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Other Ex-girlfriend Stole Icloud Passcode

T

Throwaway2018

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 11, 2018
4
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Hi, I recently separated from ex-girlfriend; we shared a couple of Apple devices, one of which was an IPad. Recently we got into a terrible fight and I decided to leave. Unfortunately, I left one of the devices at the place we shared. She also knew my Apple id and password so after I moved out she managed to change my password. I still have access to my email which is tied to my Apple id and have access to my IPhone (which is also tied to the same Apple id).

I have tried the typical password recovery steps: Apple sends you a pin to your 'primary' device. Unfortunately, it seems that Apple keeps sending it to the IPad that my ex still has access to. That leaves the 'long' recovery process which they send a pin to my IPhone after 24 hours. But my ex tries to sabotage this process by cancelling password recovery using her IPad or by simply logging in the icloud account (which cancels the whole account recovery process)

I'm a loss of what to do, I have tons of irreplaceable family photos and information stored on my Icloud that I cannot even access anymore. I tried calling Apple support but they brush me off and tell me to 'file a police support'.

If anyone has any ideas of what I can do, I would greatly appreciate it!
 
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Try to reason your girlfriend, maybe you can return to her for sometime until you recover your devices and make sure she can't lay her hands on them anymore
Maybe cynical but you have to be harsh sometimes
 
Well this is a new sob story I haven't seen here before from a brand new account. Call me crazy, but I am going to go out on a limb and suggest that instead of playing this game, you go to your local apple store or police station and turn the phone in. Because the phone's rightful owner is probably looking for it. And you have it. Whether you found it, or stole it, who knows. But I bet you didn't pay for the device you are trying to get access to, albeit with a new twist on the sob story about irreplaceable family pictures. If they were really that important, you should have backed them up. Let me guess that wasn't an option.
 
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Hi Tot
Totally said:
Well this is a new sob story I haven't seen here before from a brand new account. Call me crazy, but I am going to go out on a limb and suggest that instead of playing this game, you go to your local apple store or police station and turn the phone in. Because the phone's rightful owner is probably looking for it. And you have it. Whether you found it, or stole it, who knows. But I bet you didn't pay for the device you are trying to get access to, albeit with a new twist on the sob story about irreplaceable family pictures. If they were really that important, you should have backed them up. Let me guess that wasn't an option.
Click to expand...
Hi Totally,

Everything is backed up on Icloud. I have access to my iphone which is tied to my account as well as access to my email and credit card. I follow ALL the steps to recover the password, but unfortunately the process is extremely long winded -- it takes 24 hours (even with CC verification, email verification and phone # verification). In the midst of this 24 hour window, all she has to do is sign into the account and it will terminate the whole process.
 
Totally said:
Well this is a new sob story I haven't seen here before from a brand new account. Call me crazy, but I am going to go out on a limb and suggest that instead of playing this game, you go to your local apple store or police station and turn the phone in. Because the phone's rightful owner is probably looking for it. And you have it. Whether you found it, or stole it, who knows. But I bet you didn't pay for the device you are trying to get access to, albeit with a new twist on the sob story about irreplaceable family pictures. If they were really that important, you should have backed them up. Let me guess that wasn't an option.
Click to expand...

With an account called “throwaway2018” ;)


OP: Your screwed. Literally. Your not gonna be able to change it. If this is actually happening, report the device as stolen, direct the proper people to where and who you think the stole the device and password, and that’s quite literally all you can do.

If she stole the device from you, report it as stolen.
 
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acorntoy said:
With an account called “throwaway2018” ;)


OP: Your screwed. Literally. Your not gonna be able to change it. If this is actually happening, report the device as stolen, direct the proper people to where and who you think the stole the device and password, and that’s quite literally all you can do.
Click to expand...


I am more concerned about securing my icloud account that the device itself. She can view all my keychain passcodes etc
 
Throwaway2018 said:
I am less concerned about the device itself than my icloud account. She can view all my keychain passcodes etc
Click to expand...

