A woman on TikTok found out that her iPhone was fake after bringing it into a T-Mobile store. Her evidence? A small, relatively undetectable stamp on the corner of the box that can be revealed using a UV light.
In a video with more than 38,000 views, Faith (@faithtoearth) explained how she just “got got.” She noticed a few things that were off and got suspicious. She then decided to bring it to her local store to check it out.
From there, an employee showed her that the iPhone she purchased was missing multiple things that usually come with them. The most obvious sign was that her iPhone didn’t have a small stamp on the top right corner of the box that verifies it’s from Apple.
The reality of fake phones on the market
A number of companies try to clone iPhone and Samsung devices as a way of making an easy profit from unknowing consumers. It can be incredibly difficult to know whether or not a person is purchasing a genuine Apple product, as counterfeiters often use a variety of means to sell their products. Counterfeits, however, are often of significantly lower quality, lasting less time than a traditional phone and posing additional security risks.
Oftentimes, people fall into a trap of getting accidental counterfeits by trusting third-party websites, purchasing a phone through an alternative avenue, or buying a phone from another country.
Some people have reported getting fake iPhones from Apple, however. One Reddit user had to get a replacement device after they accidentally received a low-quality, counterfeit Apple product.
According to u/theEdmard in the r/apple subreddit, “Once my package arrived… I immediately knew it wasn’t right. I opened the box and the first thing I noticed was the screen protector. [My] first thoughts were, had I been sent a return? The next thing I notice when I turn[ed] it on, the screen [wasn’t] right.”
Other people who have bought iPhones from other countries immediately noticed something was off with their devices. In another thread, u/brokenxexe explained how the phone they received felt “laggy, [with so many] bugs.”
How to tell if you bought a fake iPhone
TikTokers generally agreed that it’s possible to accidentally purchase a fake iPhone through a variety of means. That doesn’t mean you have to keep the device, though. Noticing that a purchase is fake well in advance can help with an eventual return or refund process.
TikTok commenters had tips to look out for fake devices. “The font ([bolding] or size), spelling errors, the sticker placement, and the green circle thing can be a telling sign,” said one commenter.
Another TikTok commenter said, “[Checking for a stamp in-store] is a legitimate way to verify, but can be an extra step to verify because sellers started to also put the same security features like this.”
@faithtoearth Welp ??♀️
♬ Welp, Didn't Expect That – Yu-Peng Chen & HOYO-MiX
The Mary Sue has reached out to @faithtoearth via TikTok direct message and Apple for comment.
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