I (33F) have a good friend in Spain (30sM). He bought a new iPhone a few months ago. The phone was originally purchased in the US (or at least set up as US), and he says he can’t fully set it up because Apple keeps asking for a US number to receive a verification code.
He changed his number and doesn’t have access to his prior number, I told him how to change his trusted numbers on iCloud, if that’s one barrier he’s facing, but then he told me that Apple support told him that the phone itself is locked to the US. I barely understand what he’s trying to do.
He asked if he could use my US phone number to receive the code so he could “unlock” his iCloud/Apple account and finish setting up the phone. My number is already linked to my own Apple/iCloud accounts, and I’m not comfortable using my number to verify someone else’s Apple ID due to cybersecurity and phishing concerns.
He seems frustrated and did not send me screenshots so I could understand what he’s asking for better.
So, I tried to be as kind as possible and explained it wasn’t that I thought he was trying to do anything shady. I just don’t want my number involved in someone else’s account security. I offered to help him troubleshoot: I suggested calling Apple Support, going to an Apple Store, using account recovery, checking whether the phone is carrier-locked, and making sure his Spain number is set as the trusted number.
He initially said it was fine, then later asked why I thought I’d get “hacked,” which I clarified wasn’t what I meant. Now he’s saying basically, “Never mind, I’ll just wait,” and told me he’s willing to let the phone sit for another 10 months or so because he doesn’t have a US number.
I feel like I set a reasonable boundary, offered help, and he’s choosing to sulk/procrastinate rather than fix it correctly.
So… AITA for refusing to let him use my phone number to unlock his phone/account?
A “good friend”?
I’m guessing you’ve never met this gooooood friend?
lol I knew it’d sound like that, but I do know him in person as we used to live in the same city years back. He’s a kind person and don’t think he has ill intent, but he also believes the earth is flat so I’m afraid of what he might be trying to do without actually overseeing the process in person, if you will.
NTA. The whole thing sounds fishy to me.
That’s my thought, it just can’t be possible that all people living in another country that’s not the US, who happen to buy a phone from the US, need a US number. At the same time, maybe it’s unawareness as I live in the US and haven’t had the issue myself 🤔
Nope. You don’t need to be tied to random people’s security stuff.
I use a US Google Voice number as my Apple trusted number; your friend can do that.
NTA.
“Hey can you read me a code that’s going to be texted to your phone?”
The answer is always no.
NTA
NOPE. Computer/phone safety 101. Just. No.
Your phone number isn’t a spare key. NTA.
NTA Your instincts were right. The friend made the mistake of buying a phone in another country and expecting to work in his country. This is his problem to solve, not yours.