A Calgary senior citizen has issued a warning to others after losing $1,000 in an elaborate iPhone scam. The victim, an 80-year-old man who Global News has chosen not to fully identify due to safety concerns, purchased what he believed to be a genuine iPhone 15 Pro Max on Facebook Marketplace on May 1. The seller arrived at the man’s residence with the phone in hand, which appeared to be brand new and sealed in its original packaging. The seller even provided a seemingly authentic receipt indicating that the phone had been purchased in October 2023. To further assure the victim, the seller showed him the phone’s serial number and International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), both of which checked out as valid. However, the victim’s suspicions were raised when he attempted to update the phone with his own information and encountered difficulties. He then took the phone to an Apple store, where a representative confirmed his fears: the device was a counterfeit. The victim expressed deep regret not only for the financial loss but also for the potential danger he had inadvertently put his family in by allowing the scammer into his home. He has since attempted to contact the seller to recover his money, but the scammer’s phone number is no longer accepting messages. The victim has also reported the incident to the Calgary Police and Facebook. Tech expert Mike Yawney examined the phone and identified several telltale signs that it was a clone. He pointed out subtle differences in the fonts of some apps, the inability to edit the apps, and a strange circle that appeared on the phone’s main screen. He also noted that Siri did not respond when asked a question. Yawney emphasized that the average person may not be familiar with these indicators and could easily be fooled by a cloned iPhone. He advised potential buyers to thoroughly inspect the device, including checking the serial number and IMEI, but cautioned that scammers have found ways to manipulate even these numbers. Yawney ultimately recommended discarding the fake phone, as the software on it could potentially compromise the user’s personal information.
Calgary Senior Loses $1,000 in iPhone Scams
