A Canadian YouTuber unboxed a counterfeit iPhone 17 Pro Max, which surprisingly had a larger battery than the real device but suffered from poor performance, slow screen, and camera flaws, highlighting the risks of buying fake tech products that are primarily designed to scam consumers.
Online marketplaces like Amazon and Walmart have become playgrounds for fraudulent sellers who list products with inflated or deceptive performance claims, including counterfeit tech scams such as fake SSDs, Apple chargers, cables, and batteries that threaten physical harm. Despite their considerable resources, these marketplaces have failed to properly vet sellers and their products. The federal government will require online retailers to do a much better job of vetting seller credentials by the end of this month, courtesy of the INFORM Consumers Act. However, shoppers also need to take matters into their own hands to protect themselves.