Fake phone bargains - Don't be fooled

Several North East residents have fallen for a Facebook Marketplace scam, exploiting the  demand for bargain Apple iPhones.

Several North East residents have fallen for a Facebook Marketplace scam, exploiting the  demand for bargain Apple iPhones. Fraudsters are advertising these fakes as brand-new "iPhone 17 Pro" models. To the untrained eye, the listing looks flawless, and the packaging looks entirely authentic. Buyers are met in public spaces across the region with a pristine, factory-sealed box complete with a genuine IMEI number printed on the back. However, once the cash changes hands and the seal is broken, the devastating reality sets in, as inside the premium shell is a cheap, sluggish Android operating system reskinned to mimic Apple’s software.

If someone is offering a flagship smartphone that normally commands over a thousand pounds for a fraction of its retail price, it is almost certainly a trap. Scammers manufacture a false sense of urgency, claiming they need quick cash for an emergency or that it was an unwanted gift, clouding the buyer’s judgment and rushing them into a bad decision.

Protecting yourself requires abandoning politeness in favour of strict verification. First, never hand over money based on a sealed box or a valid IMEI number, as fraudsters easily clone legitimate serial numbers from real retail displays. Demand to break the seal and power the phone on right in front of the seller before payment. Once the phone boots up, navigate immediately to the built-in App Store, if it redirects you to the Google Play Store or asks for a Google account instead of an Apple ID, it is an instant giveaway that the device is an Android fake.

Additionally, control the environment of the transaction. Avoid meeting in dark car parks or isolated corners of a city, instead, insist on a busy, well-lit public space covered by CCTV, or better yet, outside a local police station. If a seller refuses to let you open the box or pressures you to hurry, walk away immediately. Trusting your instincts and insisting on a hands-on technical check is the only fool proof way to ensure your hard-earned money buys a genuine Apple device rather than an expensive piece of plastic.

If you believe you may have been a victim of a scam, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.

Report to Police Scotland directly by calling 101 or online via Contact Police Scotland - Police Scotland Every report assists police investigations, provides intelligence, informs national alerts that protect all communities, disrupts criminals and reduces harm.

In the UK you can forward scam text message to OFCOM on 7726 (free of charge), and forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk

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Police Scotland's North East Division covers rural and urban areas in Moray, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City.  The division has five territorial command areas which have their own dedicated Area Commander, who is responsible for the daily policing function.  Each command area is served by a number of community policing teams whose activities are built around the needs of the local community.  These teams respond to local calls and look for long term solutions to key issues.  They are assisted by the division's Crime Reduction Unit who deliver against Force and local priorities in a number of areas, including physical and social crime prevention, supporting and enhancing community engagement and creating and sustaining strong and effective partnership working.