don’t know how to contact original owners

You are encountering this feature or a related service:

'Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch' is a security feature that's designed to prevent anyone else from using an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, if it's ever lost or stolen. To learn more click here --> http://support.apple.com/HT201365

For an individual to remove an activation lock absolutely requires the information for the account that applied the lock. Click on this link to learn 'How to remove Activation Lock' --> https://support.apple.com/HT201441

If you do not know the required information and you are not the original owner, get the owner of the account to remove the lock or return the device for a refund or recycle the device. The device is otherwise useless to you. If the owner is unknown and has not provided contact information as a message showing in the login screen, there is no way to contact the owner unless the person who gave you the device knows them.

Hi,

Sorry to hear you are having issues with your new iPhone and Activation Lock.

I’m happy to help!

If you are unable to get in contact with the original owners of the affected product, and you have valid POP that the device is yours/you purchased it, you can try to submit an activation lock removal request via https://al-support.apple.com/#/kbase

If all required information has been submitted with the request, Apple will reach out to you via email within 10 business days.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201365

Hope this helps!

You will not be able to contact the original owners. Return the device or recycle it responsibly. It is not possible for you to unlock the device.