Verizon sent customer refurbished phone with remote control, then wiped data

Key facts

• Verizon sent a customer a refurbished phone.
• The refurbished phone had a Mobile Device Management (MDM) profile.
• The MDM profile allowed Verizon remote control of the device.
• The phone was a former store demonstration unit.
• Verizon remotely wiped the device's data.
• The customer lost personal data stored on the phone.

Verizon provided a customer with a refurbished phone that contained a Mobile Device Management (MDM) profile. This profile granted Verizon the capability to remotely control the device. The phone in question was identified as a former store demonstration unit. Following its deployment to the customer, Verizon remotely wiped the device's data. This action led to the customer losing their personal information stored on the phone. The incident raises questions about data privacy and the procedures for handling refurbished electronics, particularly those that may retain residual management profiles.