Police in Nottinghamshire are urging people to stay vigilant after roads policing officers seized a haul of fake iPhones during an intelligence-led vehicle stop.
Fifteen counterfeit phones were recovered, along with fake Apple AirPods and watches, after officers recently stopped a car in the Redhill area of Nottingham.
The realistic-looking items are now in the process of being handed over to Trading Standards officials following the vehicle stop on 18 November.
Sergeant Steve Waft, of Nottinghamshire Police’s roads policing unit, said:
“The phones were packed in cellophane and looked real. They even turned on and had the start-up process; however, we quickly noticed that they operated very slowly, and once we got past the first few screens, that’s all there was.
“We believe these fake phones were being sold for between £400 and £600 each.
“Anyone who may have bought these phones, either in person or online, would have been defrauded out of significant amounts of money. The only use they would have had would have been as a paperweight.
“There’s also a safety risk as fake electronic equipment, such as mobile phones or chargers, could be dangerous to use or pose a fire risk.
“With Christmas coming up, we don’t want people to lose hundreds of pounds on products that aren’t genuine. It might look like a bargain, but if an offer seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
“We’re warning anyone tempted to buy expensive items like mobile phones from someone they don’t know to be careful – people should always check items before buying and only buy from trusted sellers.”
If you think you have been sold counterfeit goods, or if you suspect somebody is selling fake goods, you can get advice from the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06 or from your local Trading Standards office.
You should also report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling them on 0300 123 2040.
• Harker’s Farm Shop adds new bakery after £10,000 council grant support
• All 800 bus shelters in Nottingham city to be completely refurbished in Robin Hood Network livery
