Two Chinese men defrauded Apple of $2.5m by exchanging 6,000 fake iPhones for original smartphones

The US sentenced two Chinese citizens who organised a large-scale scheme to scam fake smartphones.

Here's What We Know

From July 2017 to December 2019, two Chinese men and several accomplices exchanged 6,000 counterfeit smartphones for original iPhones. They created fake IMEIs and sent the fakes to Apple under a programme to replace failed devices. The company, in turn, exchanged these gadgets for new original iPhones.

As a result, Apple's losses totalled more than $2.5 million.

The two fraudsters received 57 and 54 months in prison. They must also pay more than $1.5 million in compensation to Apple.

Source: Neowin, Department of Justice