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Users Report Some iPhone 7 and 6s Models Activation Locked With Wrong Apple IDs

Floris said:
It doesn't have yahoo on there yet. A bigger source (2x the accounts) is leakedsource dot com
[doublepost=1476690219][/doublepost]Maybe I missed it, but has Apple given an official explanation or solution for this?
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no official explanation yet... an Apple Engineer unlocked my phone yesterday, I signed in to my icloud account, left it signed in for about 6-8 hours yesterday and then did a sign-out and "Erase All Content & Settings". I then left it be overnight. Apparently, it is still unlocked as of this morning according to the Apple adviser I've been working with.

Allegedly, nothing has been done in the system and the unlock that took place by the engineer was the same as the two prior unlocks that were completed by the normal team that handles these unlocks...so IDK... I'm certainly not confident the unlock will "stick" but for now it appears to have stayed unlocked for about 16 hours.
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rhenley said:
It has been over a week now since I went to the Apple Store "Genius's'" and the originally compromised iPhone 6s is still unlocked. I completely restored, and setup the phone as new over the weekend without any problem. It appears for the time being that Apple has some solution available for these locked phones.

However AppleCare and my AppleID for this device are still incorrectly recorded, and there appears to be no solution available, nor interest from Apple to fix that data. Because of that I tend to think at some future point the phone will re-lock with a bogus email address.
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My AppleCare showed up incorrectly on this phone that has been having the lock issues. An AppleCare account administration adviser was able to get it corrected in the system and reset things so it displayed correctly.
 
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rhenley said:
It has been over a week now since I went to the Apple Store "Genius's'" and the originally compromised iPhone 6s is still unlocked. I completely restored, and setup the phone as new over the weekend without any problem. It appears for the time being that Apple has some solution available for these locked phones.

However AppleCare and my AppleID for this device are still incorrectly recorded, and there appears to be no solution available, nor interest from Apple to fix that data. Because of that I tend to think at some future point the phone will re-lock with a bogus email address.
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I wonder if there is not some AppleCare related problem/compromise in this whole mess. Both devices I have had a problem with had AppleCare (and AppleCare Plus, in fact) and it may just be me, but it seems I have seen a disproportionate number of AppleCare related mentions in this thread.

BTW, I had the exact same problem with losing my AppleCare coverage as recorded by the AppleCare website when they initially fixed my first device. When they resolved the coverage recording/presentation, the bogus lock re-occurred. As they say, be careful of what you ask for. Good luck all!
 
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For the second time I went to the Apple store because my 6S Plus relocked. This time, the manager was well aware of the problem, and mentioned they are working on a solution. I had the phone activated, but not yet logged to ANY iCloud Account (the Find my iPhone was off).

Yet - the apple web site Activation Lock reported the serial number and IMEI were locked.

The Apple store verified the serial was indeed locked to a random iCloud account (and yet the device itself was not signed in to anything). They unlocked it once again, but I asked that it be replaced, which the did.

Clearly they have an ongoing problem - somehow, someone, is identifying valid IMEIs not locked to an iCloud account, cloning the IMEI and locking them to the iCloud of their choice.

The problem is that this complicates the transfer or sale of legitimate iPhones and creates wasted time for customers, Apple Support and Stores.

As mentioned above, if only the WSJ or NYT would run with the story it may escalate this to a fix
 
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Interesting theory on the apple care. Has everyone that has had this issue, also had apple care on the device?
 
My new iPhone 7plus JB had two different emails for iTunes in it. When I hit skip it prompted me with another random email. Apple tech called me as they didn't want to chat about it online and said my phone was secure and offered me some freebies for my hassle (cases, lightning cable, ear pods) super weird
 
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update- I had the phone replaced last night at an Apple store. I've spent 3 weeks working with Apple on this off and on and just didn't have any more time to devote to this.

I've yet to receive any answer from Apple as to what caused the issues with this particular device. Every time I pointed it out I was led a different direction by the advisor. I know Apple culture is super secretive and they won't come right out and admit things like this unless a major news source does a piece on it and forces the issue. a "few" individuals reporting the problem isn't enough for widespread PR about it sadly...


oh well....sigh
 
Genius bar replacement -- activation locked again.

