Police warning after seizing haul of fake iPhones 'as much use as a paperweight'

Police seized 15 fake iPhones after stopping a car near Arnold. Officers pulled over the foreign-registered Audi in Redhill on November 18, having received intelligence that it wasn't taxed.

When they searched it, they found fake phones as well as fake Airpods and Apple watches. They seized them and the car itself, and handed the items oer to Trading Standards officials.

Police believe the phones were being sold for between £400 and £600 each. But they were useless - meaning that anyone who had bought one would have been defrauded.

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Sergeant Steve Waft, of Nottinghamshire Police’s roads policing unit, said: “The phones were packed in Cellophane and looked real. They even turned on and had the start-up process however we quickly noticed that they ran very slowly and once we got past the first few screens that’s all there was. The only use they would have had would have been as a paperweight.

“There’s also a safety risk as fake electronic equipment, such as mobile phones or chargers, could be dangerous to use or pose a fire risk. With Christmas coming up, we don’t want people to lose hundreds of pounds on products that aren’t genuine. It might look like a bargain but if an offer seems too good to be true then it probably is.

“We’re warning anyone tempted to buy expensive items like mobile phones from someone they don’t know to be careful - people should always check items before buying and only buy from trusted sellers.”

If you think you have been sold counterfeit goods, or if you suspect somebody is selling fake goods, you can get advice from the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06 or from your local Trading Standards office. You should also report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling them on 0300 123 2040.