How to run a curl command to reassign an abandoned search?

Running the curl command noted in the docs:https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/Splunk/6.5.0/Knowledge/Resolveorphanedsearches On my search head captain: curl -k -u uname:pass :/servicesNS///saved/searches//acl -d owner=newOwner -d sharing=user I get back:User does not exist: user YES I REALIZE THAT but on my search heads, I can still find that user in SPLUNKHOME/etc/users/ So how can this user exist and not exist and how can I reassign the search? Thanks!