Buyer trying to get Apple ID Password

G

guymarble

macrumors member
Hi, I sold my iPhone 5 on eBay last year which I had bought unlocked from Apple. I have just received an ebay message from the buyer saying the following:

"Hello mate, I purchased the above handset from you on 16/12/2012, Today I tried a new simcard in the handset from which i get an message detailing for me to "activate phone" using the Original owners logg in details (D*****@me.com).

I called Apple care and was told that i would need to get in contact with you as it wouldve been your logg in details and password to activate "Find My Phone" app."

First of all, my email address the Apple ID is linked to is not @me.com and the @me address I do have doesn't start with a D.

Secondly, I had erased the iPhone before I sent it off so shouldn't everything of been erased?

Thirdly, WTF this has never happened when I have put in a new SIM card
:confused: So what I'm wondering is is this some poor attempt to get my password?? Or is this a genuine thing?
 
Sounds like a phishing attempt to get your info. Since you don't have a D*****@me.com account, tell him so plainly, but do not accuse of scamming. That account information may have come from something on the SIM card (excuse my lack of familiarity).

DO NOT "help" him with a password. Contact :apple: to make sure that his claims square with what should be normal after the phone is "wiped," if it was truly zeroed out.
 
Just ignore it.

The 45 days of buyer protection are up. You've done your part already.
 
LittleConrad said:
Sounds like a phishing attempt to get your info. Since you don't have a D*****@me.com account, tell him so plainly, but do not accuse of scamming. That account information may have come from something on the SIM card (excuse my lack of familiarity).

DO NOT "help" him with a password. Contact :apple: to make sure that his claims square with what should be normal after the phone is "wiped," if it was truly zeroed out.
Click to expand...

If it was 'wiped', it should come up needing to be 'activated' and HE would have to enter HIS Apple ID and the phone would be 'his' after... There is no need to get your password, unless the guy is a total dork and can't find his butt without your money...:eek: It sounds fishy...
 
PinkyMacGodess said:
If it was 'wiped', it should come up needing to be 'activated' and HE would have to enter HIS Apple ID and the phone would be 'his' after... There is no need to get your password, unless the guy is a total dork and can't find his butt without your money...:eek: It sounds fishy...
Click to expand...

I think you meant to reply to the original, not to my post, but I really like that "can't find his butt" image. Haha. :) That's a good good one--never heard it before.
 
If you sold it to him last year, that would have been before the activation lock. So it shouldn't be your information needed to unlock it. Sounds like a scam to me, but I'd be open minded. It's possible there's a reasonable explanation. Just don't give up your password!
 
guymarble said:
Hi, I sold my iPhone 5 on eBay last year which I had bought unlocked from Apple. I have just received an ebay message from the buyer saying the following:

"Hello mate, I purchased the above handset from you on 16/12/2012, Today I tried a new simcard in the handset from which i get an message detailing for me to "activate phone" using the Original owners logg in details (D*****@me.com).

I called Apple care and was told that i would need to get in contact with you as it wouldve been your logg in details and password to activate "Find My Phone" app."

First of all, my email address the Apple ID is linked to is not @me.com and the @me address I do have doesn't start with a D.

Secondly, I had erased the iPhone before I sent it off so shouldn't everything of been erased?

Thirdly, WTF this has never happened when I have put in a new SIM card
:confused: So what I'm wondering is is this some poor attempt to get my password?? Or is this a genuine thing?
Click to expand...

[Sorry. Haste makes waste]

If it was 'wiped', it should come up needing to be 'activated' and HE would have to enter HIS Apple ID and the phone would be 'his' after... There is no need to get your password, unless the guy is a total dork and can't find his butt without your money... It sounds fishy...
 
If you used the erase all content and settings option, there is no way it would need your password. I sold my 4 to my best friend (who I would give my password to if she needed it) and she's never had to ask for it.
 
Thanks for the replies :) I said to him that it wasn't my email address and that I would go to apple to find out about it, but don't think I'm going to even bother.

He has replied with this:

"Lol It's ok I don't need your password, could you please go into your "find my iphone" app and disconnect my iphone please"

Even though he said the first time he needed my password...Seems like he's taking dumb to a whole new level!
 
