Chinese police uncover counterfeit Apple ring

Image: themoneytimes.com

Chinese police announced yesterday that they have uncovered a gang in Shanghai selling fake Apple products, including iPhones, iPads and other electronic products. The products were estimated to have a total value of more than 5 million yuan ($764,000).

According to the economic crime investigation division of Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau, the fake products were produced in China and were indistinguishable from genuine Apple products by sight only. The products however, usually sold for less than 1000 yuan - genuine iPads retail at around five times that amount - and used different operating systems to Apple's own produccts.

Police were tipped off by consumers who said that several electronics retailers in a market in Shanghai had been selling fake products. Police traced the sources of the fake goods and discovered the counterfeit products came from two residents, a brother and sister, both associated with the Shanghai gang.