# I purchased a Remote 3 on ebay which appear to be stolen **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [September 1, 2026, 4:23pm UTC](https://unfolded.community/t/i-purchased-a-remote-3-on-ebay-which-appear-to-be-stolen/6265 "2026-09-01T16:23:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grey-Fox](https://unfolded.community/user_avatar/unfolded.community/grey-fox/32/2683_2.png) [@Grey-Fox](https://unfolded.community/u/Grey-Fox)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 4:23pm UTC](https://unfolded.community/t/i-purchased-a-remote-3-on-ebay-which-appear-to-be-stolen/6265/1 "2026-09-01T16:23:46Z")
word of warning to anyone buying a used remote 3, get the serial number and email UC first because these devices can be locked down by UC. This is not documented ANYWHERE by UC so I am just screwed, now I have to deal with ebay support and try to find another remote. Really really shameful this is not documented anywhere so no one knows to be worried about this. ---
**Author:** ![Daan](https://unfolded.community/user_avatar/unfolded.community/daan/32/1140_2.png) [@Daan](https://unfolded.community/u/Daan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 4:46pm UTC](https://unfolded.community/t/i-purchased-a-remote-3-on-ebay-which-appear-to-be-stolen/6265/2 "2026-09-01T16:46:18Z")
Quoting Markus from the UC team regarding your issue: > The Remote is not phoning home and can’t get suddenly blocked by a kill signal. Blocking internet access will prevent update checks & update downloads. Locking is inside the firmware, that’s why restoring to the factory firmware unlocks it again. ---
**Author:** ![Grey-Fox](https://unfolded.community/user_avatar/unfolded.community/grey-fox/32/2683_2.png) [@Grey-Fox](https://unfolded.community/u/Grey-Fox)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 4:50pm UTC](https://unfolded.community/t/i-purchased-a-remote-3-on-ebay-which-appear-to-be-stolen/6265/3 "2026-09-01T16:50:59Z")
Except it can be locked down. A company could purchase UC and decide to lock down the remotes with a firmware update. Yes that is VERY VERY unlikely but it’s something that could be done. My biggest issue is that this is not documented ANYWHERE. ---
**Author:** ![HarmonyFan](https://unfolded.community/user_avatar/unfolded.community/harmonyfan/32/1663_2.png) [@HarmonyFan](https://unfolded.community/u/HarmonyFan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 4:53pm UTC](https://unfolded.community/t/i-purchased-a-remote-3-on-ebay-which-appear-to-be-stolen/6265/4 "2026-09-01T16:53:28Z")
Would you have read it if it was documented? I am pretty sure hardly anyone would. Is it mentioned for mobile Android or iOS or Tesla? Ralf ---
**Author:** ![Grey-Fox](https://unfolded.community/user_avatar/unfolded.community/grey-fox/32/2683_2.png) [@Grey-Fox](https://unfolded.community/u/Grey-Fox)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://unfolded.community/t/i-purchased-a-remote-3-on-ebay-which-appear-to-be-stolen/6265/5 "2026-09-01T16:57:39Z")
Yes I would. And yes iCloud locking is very well documented as well as IMEI blocking. You can check for those kinds of blocks before you purchase said items. ---
**Author:** ![kennymc.c](https://unfolded.community/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/eb9ed0/32.png) [@kennymc.c](https://unfolded.community/u/kennymc.c)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 7:23pm UTC](https://unfolded.community/t/i-purchased-a-remote-3-on-ebay-which-appear-to-be-stolen/6265/6 "2026-09-01T19:23:07Z")
UC could provide a search where you can enter the serial number and verify that the device is not marked as stolen. If the seller refuses to give you the serial number and has no original invoice you would know that you shouldn’t buy it. ---
**Author:** ![Grey-Fox](https://unfolded.community/user_avatar/unfolded.community/grey-fox/32/2683_2.png) [@Grey-Fox](https://unfolded.community/u/Grey-Fox)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 7:35pm UTC](https://unfolded.community/t/i-purchased-a-remote-3-on-ebay-which-appear-to-be-stolen/6265/7 "2026-09-01T19:35:19Z")
I also said this and was greeted with vitrol and disdain on the discord server. ---
**Author:** ![sodepop](https://unfolded.community/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@sodepop](https://unfolded.community/u/sodepop)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 1:09pm UTC](https://unfolded.community/t/i-purchased-a-remote-3-on-ebay-which-appear-to-be-stolen/6265/8 "2026-09-03T13:09:35Z")
This is strange and the first I’ve heard of an unfolded device having any capabilities of being completely bricked. The entire SW runs locally. I understand that in some case a FW update could like wipe out everything and lock it I guess. But this remote does not reach the cloud, like harmony remotes. It doesn’t rely on any servers. Have you tried a factory reset? Also, are you confusing maybe just that you can’t get in because you don’t know the PIN??? ---
**Author:** ![kennymc.c](https://unfolded.community/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/eb9ed0/32.png) [@kennymc.c](https://unfolded.community/u/kennymc.c)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 1:31pm UTC](https://unfolded.community/t/i-purchased-a-remote-3-on-ebay-which-appear-to-be-stolen/6265/9 "2026-09-03T13:31:05Z")
Read the second post. It’s legit and the device was actually flagged as stolen by UC. As far as I understand this feature or that specific serial number was not available or included in the factory firmware so that’s why a firmware reset unlocks it again. I’m still unsure how this supposed to work without an internet connection as Markus wrote on Discord. Maybe the blocking list is included in the firmware and unless you update the firmware even remotes marked as stolen won’t be locked if their serial is not in the blocklist of the currently installed firmware. ---
**Author:** ![sodepop](https://unfolded.community/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@sodepop](https://unfolded.community/u/sodepop)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 4:30pm UTC](https://unfolded.community/t/i-purchased-a-remote-3-on-ebay-which-appear-to-be-stolen/6265/10 "2026-09-03T16:30:37Z")
Interesting. Very strange. But still, I would think the remote could still be used after factory resetting. Anyways, I will carry on. Good day all ---
**Author:** ![Grey-Fox](https://unfolded.community/user_avatar/unfolded.community/grey-fox/32/2683_2.png) [@Grey-Fox](https://unfolded.community/u/Grey-Fox)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 5:01pm UTC](https://unfolded.community/t/i-purchased-a-remote-3-on-ebay-which-appear-to-be-stolen/6265/11 "2026-09-03T17:01:25Z")
The block is in the beta firmware itself so yes I can use the remote on 2.8.4 until the end of time. I have ordered a remote from UC but I am still disappointed that this isn’t documented anywhere and I’m also disappointed in how UC is communicating with me. ---
**Author:** ![Griff500](https://unfolded.community/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/45deac/32.png) [@Griff500](https://unfolded.community/u/Griff500)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 10:14am UTC](https://unfolded.community/t/i-purchased-a-remote-3-on-ebay-which-appear-to-be-stolen/6265/12 "2026-09-30T10:14:02Z")
I wonder when the remote you have ordered will arrive… ---
**Author:** ![\_Mike](https://unfolded.community/user_avatar/unfolded.community/_mike/32/550_2.png) [@\_Mike](https://unfolded.community/u/_Mike)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 6:05pm UTC](https://unfolded.community/t/i-purchased-a-remote-3-on-ebay-which-appear-to-be-stolen/6265/13 "2026-09-30T18:05:49Z")
@Grey-Fox Just wanted to say I’m sorry this happened to you. That really sucks. It would be nice if UC offered to do something for you. Like a heavy discount on a new remote.