Seems legit at least he could see what was needed in the end.

Can't advise how to remove the device from find my phone tho!
 
That part is easy. Open up the find my phone app and look at the devices list. If your old phone is still listed, delete it. I had to do that when I gave my daughter my old phone.
 
maliu said:
That part is easy. Open up the find my phone app and look at the devices list. If your old phone is still listed, delete it. I had to do that when I gave my daughter my old phone.
Click to expand...

Just tried that but the only things it shows on the device list are my current iOS devices :confused:
 
That doesn't make sense.
A year ago that activation lock feature wasn't available and since its not listed in your icloud devices then not sure what he's talking about.
 
pikachu2k7 said:
One year and THEN decides to make a move?

Something's up.
Click to expand...

He probably upgraded to iOS 7 and maybe the iPhone got confused and still thinks it's connected with the OP's account? But that would only make sense if the buyer never entered his Apple ID info (which is very unlikely).

EDIT: just read the OP's response about it not showing up in their devices list. Weird then that the seller says this is the case.
 
You can always log into your Apple account online and check to be sure that device isn't still associated with your Apple ID in any manner. If so, disassociate it. That's the final place to check. After checking that, he's no concern of yours.
 
Applejuiced said:
That doesn't make sense.
A year ago that activation lock feature wasn't available and since its not listed in your icloud devices then not sure what he's talking about.
Click to expand...

As mentioned above, if the buyer of the device never wiped the phone before installing iOS 7 then Activation Lock would apply.

Also as mentioned above, the "correct" way to remove activation lock on a device that you don't have any more is to remove the device from Find My iPhone, but that doesn't seem to be working here...
 
I have just checked the devices listed on the "manage devices" page on my apple account and there was another phone listed but it said it was first associated in 2011....so it couldn't of been the one i sold to him as it wasn't even out then. He is still persisting that I need to remove the phone despite me telling him I can't :confused:

Thank you for all the replies :)
 
guymarble said:
I have just checked the devices listed on the "manage devices" page on my apple account and there was another phone listed but it said it was first associated in 2011....so it couldn't of been the one i sold to him as it wasn't even out then. He is still persisting that I need to remove the phone despite me telling him I can't :confused:

Thank you for all the replies :)
Click to expand...

Is the iPhone from 2011 still in your possession or used by a family member? If not, disassociate that one in order to avoid this type of trouble there. Regarding the complainer's iPhone, tell him that you've checked every possible option and the iPhone is no longer associated with your account whatsoever. Tell him that the problem is on his end and there is nothing more that you can do. Wish him luck and then ignore him.
 
lelisa13p said:
Is the iPhone from 2011 still in your possession or used by a family member? If not, disassociate that one in order to avoid this type of trouble there. Regarding the complainer's iPhone, tell him that you've checked every possible option and the iPhone is no longer associated with your account whatsoever. Tell him that the problem is on his end and there is nothing more that you can do. Wish him luck and then ignore him.
Click to expand...

Yea sold that one but didn't have any bother with it, I've disassociated it now tho :p. told him that it wasn't showing up and he replied saying it was no bother and thanked me for my trouble so looks like this is the last of it :)
 
Agent-P said:
He probably upgraded to iOS 7 and maybe the iPhone got confused and still thinks it's connected with the OP's account? But that would only make sense if the buyer never entered his Apple ID info (which is very unlikely).

EDIT: just read the OP's response about it not showing up in their devices list. Weird then that the seller says this is the case.
Click to expand...

It's an unnecessary risk that I personally would not get involved in.
 
pikachu2k7 said:
It's an unnecessary risk that I personally would not get involved in.
Click to expand...

What risk? :confused:

You shouldn't give anyone your password, but there are several things that the seller of a device can do to solve these sorts of problems (like removing the device from "Find My iPhone").
 
Daveoc64 said:
What risk? :confused:

You shouldn't give anyone your password, but there are several things that the seller of a device can do to solve these sorts of problems (like removing the device from "Find My iPhone").
Click to expand...

Yea this case the buyer was probably just mistaken as to whose account was in there. They probably let someone else sync there phone at some point. I thought there were additional checks to verify the password when upgrading to iOS 7, but there have been a few posts here of people who have had trouble with an old account popping up.
 
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