Got my unlocked, unactivated iPhone stolen..

[joeblow7777]

This is why one should have a concealed carry license, especially doing craigslist deals. Theft is a good enough reason to use your firearm in most states. A 9mm shell in his leg would ensure that he isn't going anywhere with my phone.

I don't have any firsthand experience with guns, but even I know that for one, shooting someone in the leg isn't nearly as easy as it looks in the movies. There's a reason why police officers are trained to aim for the center of the chest. It's the biggest target. Situation shooting like taking out a leg or getting a head shot are for movies and video games. Even an experienced shooter will almost certainly fail aiming for these spots on a moving target from anything but pointblank range.

Secondly, there is no such thing as a "safe" place to shoot someone. The legs and arms have major arteries. If you even nick the femural artery in the leg, the person will bleed out in a couple of minutes.

 

[topherg]

I got too cocky. I've been selling on craigslist for years... There are certain rules you should follow when selling on Craigslist. I ignored all the warning signs too that night. But you live and you learn I guess. I haven't given up on Craigslist, in fact I just sold a gold 64 5S today.

 

[Guy Mancuso]

What are the other reasons?

Why not use to use craiglists is your question. There is no paper trail either for the buyer or seller. There is no recourse on the sale at all, no credit card protection, no paypal protection. Its a cash deal with also the chance of getting counterfeit money, you may not only lose your Iphone like this poor fella but worse your wallet , jewelry and get held up with a gun. Its a major risk, you dont know who around you at any given location that has his friends on site with guns in hand or whatever to jump you. Its really stupid, its exactly like going into a neighborhood and doing a drug deal, there is not much difference risk wise. Sure its a legal transaction but getting robbed obviously is not. Seriously im not the biggest fan of ebay and its fees but its worth the fees to protect yourself. Also there is trade in sites which sure your not getting maximum dollars for your trade but you will live to see another day.

Craiglist is for morons that absolutely have no regard for there own protection. Anyone that uses it deserves there fate only to save or gain a fee dollars. Obviously your life is not important enough and this poor guy will get ziltch from a insurance company if not actually acuse him of insurance fraud . He has absolutely NO proof this even happened. Was it on video, was there a witness. Most cases NO.

Tell you what you want to meet me at a connivence store at 9pm tonight. Even the thought of doing that is stupid and worse doing it than your really a idiot. No offense but the bottom line anything can happen why put yourself in any of those situations. I'm 56 and maybe more mature in thinking and I have been around the block and done many transactions , this is something I would never do. Do I feel bad for this poor soul , well yea I do but this is not a way to learn a lesson it could have been his last, people kill for absolutely no reason. Dont put yourself in a victims position ever.

My 23 year old daughter did a craiglist transaction without my knowledge . I ripped her to no tomorrow on what she did and what could have happened. Trust me I scared the crap out of her and she will never do it again.

Hopefully I just did the same here. Free life lesson

 

[617aircav]

if you have the box try and give them the imei or serial number to the police station so it can be listed as stolen. that might prevent it from being activated

The police can do this?

 

[lenard]

i got a replacement iphone from apple, and i had it unlocked but never activated. i was trying to sell it on craigslist. because i am way too trusting and believing in the goodness of people, i tried to meet up with a person to sell it. he said he wanted to take a look at the screen to see if it was new and just grabbed it from my hand and ran off. i felt like an idiot, but now i was wondering if there's anythign i can do to get the phone blocked. i called att, and they said they can't block it because it was never activated on the network. they then transferred me to apple, who said they couldn't do much either. am i SOL in getting it blocked?

feel real dumb, though financially it might work out better since i have insurance and will get a check cut out to me for the full $700 then i guess.

The days of selling stuff face to face are over, unless you come equipped with gun and bullet proof vest and self defense skills. People try to sell on CL to get the highest price but it's not worth your life or property. Everyone should use non personal methods to sell their stuff. Sorry for your lost.

 

[phpmaven]

Why not use to use craiglists is your question. There is no paper trail either for the buyer or seller. There is no recourse on the sale at all, no credit card protection, no paypal protection. Its a cash deal with also the chance of getting counterfeit money, you may not only lose your Iphone like this poor fella but worse your wallet , jewelry and get held up with a gun. Its a major risk, you dont know who around you at any given location that has his friends on site with guns in hand or whatever to jump you. Its really stupid, its exactly like going into a neighborhood and doing a drug deal, there is not much difference risk wise. Sure its a legal transaction but getting robbed obviously is not. Seriously im not the biggest fan of ebay and its fees but its worth the fees to protect yourself. Also there is trade in sites which sure your not getting maximum dollars for your trade but you will live to see another day.

