eBay and lost or stolen iPad

Today some bright spark listed an iPad on eBay with an image of the screen with the original owner's statement that it had been lost and giving his mobile number. I sent a text message to the owner who was grateful and had been contacted by other e-bay members. He said that eBay would have taken 24 hours to have removed it. At the time there was less than half an hour till the end of the auction.

It's good to know that a lost or stolen iPad can be so easily identified although the seller must have been an idiot not to have understood the situation although he hadn't been able to log on and advertised the fact.

It 'sold' at a low price and presumably eBay will eventually step in. Out of interest is it possible to restore the factory settings on an iPad so as to make it usable? Presumably the bidders of which there were a number must have thought so.

It 'sold' at a low price and presumably eBay will eventually step in. Out of interest is it possible to restore the factory settings on an iPad so as to make it usable? Presumably the bidders of which there were a number must have thought so.

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Sadly yes, almost any stolen iPhone, iPad, or iPod can be wiped even if it's locked by "Find My iDevice". There is even one website which advertises the fact. Of course they say it's only for those who "forgot" their password or Apple ID but it's obvious their clients are mostly thieves who thrive on that kind of business. I'm hoping Apple shuts down that site but since it's located outside the US, I'm not sure there's anything they can do.

Alwyn said:

Out of interest is it possible to restore the factory settings on an iPad so as to make it usable?

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Apple introduced activation lock that is meant to, effectively, make an iOS device unusable for those who are not the original owner. You can also restore a device to factory settings through "Find my <iOS device>." So, the original owner can make it unusable if they want.

Thanks. I do find this Forum way the best of any of the other forums on the internet and both of you have already helped me on a number of occasions. Thanks.

I did send a message to the seller who presumably is now aware of what a silly *** he has been!