So long as the stolen iPhone is still listed as a device in your Find My iPhone app, it cannot be unlocked and used until your Apple ID and password have been entered or until the iPhone has been removed from your Find My iPhone account.
Even if your iPhone is fully erased, the person who has it can't use it. Activation Lock stays on and there is no way to bypass it. As soon as the iPhone boots up, it asks for an Apple ID and password and it won't go past the activation screen without the information.
Can a Stolen iPhone Be Unlocked? Normally, someone cannot unlock your iPhone without a passcode. However, they can factory reset your iPhone and unlock it using the above method or some iPhone unlocking tools. Also, it is possible to unlock a found iPhone with the same methods.
Thieves who steal iPhones look for clever ways to access all the personal data and information on the device, including banking and investment information. Your photos, passwords, emails, social media accounts, and passwords are like jackpots to them. Scammers can use that data to blackmail you.
If it has a passcode they can't access the data, but with no activation lock they could wipe it clean and put in a new SIM card and start using it. So just leave it as it is in Lost Mode, in your account.
Basically, inserting your SIM card into another Android phone would allow someone else to impersonate you. It's easy access to all of your personal information. Identity theft is a huge concern in these situations, whether you're dealing with one petty thief or a criminal ring.
Scammers can use your SIM card to make calls, send SMS messages, and post to social media accounts on your behalf. Hijacking your phone number may be the first step towards completely taking over your digital life.
If your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or Apple Watch is lost or stolen, you can erase it in Find Devices on iCloud.com. To sign in to Find Devices, go to icloud.com/find.
Someone else's iPhone is useless to anyone other than the owner, provided Find My iPhone is enabled. Activation Lock prevents the iPhone from being used even after a software reset, and the same feature lets the rightful owner track down lost devices.
Method 3: Use iCloud to Find Your Lost iPhone Even When It's Powered Off/ Factory Reset. You can also use iCloud's website to track your lost iPhone even if it has been powered off or doesn't have enough battery backup.
Apple doesn't blacklist iPhones due to their policy of not handling stolen devices. It's up to phone carriers, such as AT&T or Verizon, to report stolen or lost phones. The iPhone's IMEI number (International Mobile Equipment Identity) allows phone carriers to identify the phone.
Yes, you can unlock a found iPhone if you cannot locate the owner. By holding the right keys, you can quickly factory reset the iPhone you found, and bypass the locked screen on your iPhone.
What happens when you erase a device in Find My? A confirmation email is sent to your Apple ID email address. When you erase a device remotely using Find My, Activation Lock remains on to protect it. Your Apple ID and password are required to reactivate it.
If someone gets your phone and is able to unlock it, your personal data, such as Apple Pay and health data, is up for grabs. That's why it's important to erase your iPhone as soon as you suspect it has been stolen.
To protect your SIM card from others using it for phone calls or cellular data, you can use a SIM PIN. Then, every time you restart your device or remove the SIM card, your SIM card will automatically lock and you'll see "Locked SIM" in the status bar.
The hacker can use it to try changing your passwords of different accounts which can be your bank account, emails, Bitcoin, or crypto-currency. Thus, all the data connection through your SIM card can be a big security risk.
Data that SIM cards contain include user identity, location and phone number, network authorization data, personal security keys, contact lists and stored text messages. SIM cards allow a mobile user to use this data and the features that come with them.
Even if you have a phone passcode and enabled biometric security (like fingerprint ID), hackers can still gain access to your device. With your phone, thieves can: Make unauthorized purchases using your linked credit cards and Apple or Google Pay. Access your passwords and login information for various accounts.
After blacklisting, the handset is inactive on all Networks (provided they support blacklisting) and the handset cannot be used again unless it is un-blacklisted by the telecommunications service provider (or it the IMEI number is (illegally) changed). The blacklisted phone is not traceable.
If a phone is blacklisted, it means that the device was reported lost or stolen. The blacklist is a database of all the IMEI or ESN numbers that have been reported. If you have a device with a blacklisted number, your carrier may block services. In the worst-case scenario, the local authorities could seize your phone.
If you believe your phone has been stolen, file a police report. Although law enforcement agencies don't have the resources to investigate every case of a stolen phone, if you're able to tell them where your phone is (using a finder app), they will be more likely to be able to help you recover it.
On a device with iOS or iPadOS 15 or later that is protected by Activation Lock, you see an "iPhone Locked to Owner" screen when you turn on or wake the device. Don't take ownership of any used iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch if it's protected by Activation Lock.
To make sure this search is available to you in case you need it, first set your passcode and FaceID. Then enable “Find My iPhone” and “Find My network” as directed above. When activated, your iPhone will remain “findable” via Apple's Bluetooth network even when it is off or the battery has died.
Yes, it is possible to track an iPhone if the SIM card is removed. The device just needs to be connected to the internet. Immediately it's online; it sends its GPS coordinates to Apple servers. The previous owner can therefore see the location on the map once they login into their account.
Whether your device is rooted or not has nothing to do it. Only requirement is having Google "Find My Phone" setup and active on the Google account signed into the device and the device being powered on so to be able of locating it, even if a factory reset is performed GRP should have your back.