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Jacoblee23

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Nov 10, 2011
1,505
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I bought this phone for my daughter for $15 on an online yard sale, so she can use it as an iPod for educational games. Well, the seller didn't know his password when I tried to reset it to factory settings. So I enter DFU mode not knowing it won't activate... So it comes up with an entirely different email than the one the seller had (the first letter was different) and its asking me for the email and password. I contact the seller again and he can't remember any of this and offers to take the motherboard out of another iPhone he has and put it in this one. It's only $15, but I hate to be screwed out of any money. I have tried the various "hacks" out there and can't find a download without doing stupid bull crap surveys. Am I screwed on this deal and should I just give up trying to find a work around? If anyone knows how to fix this please message me.
 
So, he replaced the motherboard. There was no iCloud account tied to the phone and all appeared to be fine. I even signed in to my iCloud account. So I then restored it to factory settings and then the activation lock comes up AGAIN except this time with a different email. What in the world is going on?
 
So, he replaced the motherboard. There was no iCloud account tied to the phone and all appeared to be fine. I even signed in to my iCloud account. So I then restored it to factory settings and then the activation lock comes up AGAIN except this time with a different email. What in the world is going on?


Who is he?

The iCloud account information is stored in the circuit board. Sounds like the new but used board was also iCloud locked and there is still little to nothing that can be done.
 
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So, he replaced the motherboard. There was no iCloud account tied to the phone and all appeared to be fine. I even signed in to my iCloud account. So I then restored it to factory settings and then the activation lock comes up AGAIN except this time with a different email. What in the world is going on?
I know you hate to be screwed out of money but is this worth $15?

Obviously the seller is shady.

Consider:

- Seller can replace a logicboard but cannot remember his own password.
- A 4S for $15…online.
- Seller had no issue replacing a logicboard for you when all you've spent is $15.

If it were me, I'd stop wasting my time, accept the loss and deal with the brick I've bought. Continuing down this road is likely to cost you more money at some point without getting any resolution to your problem.

Just my 2¢.
 
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Who is he?

The iCloud account information is stored in the circuit board. Sounds like the new but used board was also iCloud locked and there is still little to nothing that can be done.

The seller. Now he isn't replying. I think I am just going to give up on this.
[doublepost=1470676402][/doublepost]
I know you hate to be screwed out of money but is this worth $15?

Obviously the seller is shady.

Consider:

- Seller can replace a logicboard but cannot remember his own password.
- A 4S for $15…online.
- Seller had no issue replacing a logicboard for you when all you've spent is $15.

If it were me, I'd stop wasting my time, accept the loss and deal with the brick I've bought. Continuing down this road is likely to cost you more money at some point without getting any resolution to your problem.

Just my 2¢.

You're right. I don't have the conscience to use what could possibly be a stolen iPhone anyway.
 
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The seller. Now he isn't replying. I think I am just going to give up on this.
I think that's smart.

Probably a scam where the seller gets rid of Activation Locked iPhones at $15 a pop. Gets rid of the phones and seller makes at least a little bit of money off them. And now it's someone else's problem and no longer the seller's problem.
 
The seller. Now he isn't replying. I think I am just going to give up on this.
[doublepost=1470676402][/doublepost]

You're right. I don't have the conscience to use what could possibly be a stolen iPhone anyway.

Exactly right, give up.
 
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The seller. Now he isn't replying. I think I am just going to give up on this.
[doublepost=1470676402][/doublepost]

You're right. I don't have the conscience to use what could possibly be a stolen iPhone anyway.

I thought you bought it at a yard sale? He fixes iPhones too?:eek:

Yep, you need to get away from him, count your fingers!

Sorry but you are lucky it is only $15:apple:
 
And I just found out it was an iPhone 4 instead of a 4s. Lol. I sure got had. At least it was only $15. Lesson learned.
[doublepost=1470678961][/doublepost]The reason I was optimistic was good deals can be found on online yard sales. Last week I bought my daughter an iPad 2 for $60 and I haven't had any issues except for lag due to it coming with iOS 9. The iPad itself though was in perfect condition and no problems.
 
It's insane that the guy would even change out the board on a $15 item.
Perhaps the seller was thinking it would reduce inventory by one more device and get the buyer off his back. If so, it didn't work so the seller is just no longer responding.
 
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