The ingenious Russian iPhone paper weight scam
In Russia, an ingenious group of tech-savvy scammers have somehow secured the gutted doppelganger chassises of last-gen iPhones, stuffed a minimum of circuitry and an appropriate amount of lead inside each one, and are using them in rip-off trades.
Here's how the scam works: the scammer wanders up to a flush Muscovite, offering his iPhone in exchange for cash in a hurry. He powers on the iPhone, displaying the familiar Apple logo: "It won't boot up entirely because there's no battery, but if you charge it later, it will work fine."
Of course, if an exchange is agreed upon, the iPhone will not work fine: it is a paperweight, a doorstop. The ingenuity is breath-taking: never have I been so impressed by a scammer since I was taken in Cairo by an Egyptian moonshiner on a case of caramel-colored "Johnny Waler."
The Fake One [English Russia via Engadget]
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superforestnyc on The ingenious Russian iPhone p...
"Ha ha! iPwned! ..."
bjacques on The ingenious Russian iPhone p...
"I bought some Johnny Walker Rosé last week from the vegetable truck guy in Malta..."
Sundog on The ingenious Russian iPhone p...
"About 15 years ago, it used to be called Johnny Wanker, which was VERY appropria..."
adsum on The ingenious Russian iPhone p...
"that is just the MacBrick...."
Rob Beschizza on The ingenious Russian iPhone p...
"They should program it so the Apple turns to a picture of Nelson after 20 minute..."
Rob Beschizza on The ingenious Russian iPhone p...
"They should program it so the Apple turns to a picture of Nelson after 20 minute..."
michaelportent on The ingenious Russian iPhone p...
"Finally. A fake that tops the utterly classic "Romex". Russia has upped the ante..."
PlushieSchwartz on The ingenious Russian iPhone p...
"Johnny Waler Moonshine! My favorite! I'll buy it at cost, Brownlee. After I poli..."
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PlushieSchwartz
#1 – 7:53 AM October 8, 2008
Johnny Waler Moonshine! My favorite! I'll buy it at cost, Brownlee. After I polishes off the Smmirnof Vodke that I got free with my iPone from some guy outside the Kremlin.
michaelportent
#2 – 9:45 AM October 8, 2008
Finally. A fake that tops the utterly classic "Romex". Russia has upped the ante. Ball's in your court, Mexico.
Rob Beschizza
#3 – 10:09 AM October 8, 2008
They should program it so the Apple turns to a picture of Nelson after 20 minutes and starts looping the Nelson Laughter sample over and over.
Rob Beschizza
#4 – 10:09 AM October 8, 2008
They should program it so the Apple turns to a picture of Nelson after 20 minutes and starts looping the Nelson Laughter sample over and over.
adsum
#5 – 11:23 PM October 8, 2008
that is just the MacBrick.
Sundog
#6 – 2:05 AM October 9, 2008
About 15 years ago, it used to be called Johnny Wanker, which was VERY appropriate...
bjacques
#7 – 5:32 AM October 9, 2008
I bought some Johnny Walker Rosé last week from the vegetable truck guy in Malta. It was supposed to be locally-made wine, but it was in a JWR bottle, since local wine bottles require a deposit.
It was almost vinegar; undrinkable but not bad on salad. It wasn't really a scam, since the guy gave me my money (1 euro) back when it was obvious the wine had gone off.
superforestnyc
#8 – 12:32 PM October 9, 2008
Ha ha!
iPwned!