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Thieves return Android phone when they realize it's not an iPhone

https://9to5mac.com/2023/12/04/stolen-android-phone-returned-iphone/

A man in Washington, D.C. last month was the victim of an armed robbery in which the thieves stole “everything...

Thieves return Android phone when they realize it's not an iPhone::A man in Washington, D.C. last month was the victim of an armed robbery in which the thieves stole “everything...

30 comments

soulfirethewolf

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That's actually interesting since an android is probably a lot easier to sell off than an iPhone given activation lock

lemann

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If you plan on running Google services, it won't let you reset because of FRP...

In the unlikely event that the thief managed to bypass FRP, it will be reinstated by GMS as soon as there's a network connection, assuming the IMEI or Android device ID haven't been spoofed (either of these on a Samsung would trip the Knox hardware fuse and disable a lot of features, making the device worthless to anyone who isn't a power user)

On my older Fairphone though I think there's some documentation on how to bypass FRP, but you need to get authorization from Google for your specific device on your specific account otherwise GMS will not work

PeWu

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On some Nokia's there's no problem when bypassing FRP, it's works, but only when phone is disconnected from internet, as the update would patch installer, and bypass wouldn't work.

antizero99

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This isn't the case anymore. Starting sometime back you can't just reset android and set it up from scratch. It needs the pin and/or account that was on it prewipe. They are still likely good for parts but it's pointless to steal newer smart phones.

kernelle

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Both Apple's and Google's activation locks are actively being bypassed though. It's probably not being done by a run-of-the-mill thief, but it can be done, if not for a price.

antizero99

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True. But the average idiot stealing a phone to feed a habit isn't going to be able to bypass it. Of course those being stolen by order of a larger group can do it. But these locks severely reduced the number of opportunity thefts.

Zak

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Thieves sell to fences who know how to sell stolen items for maximum profit.

antizero99

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Did you not read anything I wrote?

And no, that isn't likely the path for stolen phones,especially when it's a theft of opportunity by someone looking to feed a drug habit. They aren't thinking about going to a fence who can give them what the phone is worth at that level of the chain.

As I said in another comment, the locks both apple and android put in years ago had a major impact on the theft of phones. It's pointless to steal them unless it's part of a larger operation or you're trying to get a phone that's unlocked so you can siphon money from someone instead of just reselling the phone.

phoneymouse

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If it were being bypassed the tool would be available online. What tool is used to bypass Apple activation lock on the latest OS?

kernelle

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There was a blog post here recently where a repair technician with his own shop was trying to contact Apple about reportedly stolen iphones being reactivated and resold and it undermining his business. They then found more and in one case it was a rogue Apple employee doing the activations, and in another it was software tools they found and send to Apple, which got ignored for more than half a year.

I can't seem to find the original article but here's Louis Rossman explaining the same thing. The argument boils down to the fact that Apple doesn't care, more iphones means more people with wallets attached to them.

Also, it wouldn't necessarily be public knowledge on exactly how it's done, otherwise 1 Apple would try to fix the issue or 2 there's money to be made in selling the service.

Edit: typo

phoneymouse

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That would be weird because even Apple can’t remove activation lock. That’s why they ask you to do it yourself before you trade it in.

JCreazy

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They absolutely can but say they "can't"

kernelle

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What are you talking about ofcourse they can, it's an activation which is stored on their servers, edit the FMI database and your phone is activated. They chose not to provide that service because they can't know if your device is stolen and it's way to much of a hassle to confirm you actually bought it. iCloud unlocking is a widespread phenomenon.

PipedLinkBot

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Here is an alternative Piped link(s):

here's Louis Rossman explaining the same thing.

Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.

I'm open-source; check me out at GitHub.

MeanEYE

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Site is 9to5mac. Did people seriously expected objective reporting? Yes, we stole a device with less inflated retail price. Oh gosh whatever should we do... I know lets go back and incriminate ourselves even more.

dallo

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A new good reason to avoid iphone /s

jeena

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Once my Sailfish OS phone has been stolen, sadly they didn't bring it back but I've always wondered how it looked like when they tried to sell it.

lemann

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Ouch! Did you manage to purchase a replacement? The last time I checked out Sailfish it supported older xperias that can be a bit difficult to get a hold of...

jeena

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I took it as a sign from god to go back to Android ...

RootBeerGuy

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Very likely they just gutted it or threw it away.

jacktherippah

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Probably gutted for parts.

Nacktmull

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Apple advertisement department in stealthy mode

Lanky_Pomegranate530

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When I read the headline I honestly thought this was going to be an article from the onion.

ArcaneSlime

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When they take my phone:

"Bro what the- GraphWHAT?! The fuck is this shit?!"

faintwhenfree

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So the way these thieves work most of the time, they don't know what to do with stolen items or how to liquidate them, so they'll sell everything that they have to a bit more sophisticated criminal who knows how to liquidate stolen items and knows buyers of everything. Ideally when they steal a phone they don't care what phone it is, they'll sell it to their middleman, middleman will pay probably pennies on the dollar since it's not an iPhone and street level thief wouldn know it's value, middleman will probably sell it to someone that will gut it and take components out.

In this case, thieves just be new to the game or amateurs.