Craiglist is for morons that absolutely have no regard for there own protection. Anyone that uses it deserves there fate only to save or gain a fee dollars. Obviously your life is not important enough and this poor guy will get ziltch from a insurance company if not actually acuse him of insurance fraud . He has absolutely NO proof this even happened. Was it on video, was there a witness. Most cases NO.

Tell you what you want to meet me at a connivence store at 9pm tonight. Even the thought of doing that is stupid and worse doing it than your really a idiot. No offense but the bottom line anything can happen why put yourself in any of those situations. I'm 56 and maybe more mature in thinking and I have been around the block and done many transactions , this is something I would never do. Do I feel bad for this poor soul , well yea I do but this is not a way to learn a lesson it could have been his last, people kill for absolutely no reason. Dont put yourself in a victims position ever.

My 23 year old daughter did a craiglist transaction without my knowledge . I ripped her to no tomorrow on what she did and what could have happened. Trust me I scared the crap out of her and she will never do it again.

Hopefully I just did the same here. Free life lesson

Complete nonsense. Many of us have been doing Craigslist transactions for years (just sold an iPhone today) with no problem. Just use common sense and meet in a neutral public place that you choose (I always do Starbucks) and you will be fine. Every one of these supposed Craigslist horror stories that you hear are because people didn't use common sense and met somebody out in the open somewhere or even had them come to their house etc... Part of common sense is also not meeting anyone anywhere that is a high crime area where people are getting robbed all the time.

----------

The days of selling stuff face to face are over, unless you come equipped with gun and bullet proof vest and self defense skills. People try to sell on CL to get the highest price but it's not worth your life or property. Everyone should use non personal methods to sell their stuff. Sorry for your lost.

Man, you must live in one rough area.

 

[gtmac]

Went through this on the early phones, having upgraded every year. Amazon Electronic Trade ins have helped keep my streak alive. Too many freaks it even just odd balls on Craigslist.

Sold my iPad 2 to a woman at a Starbucks. She wanted me to teach her how to use it.

I'm just not in that place anymore where meeting weirdos and selling my old phones is even remotely worth the hassle or the risk.

 

[Pompiliu]

You got what you deserved. You are so naive.

How do you think i got my gold 5S? I brought it from a junkie, near a subway station. It was definitely stolen (it had pictures of two kids and their cat).

Hehe. Just $300 for a unlocked 64gigs phone.

 

[sclawis300]

looking over my property policy, it looks like i should be covered. it said it would only not cover theft if it were an unlocked car.

I think you may be overlooking one thing. What is your deductible on your policy? I would think it is at least $500. Also, be prepared for them to deny your claim. That is what they do. Stick to your guns and make them tell you the specific paragraph that excludes your claim. They will most likely say you voluntarily gave him the phone and therefore are not covered. Good luck.

 

[Guy Mancuso]

Complete nonsense. Many of us have been doing Craigslist transactions for years (just sold an iPhone today) with no problem. Just use common sense and meet in a neutral public place that you choose (I always do Starbucks) and you will be fine. Every one of these supposed Craigslist horror stories that you hear are because people didn't use common sense and met somebody out in the open somewhere or even had them come to their house etc... Part of common sense is also not meeting anyone anywhere that is a high crime area where people are getting robbed all the time.

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Man, you must live in one rough area.

There is a old saying my friend. Luck only goes so far. Tell me please what recourse YOU have on the actual transaction itself forget the any physical crime for a second. You have none as a buyer or seller there is zero paper trail or any financial protection at all.

You also live in a area where crime is minimal. Try doing that in a bigger market which is very diverse on many levels. Your being very narrow minded and not thinking on a level outside your area. Keep rolling the dice with that.

I really like to know what makes Starbucks safe . Crimes happen in banks with security. Lol

Your pipe dreaming a Starbucks is a safe place. if there's a door people can run. Btw I never seen a video cam in a Starbucks, maybe I'm wrong but never noticed one.

