Can A Stolen Macbook Be Used? Yes or no? Hold on! We have answers for you, so no need to be worried – crack the article!
Got a stolen Macbook? That is so unfortunate. If you cannot afford a brand new MacBook that costs a lot, obviously more significant than your pocket, you must go for buying a second-hand MacBook.
In this situation, if you got a stolen one, it’s hard luck. Now a question arises in mind that you should make sure that the second-hand Mac you will buy is not stolen.
Can A Stolen Macbook Be Used
Why do you ask? Because buying a stolen Mac can have serious consequences. Well, no more talk; get into the article and explore the answer!
What happens if you buy a stolen MacBook:
If you have bought a stolen MacBook and were not aware that it was stolen, the first option is that you will have to return it to the owner, and you would not be charged for it; instead, you would lose your money. If you knowingly bought that stolen MacBook, you would be considered a partner in the crime.
But how would you come to know that a MacBook is stolen, and how can you avoid purchasing a stolen laptop? Keep reading to find out!
Can You Tell If A Mac Is Stolen? How?
You can tell whether a MacBook is stolen or not by checking if the serial number on its back cover is the same as the one in About this Mac. Or contact Apple and report its serial number to see if it was reported stolen.
Moreover, try to enter its serial number on icloud.com/activationlock and check if the Activation Lock is disabled. If the serial number matches and the I Cloud Activation Lock is disabled, it means that the MacBook is not stolen. You can have to trust it.
If you buy a MacBook from a pawnshop, a random seller, or websites like eBay, etc., the chances of you buying a stolen laptop are higher, especially if the cost is meager. These sellers attract buyers by selling stolen MacBooks at too low prices. Of course, not all of them are stolen. But the probability of them being stolen devices is high.
You can ask the seller for a purchase receipt from Apple and check the purchaser’s name written on it. Ask the person selling that MacBook for a copy of his driving license and match the name to make sure he’s the original owner.
If the serial number on the Mac is blatantly scratched, it can be stolen.
Contact your local law enforcement and see if there were any stolen MacBooks reported and whether this Mac is one of them or not.
If you find out that your MacBook is stolen, you will have to hand it in, and the police will find its actual owner. However, if the real owner is not found and no one claims it, you will have the chance to get it returned to you. Here you can think that Can A Stolen Macbook Be Used?
In any case, no one will give your money back unless you sue the person who sold it to you and win the case. Keep reading to know how Can A Stolen Macbook Be Used? But wait, there is still a chance. What?
You bought the Mac on eBay but met in person first to check out the Mac? Did you pay through eBay or pay cash when you met to look at the Macbook? If you paid in cash and went around eBay, you probably lost the money.
But if the sale was completed via eBay, you can get your money back via your credit card company or from eBay. You should file the police report as well; it is necessary to get reimbursed by eBay/credit card.
Avoid Buying A Stolen Laptop – Prominent Reason
Must check the Mac serial number with Apple, ask the seller for its original purchase receipt, check with online theft reports and local authorities, and ensure that the seller knows the exact password. People selling laptops at unreasonably low prices is a red flag for stolen things.
Buying a stolen mac willingly can result in you being charged as a criminal, a misdemeanor act. But if you didn’t know about the MacBook being stolen, you will have to contact your local law enforcement and get it returned to the actual owner. You would not be prosecuted, but you would lose money.
Enter the MacBook’s serial number on Apple’s website and check its AppleCare eligibility. This can be helpful for you to compare the laptop’s serial number and the actual purchase date with what the seller claims it is.
Do not fall for those meager prices offered by auction sites. These low prices are too reasonable to be true. So ask the seller why he is selling the Macbook at such a low price.
Do not buy a locked Mac.
Make sure that you check the laptop’s serial number with online theft registries on different websites.
Check your MacBook before buying it, and make sure that it is not locked when it’s connected to the internet. If the selling person does not let you test the laptop, don’t buy it.
Following these steps would ensure that you do not end up getting a stolen Macbook. Now the problem is still there: Can A Stolen Macbook Be Used? The answer is ‘Yes.
Some Precautionary Measures
Do you need to get some information on the guy you bought it from? Like his car license or driver’s license number, phone number, address, etc.? Can take a picture of him. You need to ask for all this, and if he does not refuse any of it, you can safely buy it and use it confidently.
Also, Apple is not in the business of tracking products they sell, other than for warranty purposes. The AppleCare rep usually talked to had no clue it was stolen because it was never even registered.
Final Note
In the end, I conclude that be careful while purchasing any used Macbook or any other gadgets. But still, if you got some stolen items, keep the buyer’s record safely, report to your local law enforcement agency and be safe from every aspect. However, there will be no need to ask this question: Can A Stolen Macbook Be Used?
Robert Smith is a technology lover and loves to write about laptops, monitors, printers, tablets, Apple products and anything that's related to computers and games. He is passionate enough that he maintains this blog regarding tech updates on a daily basis.
Robert Smith is a technology lover and loves to write about laptops, monitors, printers, tablets, Apple products and anything that's related to computers and games. He is passionate enough that he maintains this blog regarding tech updates on a daily basis.
