Network locked phones

I also thought no iPhones are networked locked in South Africa.
Only stolen phones are. The networks blocks them but seemingly work on Cell C only because they allow stolen phones on their network without blocking them.
 
Problem with a stolen Iphone, Earpods, Ipad...etc they can still be traced.

My friend waited 2 months then when the thief was in the area he and some buddies got his phone back. The thief was badly beaten.
 
I’m not sure that will work. Like I said, I knew it was locked to cell c when I bought it. Just trying to understand how they’re able to lock iPhones but not able to unlock them.

She explicitly said “we can’t get the codes for iPhones”.

They’ve told me they can unlock all other manufacturers though. Is it something that Apple does for them before sending them the phones, perhaps?

@Cell_C
Locked to Cell C is common for stolen. Cell C doesnt block the IMEI like the other carriers.

Apple wont unlock it nor the other carriers. They will confiscate the phone and call the police.

Its illegal to buy a stolen device, and you wont be allowed to keep it or get your money back.

By law all new phones are unlocked for all networks.
 
Try doing an factory reset on the phone. If it asks for a passcode and you dont have it...then its stolen.
 
Is your iphone screen bar thicker at the bottom then the sides perhaps? Thats fake then too. It should be the same all the way around.
 
Problem with a stolen Iphone, Earpods, Ipad...etc they can still be traced.

My friend waited 2 months then when the thief was in the area he and some buddies got his phone back. The thief was badly beaten.
That sounds like a fire story, once the iPhone has had your iCloud removed from a device there's no way to trace it.
 
That iPhone SE you bought?
There was a pristine 2022 SE going for R3500 the other day on FB but I could see the Cell-C network icon in the pic in the ad so I didn't bother. That and the seller was also a foreign national and I can only assume going by the cheap prices they ask and reams of phones they are selling they are near all stolen. How they would manage to get a phone without iCloud lock I don't know but they are shady af.
No backup SE 2020. Sold it the next day for half the price lol. I knew it was a scam.
 
Did it work with a sim when you bought it and then someone blacklisted it a day or 2 later?
No never tested it. The no service was a sign but I only clicked afterwards.

You got scammed and then scammed someone else?
No I stated in the ad it was blacklisted. I try to be an honest person.
 
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