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Here is the thing, he is going to a lot of trouble if all he was really after was a free 4S. He has nothing to prove to anyone here, we are in no way responsible for replacing his phone. If Apple asked for that proof and he did not want to provide it then that would be another story. All he has done here is come to post about his experience. Why should he go out of his way to take a picture to make anyone on here feel better? If he was going to go to all that trouble then a picture of a 4S box would prove nothing anyway since he could get his hands on one if he really wanted to.
 
Here is the thing, he is going to a lot of trouble if all he was really after was a free 4S. He has nothing to prove to anyone here, we are in no way responsible for replacing his phone. If Apple asked for that proof and he did not want to provide it then that would be another story. All he has done here is come to post about his experience. Why should he go out of his way to take a picture to make anyone on here feel better? If he was going to go to all that trouble then a picture of a 4S box would prove nothing anyway since he could get his hands on one if he really wanted to.

I don't completely disagree, but a picture or other means of proof just seems too easy. I'm all for sharing personal experiences on forums. It doesn't matter to me or anyone else on here if he's lying or not. It just doesn't affect us (at all.) My reasoning is what I've already mentioned - it would take less than 30 seconds to prove his story. So why have people doubt you when you can easily shut them up?

I suppose I'm too logical.
 
I'm just curious as to why the OP repeatedly posts "screenshots" for what appears to be an iPhone4? How does that support his claim? Is that supposed to be the one he got back?:confused:
 
No offence, but why should I care about your approval?

But to answer your concern, yes I do have a family, a family whom is currently divided in two. I reside with my mother, she does not possess a mobile phone, at all. So no, I don't actually have access to a device to capture such an image; it's not my worry either to run about obtaining a device for this purpose, why should I? I've done nothing wrong.

To all those whom doubt: The police were informed, there's nothing shady at all - I'm not an idiot, the economy is bad enough without fools taking advantage of a large company hoping it'll go unnoticed.

You know no one anywhere (home, work, etc.) that has a phone with a camera that can take a pic of he 4S box with the Apple serial number on it and email it to you? I find this incredibly hard to believe. I feel your pain if this story is true but a simple picture and giving Apple your 4S serial number so they can check things out might help. Seriously, it would have been one of the first things I would have done.
 
A question to Paul; are you certain it's an American iPhone? You or online non-Apple sites are not able to tell via its serial number. You have to actually check the model on the iPhone in its about screen. Most online sites will post the American model number because its the default Apple one others will just post the local model number.
 
Like others have said mate, its difficult to understand why there are no pictures of the box/etc. Here is an easy way, I know it seems like you're more comfortable with taking screenshots of things. iTunes will actually provide you with the IMEI and SN of the last connected iPhone. Here's how:

Choose iTunes > About iTunes (Mac) or Help > About iTunes (Windows) while holding the Control (CTRL) key.
Release the Control key.

As the iTunes and QuickTime version information scrolls, you will see the serial number and IMEI of the last-connected iPhone.

Here's a few tips that'll make grabbing a screenshot even easier:

Hold down the Option key (Shift key in Windows) to reverse the scrolling.
Press the Space bar to pause the scrolling.

You can copy this information onto the Clipboard and paste it into a document:
In Mac OS X, choose Edit > Copy (or Command-C). In Windows, press Control-C.

I think we'd all love to see the output on that one.
 
I wouldnt trust that site to much (www.appleserialnumberinfo.com) as mine came back with this and its a UK orange phone (officially unlocked) not Vinaphone or AT&T as it suggests:

6301650193_b712caf592.jpg
 
You know no one anywhere (home, work, etc.) that has a phone with a camera that can take a pic of he 4S box with the Apple serial number on it and email it to you? I find this incredibly hard to believe. I feel your pain if this story is true but a simple picture and giving Apple your 4S serial number so they can check things out might help. Seriously, it would have been one of the first things I would have done.

Be careful. Your posts might be deleted, as mine were, but they'll leave up this qoute. Clever huh? I think I've lost faith in this site.
 
I have to say I'm falling on the side of the doubters with this. There just seems to be too much not adding up.

The original post has been edited but was this phone not purchased off Gumtree? You may well have an original 4s box, and receipt, but the phone could still have been an iPhone 4. When the 4s came out there were a lot misleading iPhone adverts on eBay and Gumtree.

Evidence from iTunes maybe able to clear this up. Many people have written on here asking for further proof of ownership and use. While I agree that you are under no burden to produce such evidence, as you have chosen to air your grievance on a public forum, you can then perhaps not be surprised that people don't blindly follow your word as gospel?

That you have chosen to show such indignation online - that you have been wronged by Apple and The Royal Mail - may also be interpreted as a bid to prove innocence, adding to the weight of your claims, but equally could be considered as part of the overall ruse.

Whenever one of my friends has lost their iPhone the police have, and I'm assuming in conjunction with Apple, cancelled that phone using the IMEI number. I am assuming this has been done and if not why not?

I look forward to seeing how this thread concludes!
 
Here is the thing, he is going to a lot of trouble if all he was really after was a free 4S. He has nothing to prove to anyone here, we are in no way responsible for replacing his phone. If Apple asked for that proof and he did not want to provide it then that would be another story. All he has done here is come to post about his experience. Why should he go out of his way to take a picture to make anyone on here feel better? If he was going to go to all that trouble then a picture of a 4S box would prove nothing anyway since he could get his hands on one if he really wanted to.

