Image Credit: ABC13 Houston, USA, Customs and Border Protection
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, while the cables carried Apple and trading marking, the officials suspected that they were not genuine. Apple representatives later confirmed these suspicions: the products were really fake.
According to ABC13, Houston, transportation was discovered by a group to ensure compliance with trading in Houston CBP. The agency is intended for such products because “counterfeiters do not pay taxes.”
This is not the first time we heard this story, and this is not the first time that the law enforcement agencies of Houston tore off the fake scheme. In 2024, the iPad, Apple Watch and Airpods worth more than $ 20,000.
this is also not only a problem for the United States. It can happen almost anywhere.
, for example, in the Majo district, West Ireland, where the police seized 800 counterfeit devices worth more than $ 170,000. There are many more such stories.
and, unfortunately, we probably will only see an increase in the quantity, and not decrease.
expect to see more
Fake technology is hardly a new problem. In 2022, CBP captured about 21,000 deliveries containing 25 million goods that violated intellectual property rights, the cost of amazing $ 3 billion. Consumer Tech amounted to 3.7%, or $ 111 million.
, although not specific for Apple, he emphasizes the growing problem. The one that can increase, and not decrease in the coming years.
Since the trade war between China and the United States is not visible without end, it is almost impossible to find out on everyday basis that tariffs are applied to which countries, to which products or in which direction. This uncertainty is a powerful driving force of the trends of the black market and MDash; Especially when it comes to fake.
or smuggling of legal products across the boundaries.
this is not worth the risk
Perhaps to think that the worst that can happen when buying a content is that you will receive a fake product for real money. Unfortunately, this is probably the best result.
The truth is that counterfeit goods are often very, very poorly made. Let's say you buy a fake charger for your MacBook Air.
it is unlikely that the counterfeit product has many safety functions. You can easily fry your computer for $ 1000 or worse & mdash; This can lead to electric currents or fire hazards.
Airpods Pro arrives in a fake box
maybe you buy a counterfeit iPhone or MacBook; There is always a risk that you will find yourself with a very, very convincing false one. One Redditor acquired what, in their opinion, was the iPhone 14 Pro Max, just to find out that this is an Android device, permeated Backdoors.
Given how much your personal data is entered into a smartphone or laptop daily, it is unreasonable to trust too good a price. All that is needed is one miss for an malicious actor to cause amazing damage.
and yes, you will probably also lose a lot of money in the transaction. In the end, those who are engaged in the sale of fake are not entirely known for making a profit.
, as in the case, the best violation is good protection. But, probably, you already knew it.
Nevertheless, it repeats: to buy from the sources of Apple or Apple, even if the tariffs increase prices, and they are likely at some point.It is always reasonable to buy directly from Apple, online or in the Apple Store. The main retailers, such as Best Buy, Target and Walmart, or carriers, such as T-Mobile, Verizon and AT∓ They are not proven Apple by authorized resellers.
there are many trusted brands that make accessories for your Apple Gear. Buying directly from Apple or buying your products in a trusted retailer guarantees that you get exactly what you paid for.
Facebook Marketplace and Ebay will always be a gambling game. Doubly if you buy equipment from smaller sellers with low sales or someone, who seems to want to get rid of the device too much.
When buying, Amazon will also have a warning. Especially if you come across transactions that seem too good to be true.
as always: Keep your eyes purified. Check the packaging for spelling errors, make sure that the devices are launched without any strange behavior and be careful with something, which seems not correct. If you have experience with Apple products, like most of you reading this article, you can probably say when something feels.
maybe this iPhone in the trunk of a car of this guy in the supermarket is legal, and perhaps this is not so. Perhaps this guy who buys the iPhone in Canada takes them across the border and sells with a discount, has a product that will be supported, and perhaps this is not so.
I probably do not tell you anything that you have not yet known. Nevertheless, you also probably have a sufficient number of people who are not suitable for counting in your life.
Make them & mdash; And you yourself, if you are a resident of technical support for family and friends and MDash; favor. Make sure they buy from authoritative sources and direct them in the right direction if they ask for advice.
, in the end, the best way to solve the problem is to predict this first.
