Mystery: Blacklisted iPhone 8 not on SAPS IMEI database - how to take further?

[CluelessCyberPerson]

Hello everyone

Any insights or advice please:

I recently bought a iPhone 8 secondhand and my Vodacom SIM card worked for 12 hours on it and then did not register on the network.

Following visits to Vodacom and MTN shops I was advised to go to the iStore to check whether it was stolen (Vodacom confirmed nothing wrong with my contract or SIM card. Clerk noted that he has seen trend of people selling handsets and then reporting it as stolen directly thereafter to claim insurance - a bit strange).

iStore technician found the handset was blacklisted. Seller refuses refund (not able to provide original box or invoice), and I tried to report it as stolen at SAPS this morning.
IMEI number does not appear on the SAPS database so they don't want to open a case. I was told I have to return to iStore and bring a print-out of blacklisting, where the case was opened and a Police Case number (I doubt whether iStore has that info and would share if they do).

I doublechecked again: No SIM card wants to work on the iPhone and the Imei24.com website logs the IMEI as "blacklisted"

*Any insights into how the databases of SAPS, iStore and Imei24.com intersect, if at all?
*Are there any way that I can get the handset back to the original owner so that they can lift the block and at least use or give to charity so that it doesn't become landfill? (do I email insurance companies with the IMEI number)?

thanks!


M

 

[SHL]

Unfortunately you are at a dead end. Cut your losses and move on.

 

[MR.C]

Hello everyone

Any insights or advice please:

I recently bought a iPhone 8 secondhand and my Vodacom SIM card worked for 12 hours on it and then did not register on the network.

Following visits to Vodacom and MTN shops I was advised to go to the iStore to check whether it was stolen (Vodacom confirmed nothing wrong with my contract or SIM card. Clerk noted that he has seen trend of people selling handsets and then reporting it as stolen directly thereafter to claim insurance - a bit strange).

iStore technician found the handset was blacklisted. Seller refuses refund (not able to provide original box or invoice), and I tried to report it as stolen at SAPS this morning.
IMEI number does not appear on the SAPS database so they don't want to open a case. I was told I have to return to iStore and bring a print-out of blacklisting, where the case was opened and a Police Case number (I doubt whether iStore has that info and would share if they do).

I doublechecked again: No SIM card wants to work on the iPhone and the Imei24.com website logs the IMEI as "blacklisted"

*Any insights into how the databases of SAPS, iStore and Imei24.com intersect, if at all?
*Are there any way that I can get the handset back to the original owner so that they can lift the block and at least use or give to charity so that it doesn't become landfill? (do I email insurance companies with the IMEI number)?

thanks!


M

Didn't know about the imei database, but if you got the sellers details, try funding out who he might be insured with and let them know what he did. He can get into huge kak.

 

[CranialBlaze]

Phone will start working next month, the imei dB only keeps records for 30 days. Once that lapses the phone will start working again.

Not a great thing, and I would still suggest you try and shaft the bigger who did this to you, but the phone will eventually start working again so not a complete loss just a massive las

 

[R13...]

You can blacklist a phone without going to the police as not every loss is crime related. I actually blacklisted my iPhone which was stolen without going to the police.