Is it possible to unlock a second hand iPhone?

[fishtina]

I bought an iPhone from eBay last month, I cannot use my EE sim card because it is locked to Vodafone.

The point is, this iPhone is reported as lost, how can I unlock it? 

Is there anyone who knows how to unlock?

Any help would be much appreciated!

[AnnS]

Hi @fishtina 

If you mean the phone is reported as lost or stolen by the rightful owner, there won't be anything you or Vodafone will be able to do and this is going to be between you and the dishonest ebay seller.  I would suggest raising a dispute with PayPal and get your money back that way, don't let the seller get away with it, it's dishonest sellers like this who let the site down.

If the phone has an IMEI block, there is probably an insurance claim to consider, this means the phone will be the property of the insurance company.

[fishtina]

Hey, Thank you for your information! Is it possible for me to unlock with some third-party IMEI unlocking method mentioned in this article https://www.wipelock.com/sim-lock/vodafone-unlock/ ?

[AnnS]

HI @fishtina 

If the phone is IMEI blacklisted you won't be able to get it unlocked for your use, the phone won't be your property to unlock that is the decision of the rightful owner. Also you have no idea of the circumstances as to how the phone was lost or stolen.

You need to raise this as a dispute with PayPal. this seller has taken your money for an IMEI blacklisted phone, you are never going to get the blocking removed, that can only be done by the person who contacted Vodafone and made the request to complete an insurance claim or stop unauthorised use of stolen or lost property.

[fishtina]

And I can see a lot of third-party services available on this. Does this type of method work?

[BandOfBrothers]

---

@fishtina wrote:

And I can see a lot of third-party services available on this. Does this type of method work?

---

What your contemplating isn't right @fishtina  as imei blocks are put in place for a reason.

[fishtina]

From https://www.vodafone.co.uk/vodafone-uk/forms/unlock-code-request/, it shows that a device that’s been reported as lost or stolen cannot be unlocked.

Is it possible for me to unlock with some third-party IMEI unlocking method mentioned in this article https://www.wipelock.com/sim-lock/vodafone-unlock/ ?

I'm really in a hurry, is there anyone who can help me?