Five Charged in $12M Counterfeit iPhone Scam Targeting Apple

Five individuals have been charged with fraud for running a fake iPhone return scam that cost Apple $12.3 million in losses. The scheme involved exchanging counterfeit iPhones for real ones at Apple Stores, which were then sold. The scam, which ran from December 2014 to March 2024, involved 16,000 fake returns and used stolen identification numbers to make the devices appear legitimate. The defendants face multiple charges, including wire fraud and identity theft, and could face years in prison if convicted.