In a bizarre and increasingly viral turn of events, a Reddit user has sparked disbelief after claiming that his stolen iPhone 15 Pro—which vanished from the Delhi Metro last November—has resurfaced in the unlikeliest of places: Dhaka, Bangladesh. Even more surprising? A stranger who claims to have bought the device is now offering to send it back via courier.
Posting under the subreddit r/LegalAdviceIndia, the iPhone owner reached out for legal and logistical help. According to him, he received a WhatsApp call from a Bangladeshi number with a man on the other end claiming to have purchased the stolen device and expressing a desire to return it—free of charge. A video call allegedly confirmed it was indeed the same phone, still trackable via Apple’s “Find My” feature.
Too Good to Be True? Netizens Cry Scam
Despite the seemingly generous gesture, Redditors were quick to raise red flags. The top concern? That the call was nothing more than an elaborate ploy to bypass Apple’s activation lock—a core security feature that renders a stolen iPhone virtually unusable without the original Apple ID and password.
Many commenters recounted similar experiences and warned the original poster (OP) to steer clear. One comment read, “Why would someone purchase it and then return it at a loss? It is most likely a scam to get money from you as they cannot do anything with a locked iPhone.”
Another user chimed in with an alarming twist: “He video called me and someone was there from the courier service. They said they couldn’t ship the phone because it was locked and illegal to send stolen goods. Then he asked me to send my Apple ID and password so he could unlock it. Huge red flag.”
Some even suggested it was a well-known scam tactic with parallels to classic Nigerian scam formats. The pattern, they argued, involves luring victims into a false sense of security through plausible communication, only to exploit their trust at the last moment—often by requesting sensitive login information.
Legal, Logistical, and Emotional Minefields
While the idea of recovering a high-end stolen smartphone might be exciting, the legal implications and potential risks are not to be taken lightly. Questions about customs duties, courier reliability, and even concerns about hardware tampering or jailbreaking of the device were raised by the OP and echoed by others.
Adding to the confusion is the murky territory of international shipping laws concerning stolen property. While carriers like DHL or UPS may facilitate cross-border deliveries, they typically require proper declarations and documentation—something that becomes complicated when dealing with a potentially stolen, still-locked iPhone.
Red Flags or Redemption?
At the heart of the story lies a dilemma familiar to anyone who has ever been on the wrong side of digital theft: hope versus caution. Is this a rare tale of goodwill cutting through borders? Or is it a textbook scam tailored for the emotionally vulnerable and tech-unaware?
Experts advise extreme caution. As one seasoned Redditor put it, “No legitimate courier or buyer would ask for your Apple ID password. That’s your red flag right there.”
As this case gains traction, it serves as both a cautionary tale and a reminder: when your stolen phone "miraculously" calls back, think twice before answering.
Posting under the subreddit r/LegalAdviceIndia, the iPhone owner reached out for legal and logistical help. According to him, he received a WhatsApp call from a Bangladeshi number with a man on the other end claiming to have purchased the stolen device and expressing a desire to return it—free of charge. A video call allegedly confirmed it was indeed the same phone, still trackable via Apple’s “Find My” feature.
Too Good to Be True? Netizens Cry Scam
Despite the seemingly generous gesture, Redditors were quick to raise red flags. The top concern? That the call was nothing more than an elaborate ploy to bypass Apple’s activation lock—a core security feature that renders a stolen iPhone virtually unusable without the original Apple ID and password.
Many commenters recounted similar experiences and warned the original poster (OP) to steer clear. One comment read, “Why would someone purchase it and then return it at a loss? It is most likely a scam to get money from you as they cannot do anything with a locked iPhone.”
Another user chimed in with an alarming twist: “He video called me and someone was there from the courier service. They said they couldn’t ship the phone because it was locked and illegal to send stolen goods. Then he asked me to send my Apple ID and password so he could unlock it. Huge red flag.”
Some even suggested it was a well-known scam tactic with parallels to classic Nigerian scam formats. The pattern, they argued, involves luring victims into a false sense of security through plausible communication, only to exploit their trust at the last moment—often by requesting sensitive login information.
Legal, Logistical, and Emotional Minefields
While the idea of recovering a high-end stolen smartphone might be exciting, the legal implications and potential risks are not to be taken lightly. Questions about customs duties, courier reliability, and even concerns about hardware tampering or jailbreaking of the device were raised by the OP and echoed by others.
Adding to the confusion is the murky territory of international shipping laws concerning stolen property. While carriers like DHL or UPS may facilitate cross-border deliveries, they typically require proper declarations and documentation—something that becomes complicated when dealing with a potentially stolen, still-locked iPhone.
Red Flags or Redemption?
At the heart of the story lies a dilemma familiar to anyone who has ever been on the wrong side of digital theft: hope versus caution. Is this a rare tale of goodwill cutting through borders? Or is it a textbook scam tailored for the emotionally vulnerable and tech-unaware?
Experts advise extreme caution. As one seasoned Redditor put it, “No legitimate courier or buyer would ask for your Apple ID password. That’s your red flag right there.”
As this case gains traction, it serves as both a cautionary tale and a reminder: when your stolen phone "miraculously" calls back, think twice before answering.
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