iPhone locked by fraudulent Activation Lock after scam

Refer to How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support There are only two ways to remove a lock:

#1 (Which you probably cannot do, given what you have described.) If you have the necessary information, you or the signed in owner can do this yourself by simply signing in with the owner account and password information and doing as instructed in the above article. If you use this method and this is a new device to you, follow unlocking by doing as outlined in What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support or What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support . If you do not have the required information then you can try method 2 —>

#2 Apple can completely reset a device if a person can provide sufficient evidence of valid ownership. Read the requirements and steps for an Activation Lock support request at: https://al-support.apple.com/#/additional-support and links at the bottom right for the type of service requested. Apple says they “may” require "proof of purchase documentation” and that you need “proof of ownership documentation”, but does not detail what currently constitutes proof other than it “must include the product serial number, IMEI or MEID.” User reports on this community and chat with Apple indicate that typically Apple will absolutely require, and ONLY accept, an original receipt issued by Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller. Presumably this is the only kind Apple can authenticate against fraud since Apple is not involved in third party sales. Apple recommends that you "Keep your receipt after you buy an Apple device" --> Keep your receipt after you buy an Apple device - Apple Support

Note that the device cannot have Lost Mode set on it or be a managed device. If your device has been taken over by you having entered a scammer’s Account then the scammer has likely set Lost Mode and the device is lost to you.

If anybody tells you that you have to be the “original” owner, they are wrong. In the case of removing the lock with the correct information, it can be anybody who knows the currently signed in account information. In the case of asking Apple to unlock it, as long as you have the original Apple receipt (which may well not have any personally identifying information on it) you are okay. Apple confirmed this in a conversation.

If Apple resets the device this will give you access to the device but won't restore access to the account used to lock it. There is nothing that can be done to expedite an Activation Lock request.

If you cannot get the device unlocked then read this section from the very bottom of Apple Trade In - Apple :

"Does Apple offer recycling?

Yes. Apple Trade In lets you recycle any Apple device (including devices from Apple-owned brands) at any Apple Store and on Apple for free."

If she did the signing out of her account then probably she did not provide the scammers with her account information. If you think she did, read: If you think your Apple Account has been compromised - Apple Support

This is a user to user forum. You are not speaking to Apple Support. But either your lack of an acceptable receipt, or the phone being in Lost Mode, would be enough to cause Apple to deny an Activation Lock support request.

The phone is lost to you.

Your daughter permanently gave away that phone, just as soon as the scammer became the owner and the new owner of the phone enabled lost mode.

Permanently? Yes. Permanently. Forever. No recourse. No appeals. Irrevocable. No remedy. Bricked.

That iPhone is now and always will be a brick.

When (if?) this iPhone is replaced (possibly after a period of time using a feature phone), enable parental controls, disable account changes, and enable ask-to-buy and other settings as appropriate.

• If you can't sign out due to restrictions, or your Apple Account is grayed out in Settings - Apple Support
• Set up parental controls to manage your child's iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

Much shorter version. The phone is lost to you. You will never be able to regain control of it.

Signing Out of Your Apple Account and Int… - Apple Community

Dear Apple Support Team,

Thank you very much for your prompt response and for taking the time to review our situation. We sincerely appreciate your assistance.

I would like to provide some additional information regarding my daughter's iPhone.

The device was purchased in Uzbekistan and paid for in cash. Unfortunately, we were not provided with an official purchase receipt at the time of purchase. As the payment was made in cash rather than by credit card, we do not have a bank transaction record that could serve as proof of purchase.

Currently, my daughter's iPhone displays a message stating that the iPhone is linked to its owner and has been locked by the owner.

The screen also displays the following email address, which belongs to the account used by the scammers:

[email protected]

Additionally, the message indicates that the owner of this account can view and track the iPhone's location.

This is extremely concerning to us, as my daughter is the legitimate owner of the device, but the scammers have taken control of it by deceiving her into signing in with their Apple Account.

We would like to emphasize that this situation is the result of fraud, and my daughter never knowingly or willingly agreed to transfer ownership or control of her iPhone to another person.

Given that we do not have the original purchase receipt, we would be extremely grateful if you could advise us whether there are any alternative ways to verify ownership and request the removal of the Activation Lock.

We are willing to provide any additional information or documentation available to us to support our case.

We sincerely hope that Apple can help us find a solution and restore access to my daughter's iPhone.

Thank you once again for your understanding, prompt response, and assistance.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Worse, as the User Tip discusses, logging into the Apple Account controlled by the scammers may have caused your daughter’s phone to upload her data to that account.