STOLEN IPHONE - HOW TO ERASE

Question

Level 1

8 points

STOLEN IPHONE - HOW TO ERASE

My iPhone X was stolen from my handbag. I immediately registered as ‘lost’ on the Find iPhone app. The thief obviously switched it off immediately so I couldn’t track it as it showed as ‘offline’ on my device list. A day later a text came through on the given number stating my iPhone X 256GB space grey had just come online and to click on a link to view the location. The landing page to the link was the Find my iPhone screen and requested my Apple ID and password. Upon entering this, it said incorrect password. Turned out to be a phishing scam and my phone immediately disappeared from my device list.

i had not yet erased my phone as I had logged it as lost. Question is - will the device have been erased when it went online. If not, how can I erase it if I can’t track it? I asked at the iStore and they said it would be but I am not convinced. Amazing how easily they got in with all the security features, etc.

iPhone X

Posted on Jul 15, 2019 10:30 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

King_Penguin

Level 10

334,186 points

Jul 15, 2019 11:38 PM in response to caroletatham

Lost mode doesn't erase it, it lets you try to track it : iCloud: Lock and track your device using Lost Mode in Find My iPhone

If the phone is no longer linked to your iCloud account with Find iPhone enabled you can't erase it.

Reply

Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

361,837 points

Jul 15, 2019 10:49 PM in response to caroletatham

You don't fully understand the security features.

If Your iDevice Is Lost Or Stolen

If you activated Find My Phone before it was lost or stolen, you can track it only when it is connected to the Internet by Wi-Fi or cellular. What you cannot do is track your device using a serial number or other identifying numbers. Neither Apple nor anyone else can find your device. You cannot recover your loss unless you ensure your device for such loss. It is not covered by your warranty.

If your iPhone, iPod, iPod Touch, or iPad is lost or stolen what do you do? There are things you should have done in advance - before you lost it or it was stolen - and some things to do after the fact. Here are some suggestions:

1. Reporting a lost or stolen Apple product

2. Find my lost iPod Touch

3. AT&T. Sprint, and Verizon can block stolen phones/tablets

4. What-To-Do-When-Iphone-Is-Stolen

5. iCloud- Use Lost Mode

6. What to do if your iOS device is lost or stolen

7. 6 Ways to Track and Recover Your Lost/Stolen iPhone

8. Find My iPhone

9. Report Stolen iPad | Stolen Lost Found Online

It pays to be proactive by following the advice on using Find My Phone before you lose your device:

1. Find My iPhone

2. Setup your iDevice on iCloud

3. OS X Lion/Mountain Lion- About Find My Mac

4. How To Set Up Free Find Your iPhone (Even on Unsupported Devices)

Reply

Answer 3

King_Penguin

Level 10

334,186 points

Jul 15, 2019 10:50 PM in response to caroletatham

Did you send a remote wipe message to the phone ?

If it's no longer linked to your iCloud account with Find iPhone 'on' you can't try and locate it. I assume you've contacted the police and the carrier.

Reply

Answer 4

caroletatham Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 15, 2019 11:15 PM in response to Kappy

I understand the security features. My question is would the phone have been erased in ‘lost’ mode when connecting to WiFi ? If not how do I erase.

For your info the phone was insured. My concern is how to ERASE.

Reply

Answer 5

Jul 15, 2019 11:27 PM in response to caroletatham

The only way that I know of to remotely erase a iPhone is to use Find My iPhone on iCloud.com or in the iOS application, and then select the device and there is an erase button. But if you didn’t have find my iPhone enabled it will not work.

Reply

STOLEN IPHONE - HOW TO ERASE

Similar questions