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cabeman77

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 11, 2018
2
0
wausau, wi
I purchased an ipad pro on Craigslist. I know what you're thinking, not a smart move. But everything was fine, set it up with a new apple id and everything was peachy. The problem is, I was just starting a divorce, and my wife came to my place while I wasn't there and told my roommate she was there to take my stuff because her lawyer said she could. Long story short, she reset the ipad to sell it, but after a year of fighting the divorce in court, was ordered to return it as I still owe for a loan I took out to pay for it. I have forgotten the email I used to set it up and the Apple Id I created, (I wrote it down so I didn't have to) and Apple is refusing to tell me anything or unlock it. They said they can't prove it's my account. I offered to go to the police and they can call and verify who I am, but they said they can't verify that it's my account even though it is signed up under my name and birthdate and everything. What can I do.....?!?
 
Im sorry to hear about your situation. Apple takes privacy and security very seriously, there are only two ways to remove an iCloud activation lock. Prove that you are the Apple ID account holder or prove that you are the device owner and provide the original proof of ownership or invoice. Since you have purchased the device secondhand you cannot obtain the original invoice unless you still have contact with the seller. The only option is to prove that you are the account holder of the Apple ID.

Right now you can only provide your name and birthdate. As a security standpoint anyone can call up Apple and provide that information easily if they know enough about you or could easily get that information from your social media if you have any. How would you feel if someone called up pretending to be you and have provided that information and Apple reset the password to your account? You would be absolutely devastated if someone was provided access to your account, private information and credit cards. Apple treats all these cases the same to protect the identity of the account holder. If you are the account holder generally you would know your security questions or at least know your personal emails etc. In their eyes you have not provided sufficient proof that you are the Account holder.

I would recommend sitting down and thinking hard what your emails could be and think about those security questions (if you did have security questions set on your account) Do you have any other Apple devices which may have used that email?
 
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I supplied the requested info, but because I cannot remember the email I made up specifically for the new Apple ID, they said they can’t help me. I provided my Apple ID info for my old Apple ID, my emails and recovery phone number. No one else would have any of that info but me.
[doublepost=1542005663][/doublepost]They say it’s “for my own protection” but give no solution other than “congratulation on your new $1,500 paperweight”.....
 
If they can verify you in their systems they can tell you what the email is. As you would have provided the correct information to prove that you are the Apple ID owner. If you provided information (even if you believe it is correct) that does not match in their systems then they cannot verify you which means they cannot disclose any private information.

Did your account have two-factor authentication or did you use security questions?
 
Do you have a court order that refers to that iPad as you property? (Hopefully with a serial #) - that me be sufficient for Apple if you have the court order
 
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