Can I get a new SIM card for iPhone I found?

Question

I found an iPhone lying on my table. I called every person I know that was in my house to check if it was theirs. No one said it was theirs. I waited a month later, keeping the iPhone in my drawer. I come back to it and, since nobody's claimed it, I guess it's mine now. It had no SIM card in it. But can I buy a new SIM for this? I have no phone & I'm having this iPhone for the first time. I ask my dad & he tells me I can't buy a SIM card because once I go to the Apple Store & I'll ask to buy a new SIM on the iPhone, they'll think I stole it & report me. When I go to iMessage & try changing the number, it's locked on the number that was on the SIM before it was taken out. What to do? Help! I need to know if it's safe to buy a SIM card. Will they report me?

Answer 1

Go to your local GSM carrier (AT&T in the US) and try to reactivate it. A couple of possible scenarios seem likely:

• The phone is recent enough to be on a contract - they'd still have the payer on file and you could contact them about giving them the phone back or them cancelling the contract (or you taking it over).
• The phone is free and clear - this is the best case if you want the phone. You'd just get a SIM (contract or pay-as-you-go) and start to use the phone.
• The phone was reported stolen - assuming you didn't steal it, hopefully you get the benefit of the doubt and the owner gets their phone back.

_{(Note: I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. If you're really worried about the ramifications of the phone possibly} ^{having been stolen, you should talk to a lawyer.)}