Then go report it. Stealing the device is a physical crime she will get in actual trouble for, I’m sure while that’s being sorted you can figure out the password. Stop messing around and get it sorted.
 
acorntoy said:
Then go report it. Stealing the device is a physical crime she will get in actual trouble for, I’m sure while that’s being sorted you can figure out the password. Stop messing around and get it sorted.
Click to expand...

Sorry I meant to say, that I do not care for the IPad itself. I care more so for my icloud account. The police refuses to help with dealing with a stolen icloud account since it is an 'Apple problem' and not a criminal one.
 
Throwaway2018 said:
Sorry I meant to say, that I do not care for the IPad itself. I care more so for my icloud account. The police refuses to help with dealing with a stolen icloud account since it is an 'Apple problem' and not a criminal one.
Click to expand...

And the Police are completely correct. Stolen property is criminal in nature, a stolen iCloud account is not a police matter, which is between you, Apple and your significant other.
 
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Throwaway2018 said:
Sorry I meant to say, that I do not care for the IPad itself. I care more so for my icloud account. The police refuses to help with dealing with a stolen icloud account since it is an 'Apple problem' and not a criminal one.
Click to expand...

She has your iPad (according to you) so the police should help you retrieve that. Once you retrieve the iPad you can continue the process of changing passwords without her interference so why aren't you doing this?

Do you see why your story is being questioned?
 
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Tell her to stop logging into the iPad for a day. Seems like a reasonable request. Or ask her if you can borrow it for a day so you can retrieve your irreplaceable family photos then she's welcome to keep it.
 
Throwaway2018 said:
Hi, I recently separated from ex-girlfriend; we shared a couple of Apple devices, one of which was an IPad. Recently we got into a terrible fight and I decided to leave. Unfortunately, I left one of the devices at the place we shared. She also knew my Apple id and password so after I moved out she managed to change my password. I still have access to my email which is tied to my Apple id and have access to my IPhone (which is also tied to the same Apple id).

I have tried the typical password recovery steps: Apple sends you a pin to your 'primary' device. Unfortunately, it seems that Apple keeps sending it to the IPad that my ex still has access to. That leaves the 'long' recovery process which they send a pin to my IPhone after 24 hours. But my ex tries to sabotage this process by cancelling password recovery using her IPad or by simply logging in the icloud account (which cancels the whole account recovery process)

I'm a loss of what to do, I have tons of irreplaceable family photos and information stored on my Icloud that I cannot even access anymore. I tried calling Apple support but they brush me off and tell me to 'file a police support'.

If anyone has any ideas of what I can do, I would greatly appreciate it!
Click to expand...
Since your Apple ID is tied to the iPad for two-factor authentication, I’m not sure you can do much without having access to the iPad. This is working as intended and how you configured it.

If you do get it back I’d recommend the following:

Never share accounts. If you want to share purchases, setup Family Share so you both maintain separate iCloud accounts. Here’s how you can set it up: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201088

Store backups on multiple places. Local device, iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive.

Configure your AppleID to allow SMS in the event you don’t have access to your main device.
 
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OP, do not file a police report for stolen property, as that would not be accurate. And filing false charges is a crime in and of itself. What you described is a civil matter. You can ask the police to meet you at your previous residence to retrieve your personal belongings.

In the future, do not ever reveal personal information (account information etc.) to a girlfriend. And most of all, do not share bank accounts or split the cost of electronics (so you can "share").

If you wish to go to civil court, make sure you have a excellent paper trail that clearly documents ownership or how much you paid for certain items etc.

Unless your ex-girlfriend relents and allow you access, you are out of luck.
 
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Moral of the story: do not share critical passwords with girlfriend. I certainly do not with mine. Nor is she allowed to touch my phone at all.
 
You gave her your iPad.

You gave her your iCloud password.

I'm not surprised no one from Apple nor law enforcement is willing to help.

Throw away your iCloud account and start a new one.
 
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