Because as this thread develops, the more it looks like a scam. He has provided evidence he feels relevant - look, it's an AT&T phone - but none of the evidence to prove that he owns, or has ever owned, an iPhone 4s.

It's not really a lot of effort to post some replies on a forum so when he contacts Apple he can say "and there's lot's of discussion going on about it on the forums."

Maybe I'm very wrong here but I'm coming round to the conclusion that perhaps he was scammed and is now trying to make up for his error.

I call shenanigans on this entire thread!
 
Because as this thread develops, the more it looks like a scam. He has provided evidence he feels relevant - look, it's an AT&T phone - but none of the evidence to prove that he owns, or has ever owned, an iPhone 4s.
I don't see why he has to prove it to us? He was using the phone previously so either Apple or his carrier should have the necessary information about the device he was using. But he needs to find any iPhone 4S box and take a picture of it for everyone will believe him? They aren't that hard to find even if he didn't have one. People are asking for the serial number. There are other threads here where people mention to never give your serial number out to random people. I hope the situation works out for him.
 
I dont see the need for people on here to requrie proof or "it didnt happen"

Like it matters to any of you if he's trying to blag an iPhone 4S out of Apple!
People should accept it for what it is and either help or stay out of it.
 
I dont see the need for people on here to requrie proof or "it didnt happen"

Like it matters to any of you if he's trying to blag an iPhone 4S out of Apple!
People should accept it for what it is and either help or stay out of it.

I also don't see why it matters to us that he gets his 4s back. I guess we don't need to help him then.
 
I don't see why he has to prove it to us? He was using the phone previously so either Apple or his carrier should have the necessary information about the device he was using. But he needs to find any iPhone 4S box and take a picture of it for everyone will believe him? They aren't that hard to find even if he didn't have one. People are asking for the serial number. There are other threads here where people mention to never give your serial number out to random people. I hope the situation works out for him.

And in most instances I would absolutely agree with what you're saying - I don't believe he should reveal his serial number in full - however, in my mind there seems to be inconsistencies with this story; the evidence he choses to reveal (everything that pertains to the iPhone 4 has been shown yet nothing 'needs' to be shown for the 4s) and the results of interactions with the various third parties involved. (I'm still unsure if this phone has been canceled or not?)



I also don't see why it matters to us that he gets his 4s back. I guess we don't need to help him then.

There are many people on here who are, or would be willing, to help however when there is so much doubt surrounding the background I for one would be unwilling to get involved.

I realise that I don't think even once the OP has requested for help however, posting anything on an active forum, such as here, was inevitably going to result in at least some feedback some of which was likely not to be a generic platitude as a response.

I genuinely hope I am proved wrong in my suspicions however, on an open forum with debate freely taking place, I am still verging on the side of those who believe that something about this doesn't quite add up.

----------

I dont see the need for people on here to requrie proof or "it didnt happen"

Like it matters to any of you if he's trying to blag an iPhone 4S out of Apple!
People should accept it for what it is and either help or stay out of it.

But as this is an open forum, not a specific forum for 'help wanted', why should we be required to 'help or stay out of it'?

Are we too not entitled to request more information before deciding upon offering our own help?
 
But as this is an open forum, not a specific forum for 'help wanted', why should we be required to 'help or stay out of it'?

Are we too not entitled to request more information before deciding upon offering our own help?

You’re entitled to do whatever you please. No one is forcing you to do or not do anything.

I just don’t get this incessant need by people for proof. What does it matter if he’s telling the truth or not, it’s not going to affect you in the slightest!

I had the same problem the other day. I asked for advice and was bombarded with crap and proof or it didn’t happen posts. Not helpful in the slightest!
 
As another forum member who has been following this thread without comment, I have also concluded that this is a massive untruth tale.

Since my opinion has absolutely no bearing on anything, especially with regard to its resolution if in fact it is true, I am posting simply because as a public forum, it begs for individual members thoughts.

What I see in my own analysis is one of two possible explanations.

Either

1) the OP is attempting to create this massive thread to somehow use as "evidence" in order to create a big PR mess for Apple to resolve (like maybe it gets picked up by some other media/Internet outlet for public consumption). The obvious goal is to get a 4S from Apple as an "apology".

or

2) the OP is one of those people who "gets off" on the attention, independent of whether it consists of positive or negative commentary. From my limited experience with those who do this, the negative commentary actually provides a bigger "kick" than the positive.

Perhaps the story is, in fact, true. In that case, I apologize to the OP for being such a cynical skeptic and accusing him/her of weaving this fanciful tale.

My vibes, based on a LOT of years of life experiences, however, tell me this story is a load of crap. Just one man's opinion.
 
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i know you said earlier you didn't want to turn the iphone 4 on, but didn't you have to plug it in to itunes to get some of those screenshots you posted? the one that said what software version its running? or was that somehow from apples site? if you have turned it on, why can't you take a picture of the 4s box with the 4's camera?

you don't owe anybody here proof (and frankly i don't even see how a picture of a box is "proof") but if i were you, i would do it just to shut people up and give myself less of a headache :rolleyes:

good luck though, hope everything gets worked out!
 
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