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2 Messages

Wednesday, October 21st, 2020 11:20 AM

Network locked / Fraudulent device given

I am from India. I purchased an iPhone Xs last year for my personal use from a local vendor. The phone worked perfectly for a year and suddenly stopped working in May. The network is locked and I cannot use it besides as a dummy phone. While searching for the reason and after the visit to the Apple store, I found out that my phone is from the USA and locked by AT&T. When I sent a request for unlocking to AT&T, it came back as "Device is flagged for fraud". I am not sure what else I can do? I tried to go back to the vendor but due to lockdown his shop was closed and recently I got to know that he is absconding. I found out that he has duped many people as every day someone is coming to the shop searching for him. I paid nearly 50K or approx $600 for this phone and now I am left with nothing. I have never been to the USA and do not know how the Fraud has been committed in the USA with a device from the India. Can someone guide in correct direct and assist me with unlocking my iPhone would be very helpful. The phone has costed me huge money and after the jobloss I do not power to purchase a new device. Please Please Help Me!!! 

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ACE - Master

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11K Messages

4 years ago

It sounds like you bought a phone from a third party, a disreputable one from what you’ve said.  The fact that you were able to use the phone for a year before it was blacklisted simply means that the fraud wasn’t detected for a period of time, and likely happened before you got the phone.  I don’t believe there is any way that you’ll be able to get the phone removed from the blacklist.  Sorry.

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ACE - Sage

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118.4K Messages

4 years ago

There is a lesson in this, do not buy Cell phones from sketchy 3rd party sellers.    If you had purchased from a valid seller like directly from Apple, or from a local cell phone company, you would be able to produce an original receipt for the phone and it could be un- blacklisted.   
    No carrier will help you steal from them or their customers (which is what you’re asking, even though you’re a victim too)

     You might want to complain to the person you bought the phone from.  They may be in the habit of excepting goods knowing that they are stolen from American travelers.  

New Member

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2 Messages

4 years ago

If the company does not have any use of the device once it is sold, what is the point of keeping it locked? Take couple of dollars and unlock the network. A 2-year-old device is no use to the company or to the brand Apple? If AT&T wants, they can unlock the device with a code that will really be helpful for me. An iPhone in India is quite expensive and I have lost hard earned money. May be I can raise an unlock request to someone at higher management? Maybe they will assist me? Please help!

ACE - Expert

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23.9K Messages

4 years ago

No one is going to unlock it for you.  That's what happens when you buy stolen goods.  Att does have a use for the phone as a brick.

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