 

[lenard]

Complete nonsense. Many of us have been doing Craigslist transactions for years (just sold an iPhone today) with no problem. Just use common sense and meet in a neutral public place that you choose (I always do Starbucks) and you will be fine. Every one of these supposed Craigslist horror stories that you hear are because people didn't use common sense and met somebody out in the open somewhere or even had them come to their house etc... Part of common sense is also not meeting anyone anywhere that is a high crime area where people are getting robbed all the time.

----------



Man, you must live in one rough area.

No my area is safe, but remember no area is safe, you heard the line many times "nothing like that has ever happen in my neighbor hood before". Your common sense approach is something I would agree with too.

 

[LoloBond]

i have a cell, but who knows if that's stolen too

For the insurance you need a police report, so you might as well give them the number.

 

[emseven]

Why not use to use craiglists is your question. There is no paper trail either for the buyer or seller. There is no recourse on the sale at all, no credit card protection, no paypal protection. Its a cash deal with also the chance of getting counterfeit money, you may not only lose your Iphone like this poor fella but worse your wallet , jewelry and get held up with a gun. Its a major risk, you dont know who around you at any given location that has his friends on site with guns in hand or whatever to jump you. Its really stupid, its exactly like going into a neighborhood and doing a drug deal, there is not much difference risk wise. Sure its a legal transaction but getting robbed obviously is not. Seriously im not the biggest fan of ebay and its fees but its worth the fees to protect yourself. Also there is trade in sites which sure your not getting maximum dollars for your trade but you will live to see another day.

Craiglist is for morons that absolutely have no regard for there own protection. Anyone that uses it deserves there fate only to save or gain a fee dollars. Obviously your life is not important enough and this poor guy will get ziltch from a insurance company if not actually acuse him of insurance fraud . He has absolutely NO proof this even happened. Was it on video, was there a witness. Most cases NO.

Tell you what you want to meet me at a connivence store at 9pm tonight. Even the thought of doing that is stupid and worse doing it than your really a idiot. No offense but the bottom line anything can happen why put yourself in any of those situations. I'm 56 and maybe more mature in thinking and I have been around the block and done many transactions , this is something I would never do. Do I feel bad for this poor soul , well yea I do but this is not a way to learn a lesson it could have been his last, people kill for absolutely no reason. Dont put yourself in a victims position ever.

My 23 year old daughter did a craiglist transaction without my knowledge . I ripped her to no tomorrow on what she did and what could have happened. Trust me I scared the crap out of her and she will never do it again.

Hopefully I just did the same here. Free life lesson

The big, bad world is so scary! Oh please, I sold the contents of an entire house when moving out of country with no complications. Worst case you get to meet a bunch a cheap imbeciles with mental issues every five transactions. I've sold MacBooks, iPhones and iPads with no negative repercussion.

 

[ucfgrad93]

Why do people use craigslist. If you want to sell something, use eBay and mail it!

I would rather deal with people in person and get cash up front. I just sold some Rockies tickets this week and had no problems. Granted, they were only $20 per ticket. I met people in parking lots and had cash in hand without paying fees or having someone try and rip me off.

Sorry to hear what happened to you OP. You made the right call in not chasing after the guy. A phone isn't worth dying for.

----------

A 9mm shell in his leg would ensure that he isn't going anywhere with my phone.

Call me skeptical, but I doubt you could hit someone in the leg as they are running away from you.

 

[Guy Mancuso]

The big, bad world is so scary! Oh please, I sold the contents of an entire house when moving out of country with no complications. Worst case you get to meet a bunch a cheap imbeciles with mental issues every five transactions. I've sold MacBooks, iPhones and iPads with no negative repercussion.

Oh please not even in same situation. I been buying and selling photo gear for 40 years and walk daily and work daily with thousands of dollars worth of gear to make a living and travel the world. Your living on a farm compared to what goes on in the world. You realize your at your home selling your stuff, a thief does not know what you have in place, at Starbucks he knows you don't have **** in place. Be realistic

I'm outta here, not dealing with stupid people that think there bullet proof.

 

[ritmomundo]

You're not always in the free-and-clear with face to face cash transactions like people here make it seem. My coworker's brother was recently taken to small claims court by a craigslist buyer who claimed he had sold him a faulty $600 camera. I don't know specifics, but in the end, I believe he refunded all the money and got the camera back, but he had to go through the extra headaches of going to court.

 

[BR3W]

for those thinking of buying apple products off craigslist I advise to do so only inside an Apple store. I didn't used to but I will be doing so after this latest ordeal my significant other went through last week. Turns out her newly purchased iPhone has a non-apple display and power button (among other tampering issues). checking for water damage and applecare no longer suffices. I asked the store manager what steps we could reasonable do to safeguard from this kind of scam in the future and her best advice if we wanted to use CL was to have the device verified inside the store prior to purchasing.

