• Directory of Taiwan

Police arrest 2 men for allegedly selling fake iPhone parts

Police arrest 2 men for allegedly selling fake iPhone parts

Police in Kaohsiung have arrested two Taiwanese men for allegedly importing fake iPhone batteries and plugs from China and busted the stores in the southern city selling them, the authorities said Tuesday. Acting on tips from the public, the police conducted an investigation and searched several stores in Kaohsiung in October.

They discovered more than 1,500 fake iPhone parts with a market value of NT$5 million (US$152,006), and arrested two suspects surnamed Lin and Lee, respectively.

The suspects allegedly imported the fake batteries and plugs from Chinese companies. The fraudulent parts for iPhone 5, 5S and 6 looked almost the same as genuine ones and also came with fake serial number stickers, police said.

The fake parts were sold for only 80 percent of the price of genuine iPhone parts, reflecting their cost difference, police said.

A fake battery can damage the operating system of a phone, leaving the user vulnerable to a phone explosion, the police said.

They also urged people not to sell counterfeit goods and urged consumers not to buy products from unknown sources. (By Chang Che-fon and Elaine Hou)

Updated : 2021-09-21 13:42 GMT+08:00