For the most part if you were to walk into an official Apple retail store, the chances of you buying a counterfeit or stolen handset is pretty much close to zero. We’re not saying that it won’t happen, it’s just that the chances are very, very slim. However sometimes unofficial channels do offer better prices, which is why it is understandable that some seek alternate means to purchase their phones.
Now the good news is that if you’re curious as to whether the iPhone you just bought from Craigslist or eBay is the real deal, Apple has recently released a new tool which allows users to check whether or not the phone they have just purchased is locked to another user, which usually happens when the phone is stolen.
The tool is accessible via iCloud and all the user has to do is enter the device IMEI or serial number to check it against Apple’s system and to see if Activation Lock has been enabled. If it is, then the website will inform users they will need to enter the Apple ID and password that was previously associated with the phone, or contact the person who it belongs to, and hopefully this is an oversight and not a stolen device.
Activation Lock was introduced in iOS 7 and has been met with praise from law enforcement, thanks to it helping to reduce the amount of smartphone related theft. We suppose this is just another step at protecting buyers and to further deter thieves from trying to pass off a locked iPhone as one that is unlocked.
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