This one is in an interesting state though.. I had activated the phone, but, didn't log into iCloud. It's usable, but, NOT logged into any iCloud account.

iCloud.com/activationlock says it's locked.

The phone thinks it isn't.

I can actually lock/unlock it locally, but iCloud continues to show it as locked.

A full reset would brick the phone. ANY full reset.

This is such amazing BS... My devices are completely screwed until Apple solves this!
 
I got the activation lock today on a 6s I was trying to sell. I am a bonehead in that I included a picture of the back label in my ad. I have scheduled a Genius Bar appt and will be lobbying for a new phone. I definitely think this is hacker activity.

I hope apple is coming up with an alternative approach to locking.
 
I had same issue, sold my old 6s Plus to a friend when I bought the 7 Plus. I correctly and fully followed the instructions from Apple on removing my data from the phone and removing the phone from my account, including Find My Phone. My friend called as when he tried to activate it, it wanted an Apple ID, the first letter of which did not match ANY ID or name I had EVER used. We Googled and found info about hackers getting the MEI or SN# of Apple iPhones to use on cloned or counterfeit phones, and...I kinda think that's what happened. I called Apple, they wanted proof I owned the 6s Plus, so I sent a PDF of my receipt when I bought it, and they sent some codes to my email and iPhone to verify it was me. It took them almost 3 days, but, they DID unlock the phone and my friend set it up for his use.
 
Has anyone worked out what is going on with is yet? Just wondering and it might not be it but I just came across this video on YouTube where someone shows how to get past an activation lock by removing a chip inside and using a device to change the serial number and reattaching the chip.

 
WhiteHawk said:
Has anyone worked out what is going on with is yet? Just wondering and it might not be it but I just came across this video on YouTube where someone shows how to get past an activation lock by removing a chip inside and using a device to change the serial number and reattaching the chip.

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That video was posted back at #42. Apple (it seems) doesn't want to acknowledge the issue publicly. They are going to have to devise a way to "marry" or "fingerprint" the IMEI AND serial number to each and every device going forward. That way, when a device attempts to be "activated", they can authorize not just the serial number, but the entire "package" - SN, IMEI and device. I would think this is a way to prevent this work around in the future.

In the meantime, if your selling a Apple product, protect yourself and your buyer by not posting pics of the SN and IMEI.
 
So, just happened to me as well. I just got my iPhone 7 Plus from AT&T last Thursday. I deleted my account and settings on my old iPhone 6s Plus and was going to setup it up for my wife so that she could migrate from her old 6 to the 6s Plus. I came across an activation lock on mine too that was not either of my apple accounts. I called AT&T, they escalated it to Apple. The first Apple tech noted that the phone was on a Chinese carrier and she escalated it up to a senior Apple specialist. She wanted me to provide them with a receipt, which I just did. I thought I had purchased it from AT&T, but looking back over my emails, I found out that I purchased it from an official Apple Store.

Looking through the thread, at least I know this is an issue due to hacks...

Looking forward to seeing what Apple does for me and for others next.
 
Two weeks after submitting my information to Apple, support still hasn't unlocked my iPhone. Are you kidding me.

Going to trade my old iPhone in to Apple for store credit at this point - I can't sell this on Craigslist in good conscience, the next person who buys this won't be able to unlock it and that just wouldn't be fair. I had someone with $450 in cash waiting to hand over to me, so I'm easily losing out on >$100 because of this. Argh.
 
Manacit said:
Two weeks after submitting my information to Apple, support still hasn't unlocked my iPhone. Are you kidding me.
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I presume you provided them with the sales receipt and everything they requested? That is highly unusual that it would take Apple this long to unlock your device. After I provided AC with the original receipt, it took them 2 days to unlock my 6s before I traded up to 7.

I would call them and reference your case number and ask for an update.
 
I had this issue quite a while ago with an iPhone 4. Same situation - someone else's ID already entered. I was told (by the dude at the ATT Store) that this was because factory people have to enter their ID to install & run resident software. Sometimes they forget to remove their info before packaging. Seemed reasonable to me. I thought it was also possible that random tests might produce the same results. It would explain the Chinese email address in that phone from Best Buy, maybe.
 
