iPad marketed on eBay stolen?

[Alwyn]

If somebody shows a picture of an iPad for sale on eBay with the words "iPad locked to owner" I think it's reasonable to assume it's stolen. This is not the first time I have seen something daft like this done but 'Caveat Emptor' springs to mind.

 

[Slydude]

Stolen is certainly one possibility. Another is that someone has passed away and now the family doesn't know the password or what they need to do to prove to Apple that the owner has passed away.

Some people may think that the unlock software you see all the time on social media can undo an iCloud password lock on a device.

 

[RadDave]

Stolen is certainly one possibility. Another is that someone has passed away and now the family doesn't know the password or what they need to do to prove to Apple that the owner has passed away.

Some people may think that the unlock software you see all the time on social media can undo an iCloud password lock on a device.

Of course, the owner of an iPad may have forgotten the passcode and was locked out after 10 tries with the device disabled - the only recourse is below from Apple Support - a computer is needed with iTunes or Finder (in more recent MacOS versions) and the iPad has to be set into recovery mode, then all is erased and iPadOS installed - the device should open as a new one would and can be set-up. Dave

P.S. assuming that the locked iPad had no hardware issues 'hidden' from the buyer?

 

[Slydude]

That's right. I've had to do that once. with my own iPad because I forgot the passcode.

What I see more often on social media are people who are locked out because the device has an iCloud activation lock. There's stuff out there that is supposed to fix that problem if the owner can't/won't help. Personally I've never. tried such software. I havenn'seen independent information that software can unlock that problem.

I'm very skeptical of software that claims to defeat an iCloud activation lock. Setting aside the technical problem that the solution that removes the lock isn't readily available on the device and Apple won't help except in specific circumstances.

My other problem with that software is why should I trust it. I'm handing my purchasing information over to someone who doesn't seem to be too concerned about preserving user privacy/data integrity.