In a sequence of events reported by the Telegram channel Baza, a group of attackers placed an order for 11 iPhone 14 units through the Citylink online shop in Moscow, only to swap the devices at the delivery point with salt and sugar packets and then obtain a refund. The report notes that the breach involved deceiving the delivery process and exploiting the refund policy.
According to Baza editors, the purchase was made in November 2023. The smartphones were handed over to the DPD delivery network, and the package was scheduled for delivery to a point on December 11. For a period, no one claimed the package, and it was returned to the Citylink warehouse. Yet the devices did not return to the seller in the expected manner, triggering questions about the handling of the shipment.
When the package was opened at the delivery point, the exterior showed iPhone cases, but inside there were only packets of salt and sugar. The preliminary assessment suggests that someone removed the smartphones during the delivery handoff and replaced them with nutritional supplements to conceal the theft. Baza indicates that police are currently investigating the incident.
Sources indicate that the alleged manipulation inflicted approximately one million rubles in losses on Citylink, a figure linked to the cost of the taken units and the disruption caused by the fraudulent delivery. The report highlights a broader pattern, suggesting that similar swaps occurred at distribution points around the New Year period, impacting other retailers where customers expected genuine Apple devices but received unrelated items instead.
Earlier reporting notes that a similar scheme has appeared in other contexts, with instances of devices being swapped at distribution hubs for non-electronic items, underscoring vulnerabilities in last-mile logistics during peak shopping seasons. The article also touches on related industry concerns and ongoing investigations into the security of delivery chains and the integrity of product handoffs.
In a separate note, an insider clarified discussions around the mysterious touch button observed on the iPhone 16, a detail that has circulated among enthusiasts and analysts as part of the broader discourse on product design and security features. While the focus of the current report remains on the Citylink incident, this related point adds color to the evolving conversation about how premium devices are managed through logistics networks (Source: Baza).