I bought an iPhone and I think it is Stolen. What to do?

[sksldh0308]

It happened to me

Same thing happened to me. I bought an iPhone 5 on craigslist. When I made my first phone call it gave me message that the phone is blocked on your network. I called the network provider and they told the IMEI# is reported stolen but they didn't have any information of the owner. weird! I went to the store and they looked up for the original owner and told me the line is suspended and they can not give me any information of the original owner. I have been to trying to get in touch with the craigslist seller but he is not answering my phone calls, text messages and emails. I am going to the police station today to report. I hope they won't lock me up. lol

I do have all the correspondence with the seller and his cell phone number is still active.

Please suggest if I am doing the right thing. IPhone didn't come cheap thou since it is in good condition and unlocked.

 

[predation]

It's like the basis for a cheesy film

would have been more cheesy if the OP and the girl at the store fell in love got married and had kids. lol

 

[moonman239]

So I bought an Iphone on Craigslist the Other day. We met up today and i thought there wasn't anything sketchy about it so i paid him. I checked up and he didn't give me a box or anything and everything was deleted. Is there anyway i can check to see if this belonged to someone and wasn't stolen.
If it is i wanna give it back as soon as possible. To the owner, obviously. I tried to contact the craigslist seller, and his number wasn't working and his account was deleted and so.
So should i go to the police and leave it there? Or to a cell phone provider?

Give it to the police and tell them you think the phone is stolen. They can take it from there.

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Same thing happened to me. I bought an iPhone 5 on craigslist. When I made my first phone call it gave me message that the phone is blocked on your network. I called the network provider and they told the IMEI# is reported stolen but they didn't have any information of the owner. weird! I went to the store and they looked up for the original owner and told me the line is suspended and they can not give me any information of the original owner. I have been to trying to get in touch with the craigslist seller but he is not answering my phone calls, text messages and emails. I am going to the police station today to report. I hope they won't lock me up. lol

I do have all the correspondence with the seller and his cell phone number is still active.

Please suggest if I am doing the right thing. IPhone didn't come cheap thou since it is in good condition and unlocked.

You're doing the right thing. I wouldn't worry about being sentenced, because you handed it in, something a bona-fide criminal wouldn't do. You may have accidentally committed an illegal act, but the police and attorneys have better things to do than have you sentenced.

 

[0000757]

guess what guys. It was stolen. But i asked the workers to call the person to see if they can come to the store and they did. It was a girl and she was all nice. By this time she already bought a new one. I told her the story and she told me that it's okay she believes me. She had the imei unblocked or something like that unblocked and said i can keep it cause it gave her hope that there is honest people out there. But i AM going to do more research to find that Craigslist guy and try to get him caught so he doesnt do it again. Thanks for all your help.

You are an amazing human being.

You deserve 10 points!

 

[617aircav]

Seems you suspected the phone was stolen, bought it anyway, then your conscience was eating at you. Good job returning though. Next time call in the esn number, or enter it on swappa. I buy tons of phones on craigslist, and have only encountered one stolen one. Since I bought it on a military base, I took it to the mp station but they said they couldn't do anything.

 

[violetgoose]

guess what guys. It was stolen. But i asked the workers to call the person to see if they can come to the store and they did. It was a girl and she was all nice. By this time she already bought a new one. I told her the story and she told me that it's okay she believes me. She had the imei unblocked or something like that unblocked and said i can keep it cause it gave her hope that there is honest people out there. But i AM going to do more research to find that Craigslist guy and try to get him caught so he doesnt do it again. Thanks for all your help.

You are def a good person! I am so happy just reading about this and what you have done. Are you enjoying your new phone?

Also let us know if you DO find the thief!