Dealing with this on my iPhone 6 Plus that I'm trying to sell after upgrading to an iPhone 7 Plus. Did everything I was supposed to, sent it off, and the buyer sent it back saying that Activation Lock was activated.

Purchased through AT&T Next, and oddly enough, none of that paperwork lists the SN or IMEI anywhere. So I had to chat with AT&T customer service and have them work up an email.

In the process of Apple reviewing that paperwork and hopefully getting back to me soon so I can unlock this stupid phone (that I have no confidence in selling anymore).
 
agr70 said:
Dealing with this on my iPhone 6 Plus that I'm trying to sell after upgrading to an iPhone 7 Plus. Did everything I was supposed to, sent it off, and the buyer sent it back saying that Activation Lock was activated.

Purchased through AT&T Next, and oddly enough, none of that paperwork lists the SN or IMEI anywhere. So I had to chat with AT&T customer service and have them work up an email.

In the process of Apple reviewing that paperwork and hopefully getting back to me soon so I can unlock this stupid phone (that I have no confidence in selling anymore).
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Keep the phone in the family maybe, until it's sorted out - and have the phone as a very pretty second camera or game console, or just an extra phone for traveling or in the car.

once it seems the activation stuff is sorted, you can always try selling it again?

Sigh, sorry to hear so many people are having this issue. I hope they figure out what's actually causing this.
 
agr70 said:
Dealing with this on my iPhone 6 Plus that I'm trying to sell after upgrading to an iPhone 7 Plus. Did everything I was supposed to, sent it off, and the buyer sent it back saying that Activation Lock was activated.

Purchased through AT&T Next, and oddly enough, none of that paperwork lists the SN or IMEI anywhere. So I had to chat with AT&T customer service and have them work up an email.

In the process of Apple reviewing that paperwork and hopefully getting back to me soon so I can unlock this stupid phone (that I have no confidence in selling anymore).
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[doublepost=1477787056][/doublepost]Had the exact same problem. Upgrade to iPhone 7 Plus from 6S Plus. Erased my phone, but before I did I took a picture of "About" screen for posting later on eBay. Couple weeks went by and decided to list on eBay, but turned on to make sure battery was charged and to make sure buyer would not have any problems with it. Well to my surprise there was an activation lock with unknown email "a......a@yahoo.com". Never had a yahoo account. Wow, what do to next. Well I took it to Apple store last night to see what they could do for me. They didn't have any record of my phone, but I could swear they replaced my old one with this one in early summer. At first they said they couldn't do anything for me, but after showing this forum thread and showing I had a pic of the "About" screen, they started to believe me I was owner of iphone. With alittle help from the sympathetic girl at the Genius Bar talking to her manager they decided to unlock my iphone. I finally thought I was getting somewhere until when they tried to unlock with their handheld device it popped up "Escalate to AppleCare". Oh no! After them talking to Apple Care for an hour they couldn't figure it out and they would get back to me in a week or so. What???? I know where this is going. In about a week they will email me and say they won't be able to help. Why don't they just get a hold of this guy who locked my phone and ask him what the deal is? I checked with Verizon who I have the iphone with and it has a clean ESN. BTW, the IMEI and serial number are still the same on phone so why would someone want to hijack it? Also when I check on Apples warranty site it says I have AppleCare til Sept 2017??? Never bought Applecare.
What is going on with Apple? I think they have a very serious security flaw and until more people start to say something nothing will be done.
 
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Wow. Same thing happening to me. Wiped the phone, released it from Icloud to sell and after the hello screen it comes up with some random ass yahoo Icloud account you need to login to. Status shows unlocked on apple's online checker. This is baffling and unnacceptable. Everyone be sure to save all your correspondence for this mess. Smells like a class action.
 
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Been dealing with this myself on my 6S+, which after selling it somehow it got locked to an @icloud.com email account, which I didn't even think was possible since you can't use your iCloud email as your Apple ID, at least I don't think you can.

I went through the Apple Support hoops and submitted my receipt. After an hour of my time they said OK they'll unlock it. But even after receiving the official email with how to proceed, it was still locked to an @icloud.com address. Called Apple again and this time the issue was escalated to a higher advisor, and now it is finally unlocked ... I hope for long enough for me to sell it. What a friggin' hassle!
 
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