I
iMore Question
I bought an unlocked Iphone 5 off of craigslist and then I took it to the AT&T store to get it activated. During that process, I got to a screen asking for a username and password and there was a message saying "this phone was stolen whoever you got it from is shady AF". This message was accompanied by a number. The AT&T employee called the number on my behalf and talked to the owner. The owner said she now longer wanted it and the employee asked if she could provide the username and password so that a factory reset could be done and I could use the phone. This happened and I was given the phone with my previous number/account transferred over to it. The AT&T employee did a test call to the store phone and it worked.
Then, I went home. I tried texting someone. It didn't work. I tried making a call. I got the the message "we're sorry, but this device has been blocked from network use".
I googled what the message meant, and it turns out AT&T does this to phones reported as lost or stolen. I then googled for solutions and it said that if the owner calls AT&T and says it's not lost or stolen anymore, it gets taken off the block list.
I know the name of the owner and where they work (turns out to be in the same mall as the AT&T store. If I went to them and asked them to call AT&T and report it as not being lost or stolen anymore, would that allow me usage of the phone?
Basically I'm without any way of using my AT&T account right now on any device. I can't make or receive any calls. My communication is cut off. I feel sick. I'm also questioning whether I could face criminal charges for this purchase. Any advice or answers would be great.
Then, I went home. I tried texting someone. It didn't work. I tried making a call. I got the the message "we're sorry, but this device has been blocked from network use".
I googled what the message meant, and it turns out AT&T does this to phones reported as lost or stolen. I then googled for solutions and it said that if the owner calls AT&T and says it's not lost or stolen anymore, it gets taken off the block list.
I know the name of the owner and where they work (turns out to be in the same mall as the AT&T store. If I went to them and asked them to call AT&T and report it as not being lost or stolen anymore, would that allow me usage of the phone?
Basically I'm without any way of using my AT&T account right now on any device. I can't make or receive any calls. My communication is cut off. I feel sick. I'm also questioning whether I could face criminal charges for this purchase. Any advice or answers would be great.