 

[taedouni]

Hey man,

Sorry about what happened. That sucks! The last two phones that I sold to someone off craigslist took place at a Verizon store. I always bring a knife with me (safety first) and show the person the phone outside of the store and ask for the money. I then go inside to make sure that there are no problems. When done we say thanks and I go to my car with my hands in my pocket (grabbing my knife just in case I get jumped). Then I drive off.

Always say in your ad that you're meeting at a Verizon store (or whichever carrier you use). It'll attract legit buyers and steer away thieves.

 

[ihav0frnds]

I think you may be overlooking one thing. What is your deductible on your policy? I would think it is at least $500. Also, be prepared for them to deny your claim. That is what they do. Stick to your guns and make them tell you the specific paragraph that excludes your claim. They will most likely say you voluntarily gave him the phone and therefore are not covered. Good luck.

i have a deductible of zero. i didn't voluntarily give it to him. he snatched it from my hands.

 

[c613m]

Wow... I deal with Kijiji / Craigslist quite often and I have to admit, if I was in the States, I'd be avoiding it like the plague. Thankfully in Canada 99% of the population don't have handguns.

Sorry to hear that happening OP...

 

[calaverasgrande]

Nothing wrong with Craigslist. Some people just don't have common sense. I've sold dozens of electronics over $100+ without any issues; always met the buyer inside Starbucks, bank, or police station. Don't know why people choose to sell at some corner or at their home.

I've always conducted purchases in my home. But I'm a big guy, with a pitbull that I make a big show of putting away (and she barks like 3 dogs in a fight). And there are a couple random weapons hanging on the wall around the house. People are usually terrified by the time I show them the bass guitar/computer/synth I am selling.
It's like going to Varg Vikernes house.

As far as meeting in starbucks. What does that accomplish?
I was in a Starbucks a few months ago and some guy starts hassling this lady in line for money. When she says no, he really began going off. Calling her VERY foul names, and this was an older woman.
Being an old fashioned guy from the south I inserted myself into the situation. I'm not a macho guy who picks fights, but where I am from you just don't let some bleep pass.
Because every single other person in the Starbucks was trying very hard to not be bothered.
Starbucks employees are not going to be a hero to save your iphone/DSLR/MBP. Neither will any other customers. The only benefit I can see is that it is not your home, and it may be easier to find.
But as I stated above I prefer to meet strangers on home turf, and give them a good fright by making a show of putting away the dog.

Another thing, you really need to talk by phone to the people first.
Most thugs simply can not put one word after another on the phone without dropping a few idioms that belie their "street" mentality.

If you think buying and selling phone son CL is rough, try cars.
"so you don't have a reg or a pink slip. How do I know its not stolen?"

 

[phpmaven]

No my area is safe, but remember no area is safe, you heard the line many times "nothing like that has ever happen in my neighbor hood before". Your common sense approach is something I would agree with too.

I'm certainly not suggesting that you should abandon common sense just because you live in a safe area. That would be the antithesis of common sense.

 

[CEmajr]

Why not use to use craiglists is your question. There is no paper trail either for the buyer or seller. There is no recourse on the sale at all, no credit card protection, no paypal protection. Its a cash deal with also the chance of getting counterfeit money, you may not only lose your Iphone like this poor fella but worse your wallet , jewelry and get held up with a gun. Its a major risk, you dont know who around you at any given location that has his friends on site with guns in hand or whatever to jump you. Its really stupid, its exactly like going into a neighborhood and doing a drug deal, there is not much difference risk wise. Sure its a legal transaction but getting robbed obviously is not. Seriously im not the biggest fan of ebay and its fees but its worth the fees to protect yourself. Also there is trade in sites which sure your not getting maximum dollars for your trade but you will live to see another day.

Craiglist is for morons that absolutely have no regard for there own protection. Anyone that uses it deserves there fate only to save or gain a fee dollars. Obviously your life is not important enough and this poor guy will get ziltch from a insurance company if not actually acuse him of insurance fraud . He has absolutely NO proof this even happened. Was it on video, was there a witness. Most cases NO.

