How do I reunite the iPhone owner with their phone?

sacherlover

Hi All,
I found an iPhone (working and still with some battery charge) in the park. I'm not familiar with Apple products (I've got an Android). I have already posted on local Networks - can anyone explain how I can work out how to get this phone back to it's owner before the battery gives out?

Neil_Jones

Most people don't realize that even if you have a passcode lock on your iPhone, you can bypass it to do things like place calls or send messages — unless, of course, they've disabled this functionality in Settings. However, it never hurts to grill Siri a bit. See if Siri can "call home/mum/dad" or similar.

Some other ideas here:

https://www.imore.com/how-find-owner-lost-or-stolen-iphone

Failing all else, if you can see what network its on, take it to a shop for that network (Vodafone shop, etc) or an Apple shop and say you found it in Richmond Park (or whatever).  Otherwise just take it to a police station as lost property.

Odds are with any luck it'll be remote wiped next time it goes onto a network connection if its not on data already.

Zellah

Neil_Jones said:

Most people don't realize that even if you have a passcode lock on your iPhone, you can bypass it to do things like place calls or send messages 

Really? How would you do this then? I though the whole point of a phone password was to stop things like unauthorized calls, with the exception of emergency calls?

Neil_Jones

Zellah said:

Neil_Jones said:

Most people don't realize that even if you have a passcode lock on your iPhone, you can bypass it to do things like place calls or send messages 

Really? How would you do this then? I though the whole point of a phone password was to stop things like unauthorized calls, with the exception of emergency calls?

Google is your friend:

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3041302/4-new-ways-to-bypass-passcode-lock-screen-on-iphones-ipads-running-ios-9.html

Zellah

Neil_Jones said:

Zellah said:

Neil_Jones said:

Most people don't realize that even if you have a passcode lock on your iPhone, you can bypass it to do things like place calls or send messages 

Really? How would you do this then? I though the whole point of a phone password was to stop things like unauthorized calls, with the exception of emergency calls?

Google is your friend:

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3041302/4-new-ways-to-bypass-passcode-lock-screen-on-iphones-ipads-running-ios-9.html

So only possible on older iOS versions. Bit of a non-story considering most people will be running iOS 13 or 14 on supported devices. No different to Windows 7 being less secure than the Windows 10.

mnbvcxz

We took the SIM out and put it in an old unlocked phone. Then the owner eventually called us and came to collect it. Didn't say thank you.  But good karma I guess. If someone else calls you can ask them who the owner is.

Assumes they haven't set a SIM pin.

May load their WhatsApp messages too which might give a clue.

Or I guess you could stick a poster up the park. 

jon81uk

Try
go to the PIN entry screen
bottom left is emergency
then tap medical ID
If they have entered an emergency contact then call that person who might be able to reunite the user with their phone.

Frozen_up_north

Found property should be handed in at a police station. Many are not aware that failing to do so may result in being prosecuted for theft by finding.

J_B

Frozen_up_north said:

Found property should be handed in at a police station. Many are not aware that failing to do so may result in being prosecuted for theft by finding.

Interesting - I found a bank card on Barmouth (N Wales) beach in the summer - took it to the local police station and there was a sign on the door saying basically, don't bring lost property here.  🤔

Neil_Jones

J_B said:

Frozen_up_north said:

Found property should be handed in at a police station. Many are not aware that failing to do so may result in being prosecuted for theft by finding.

Interesting - I found a bank card on Barmouth (N Wales) beach in the summer - took it to the local police station and there was a sign on the door saying basically, don't bring lost property here.  🤔

For things like bank cards take them to the nearest bank of the same name or whoever provides those services and hand in there, or phone up the number on the back and say you've found this card.  Or find an ATM machine, shove it in the wrong way round and let the machine swallow it.  Apparently it is against the ATM Industry's regulations for banks to give back a debit card once it’s been retained by the ATM.  Owner/user of said card will eventually contact their bank once they've found out they've lost it and a replacement will be sent out.

Frozen_up_north

J_B said:
Interesting - I found a bank card on Barmouth (N Wales) beach in the summer - took it to the local police station and there was a sign on the door saying basically, don't bring lost property here.  🤔

In general you need to be careful how you handle found property, even if the police station has a sign saying to not bring items to them, reporting a find via the phone will be recorded and covers you against the risk of handling stolen property, or being accused of theft by finding.