Scammers are duping Russian buyers of Apple gear by misnaming their products, a trend highlighted by tech bloggers on the portal Executioner. The mislabeling tricks shoppers into confusing AirPods Max with AirPods Premium and the iPhone 13 Pro Max with the iPhone 13 Ultra. The bloggers advise checking the official American Apple site to confirm product names before making a purchase.
A second tactic described by the same writers involves scrutinizing device configurations. Counterfeit items often come with non-original equipment or workmanship that looks off. For instance, a factory film on the screen of a supposedly new iPhone may be applied crookedly, while the headset tray might appear smaller than the box and carry extraneous text that should not be there.
The third and most conspicuous red flag identified by the bloggers is price. They point out that genuine iPhone 13 Pro Max devices do not sell for what some sellers ask for. In their view, a realistic sticker price is far higher, with examples noting that 9 thousand rubles is unrealistic for a legitimate iPhone 13 Pro Max and that the model’s current market price sits around 93,890 rubles. They also flag AirPods Max being offered for around 10 thousand rubles as absurd, given the actual cost is much higher, typically near thirty to forty thousand rubles for a new unit. These price gaps are presented as clear indicators of counterfeit or heavily discounted, low-quality stock.
March coverage from Izvestia reported on social channels exposing scams that encourage Russians to buy Apple devices at steep discounts. The authorities and investigative outlets described scenarios in which criminals sold devices for roughly ten times their genuine value, aiming to lure unsuspecting buyers with suspicious bargains. The concern raised by the reporting underscores the risk of counterfeit goods and the importance of verification before any purchase, especially when the offer seems too good to be true. Sources describing these campaigns include the Telegram reporting connected with Izvestia, and the commentary from bloggers on the Executioner portal noted a broader pattern of deception in online marketplaces. The continuing warning highlights the need for consumers to rely on official channels, compare product details, and recognize the telltale signs of counterfeit electronics in order to protect themselves from fraud. Many buyers who encountered these schemes reported disappointment and financial loss, reinforcing the call for vigilance in high-value electronics purchases. The takeaway remains consistent: always verify product identifiers, confirm build quality, and avoid extraordinary discounts that appear outside the norms of the market.