My iPhone was stolen from me around two years ago and all of the sudden yesterday I get a notification on WhatsApp from a man saying that they have my phone and that they want me to delete my ICloud account or give them the information for it so they could use my phone.

They keep contacting me from different numbers and I keep blocking them but I am getting concerned. I was wondering how they were able to get my phone number if my phone was locked and reported on Find my iPhone when it was stolen?

I don't know what I should do.
 
eyoungren

eyoungren

macrumors Penryn
Aug 31, 2011
29,432
28,037
BasicGreatGuy said:
I agree with contacting the police. Give the local authorities all the information you have thus far.
Click to expand...
Right!

The cops can do things should they choose to act on this.

Unknown to me, one of our email accounts at work was sending out spam. I got a call from Scottsdale, AZ police at work because someone in Scottsdale reported it to the police and they tracked it to our business. First time I've ever had to speak to a police detective about unawanted spam emanating from one of the work email accounts.

This was 2005 or so. They've gotten a lot more resources since then.
 
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J

joeblow7777

macrumors 604
Sep 7, 2010
7,136
8,947
Someone is asking you to help them use your stolen phone?!

Why don't you tell them to go f*** themselves, and that you're calling the police?

I mean, it's likely that they bought the phone from the original thief and they don't know (although it should be obvious) that it's stolen, but still...
 
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4

44267547

Cancelled
Jul 12, 2016
37,642
42,493
eyoungren said:
Right!

The cops can do things should they choose to act on this.

Unknown to me, one of our email accounts at work was sending out spam. I got a call from Scottsdale, AZ police at work because someone in Scottsdale reported it to the police and they tracked it to our business. First time I've ever had to speak to a police detective about unawanted spam emanating from one of the work email accounts.

This was 2005 or so. They've gotten a lot more resources since then.
Click to expand...

I can't speak for the OP's local law-enforcement practices, but they can "Ping" the cell phone numbers, which would ultimately give them a location from where the calls are coming from. That is, if the numbers are legitimate and they're are not spoofed. However, pinging is typically for emergencies only. But I have seen it where law-enforcement will use it in a situation with stolen phones, with the cooperation from the carrier.
 
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Newtons Apple

Newtons Apple

Suspended
Mar 12, 2014
22,757
15,254
Jacksonville, Florida
You people got better police than we do. If we can get them to fill out a report we feel lucky. Thousands of phones go missing every day and few are recovered by the police.

This person is a real jerk and I am betting calling him names or threatening him with the police will not concern him in the least.
 
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sorcery

sorcery

macrumors regular
Mar 27, 2016
179
364
Ring of Fire
Tell him you tried but failed. Apparently you need to input the password into the device. Ask him where he is, if he admits to being close, arrange a meet in a hotel. Have an officer waiting with you. Or a heavy squad...
[doublepost=1489921628][/doublepost]In the event that you try this approach, make sure you are not followed home, even after an apparent no-show. Stay safe.
 
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Newtons Apple

Newtons Apple

Suspended
Mar 12, 2014
22,757
15,254
Jacksonville, Florida
sorcery said:
Tell him you tried but failed. Apparently you need to input the password into the device. Ask him where he is, if he admits to being close, arrange a meet in a hotel. Have an officer waiting with you. Or a heavy squad...
[doublepost=1489921628][/doublepost]In the event that you try this approach, make sure you are not followed home, even after an apparent no-show. Stay safe.
Click to expand...

I would suggest moving on. Just block the number when called. The thief will loose interest once he know you are not going to come through.

I would not meet the person. He will be selling it for parts soon.
 
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bufffilm

bufffilm

Suspended
May 3, 2011
4,227
2,536
foxconn said:
Show us the conversations with this guy. Personally I would just mess with him
Click to expand...

Or you can do that!

I'd start by saying the phone was stolen and would he please return it? Then I'd ask for money to remove the lock.
 
Last edited:
0007776

0007776

Suspended
Jul 11, 2006
6,473
8,170
Somewhere
Tell them the phone is stolen so you will not be unlocking it, and if they do not return it you will be reporting them to the police. Most likely they purchased it from craigslist without knowing that it was stolen, but they still should return it.
 
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C

C DM

macrumors Sandy Bridge
Oct 17, 2011
51,392
19,461
mrkramer said:
Tell them the phone is stolen so you will not be unlocking it, and if they do not return it you will be reporting them to the police. Most likely they purchased it from craigslist without knowing that it was stolen, but they still should return it.
Click to expand...
Considering they keep on contacting from different numbers it already seems either the know the phone was stolen or basically don't care.
 
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L

LoliS

macrumors regular
Mar 8, 2017
172
71
Relentless Power said:
I can't speak for the OP's local law-enforcement practices, but they can "Ping" the cell phone numbers, which would ultimately give them a location from where the calls are coming from. That is, if the numbers are legitimate and they're are not spoofed. However, pinging is typically for emergencies only. But I have seen it where law-enforcement will use it in a situation with stolen phones, with the cooperation from the carrier.
Click to expand...
If the phone is iCloud locked, then Find My iPhone is likelyl on. That would help locate it.
 
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Applejuiced

Applejuiced

macrumors Westmere
Apr 16, 2008
40,672
6,533
At the iPhone hacks section.
LoliS said:
If the phone is iCloud locked, then Find My iPhone is likelyl on. That would help locate it.
Click to expand...

If they restored the phone then he will not be able to track it any longer with find my iphone.
It will just be stuck at the icloud activation lock screen asking for the owners Apple ID and password.
I think that is the case with this device that was stolen a few years back.
 
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