Who we are
Buyela helps owners of lost Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, MacBook) in South Africa generate a recovery code, connect with finders, and recover a device or sell it to the finder safely. We are the responsible party for personal information processed through this service.
What we collect
- Owners: name, email, account credentials, device model/colour/date lost, optional notes and photos, recovery codes, case messages, and offer decisions.
- Finders: evidence photos and city/province where the device is. Street address, name, email, and phone number are not collected.
- Technical data: basic security logs (e.g. rate limits, timestamps) to prevent abuse.
What we never collect
We do not ask for Apple ID passwords, two-factor codes, recovery keys, device passcodes, IMEI, or serial numbers. Owners paste Lost Mode messages into Apple Find My themselves.
Why we process it
To operate the recovery service: authenticate owners, match finders to cases, review evidence, communicate offers, prevent fraud, and meet legal obligations. Processing is based on contract (providing the service you request) and legitimate interests in security and fraud prevention.
Sharing
Evidence and case details may be shared with Buyela operators handling your case. We use infrastructure providers (e.g. Firebase / Google Cloud, email delivery) under appropriate safeguards. We do not sell personal information.
Retention
We keep case records and evidence for as long as needed to complete recovery or acquisition, resolve disputes, and meet legal requirements, then delete or anonymise where practical.
Your rights
Under POPIA you may request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information, subject to legal limits. Contact us via the email used for your Buyela account correspondence.
Security
Access is restricted by account authentication and role. Upload and submit endpoints are rate-limited. No security measure is perfect; please use a strong unique password.