Tell you what you want to meet me at a connivence store at 9pm tonight. Even the thought of doing that is stupid and worse doing it than your really a idiot. No offense but the bottom line anything can happen why put yourself in any of those situations. I'm 56 and maybe more mature in thinking and I have been around the block and done many transactions , this is something I would never do. Do I feel bad for this poor soul , well yea I do but this is not a way to learn a lesson it could have been his last, people kill for absolutely no reason. Dont put yourself in a victims position ever.

My 23 year old daughter did a craiglist transaction without my knowledge . I ripped her to no tomorrow on what she did and what could have happened. Trust me I scared the crap out of her and she will never do it again.

Hopefully I just did the same here. Free life lesson

Sounds like you live in some fantasy world. The real world isn't as scary as you make it out to be. I've bought/sold literally hundreds of iPhones between 2010 and now on Craigslist and have never been robbed, mugged, or attacked. You just have to use common sense about where and when you meet people. Of course if you do something blatantly stupid like meeting at a gas station a 10pm then you're just asking for something bad to happen.

General rules for Craigslist:
- If a transaction is above $200, bring another person with you and meet INSIDE a public place. Mall food courts and bank lobbies work well. The other person can't run or anything. If they refuse, sell to someone else.
- Don't meet after 7pm. If they want the phone bad enough they'll wait until the next day
- If you're doing the buying then never have more cash on hand than needed to purchase the device and don't pull your cash out until the phone is already in your hands and you're done inspecting its condition.
- Try to read people by the way they talk/text on the phone. Usually if they sound jittery, nervous, or shady on the phone then pass up on the transaction and sell to someone else. Use your sense of judgement and don't let your greed blind you.
- Also make sure to have the person meet you in an area you're familiar with. Your risk increases exponentially when you meet in areas that you're not familiar with. That goes for both buying and selling. Again use your best judgement and don't let your greed blind you to meet in a place you're not comfortable with.
- If the person says they don't have a car and are meeting on foot, meet them inside a place, never outside. Even for low value transactions. Makes it harder to run.
- Craigslist is the one place where I would say stereotyping people is acceptable. Once you are face to face with the person, keep your guard up and be on alert if they look to you like the type of person who might try and run off with your stuff. Obviously a middle-aged person is pretty unlikely to attempt to run off with your device.
- NEVER meet at/near your house.

Use common sense and you will avoid most problems.

 

[phpmaven]

There is a old saying my friend. Luck only goes so far. Tell me please what recourse YOU have on the actual transaction itself forget the any physical crime for a second. You have none as a buyer or seller there is zero paper trail or any financial protection at all.

You also live in a area where crime is minimal. Try doing that in a bigger market which is very diverse on many levels. Your being very narrow minded and not thinking on a level outside your area. Keep rolling the dice with that.

I really like to know what makes Starbucks safe . Crimes happen in banks with security. Lol

Your pipe dreaming a Starbucks is a safe place. if there's a door people can run. Btw I never seen a video cam in a Starbucks, maybe I'm wrong but never noticed one.

I just used Starbucks as an example. If you meet inside somewhere of your choosing that is full of people, the chances of being robbed are pretty slim. Of course somebody could always snatch the iPhone out of your hand and run, but is somebody really going to go through all of the trouble of communicating back and forth with you and setup a meeting and drive perhaps 10-20 miles to meet you so that they can snatch a phone out of your hand and run? Wouldn't it be a whole lot easier to just grab one out of the hand of somebody walking down the street or just walk into your local Starbucks and grab one of the 50 iPhones that are probably in there?

In fact, I would would submit to you that there's more of a chance that somebody would snatch an iPhone at random than go through all of that trouble if they wanted to steal one.

I already said the in a high crime area all bets are off. If I lived in Detroit or downtown L.A., I wouldn't even meet somebody in front of a police station.

Of course there are no guarantees that nothing bad is ever going to happen to you even if you do everything you can to be safe but the risks are very minimal if you use your head. There are certain risks inherent in everyday life that we just accept. Walking down the street or driving on the freeway or flying etc... Most of use common sense there as well and manage to be ok. Sure, sometimes cars jump the sidewalk and run people over and sometimes accidents happen on the freeway that we can't avoid and sometimes planes crash, but we still do those things.

As to your other point about there being no paper trail, I can see the risk as a buyer, but as a seller, what the heck do I care if I have no paper trail?

 

[ihav0frnds]

i see from the IMEI 013441006453204 that he now has activated it. anything i can do to get it blocked? any one know how to figure out what network he used?