How can I remove the previous owner's iCloud information from an iPhone I just bought?

[iMore Question]

I bought an iphone 5c from someone who's leaving the country. He didn't tell me there was a password on icloud. I have an apple account but I need to cancel his old account so mine will work. How can I get in icloud with out the password? Or can it be retrived?

 

[Just_Me_D]

Re: recover icloud

You can't do anything with the device without the previous owner's assistance. Period.

 

[Rob Phillips]

Re: recover icloud

@Just_Me_D is spot on. You have a paperweight unless you get the password from the previous owner. If your friend doesn't remember the password tell him/her to go to https://iforgot.apple.com, reset the password, and then give it to you.

 

[robertk328]

Hope you can get it resolved! Definitely an example of buying a phone that is restored as new to save these sorts of issues.