1. Stop and document the issue
Do not pay an unlocking service or share account credentials. Keep the listing, messages, receipt, and seller details. Photograph the screen if you need evidence for a return or marketplace claim.
2. Contact the seller
Ask the seller to remove the iPhone from their Apple Account. Apple’s instructions allow the previous owner to remove a device remotely using Find My or iCloud.com. The seller should complete this themselves; do not ask them to share their password.
3. Confirm removal before accepting it
After the seller removes it, erase or restart setup as appropriate and connect to Wi-Fi. Continue only when the device no longer asks for the previous owner’s account. Apple advises not to take ownership while Activation Lock remains on.
4. Return it if the seller cannot resolve it
If the seller cannot or will not remove the device, use the platform or payment provider’s return process. A device advertised as usable should not require you to bypass its owner protection.
5. Ask Apple if you have proof of purchase
If you have valid proof of purchase documentation, you can submit an Activation Lock support request. Apple reviews the request; approval is not guaranteed. An IMEI check alone is not a substitute for proof of purchase.