For those wanting to buy an iPod or iPhone, be careful of fakes even in the USA......
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More than $10 million in counterfeit and stolen goods are recovered in a case stemming from a theft investigation begun by Los Angeles Port Police.
More than $10 million in counterfeit iPods, iPhones and other items have been seized from a sophisticated downtown warehouse operation in a theft case begun by Los Angeles Port Police.
"This was a well-funded operation, and the counterfeits looked very authentic," said Ron Boyd, chief of the approximately 200-member L.A. Port Police force, adding that a buyer might not have noticed anything awry until he or she got home and tried to hook up with iTunes.
Investigators said they thought that the shipment was designed to get Apple Inc. lookalike products into the market during the recent buzz over the Consumer Electronics Show. Some of the products were designed to look like older Apple products, such as iPod Nanos without touch screens, which remain popular with some consumers.
The goods, which will be displayed at a news conference Monday, were shipped from Asia, Boyd said.
The case stems from a stolen-cargo investigation that led Los Angeles Port Police to several downtown Los Angeles and Vernon locations in December and January.
During searches of the locations, Port Police discovered counterfeit products with an estimated street value of more than $1.4 million; stolen electronics, toys and blankets worth about $2.5 million; and bank account receipts that indicate the operation generated more than $7 million in profits.
Boyd said the case highlighted the lengths counterfeiters go to in hiding their activities: The fakes arrived as parts meant to be reassembled and labeled before being sold.
Los Angeles residents Bahram Zahab, 45, and his brother Edward Zahab, 40, have been arrested. Edward Zahab has been charged with three felony counts of the sale of counterfeit goods. Bahram Zahab has been charged with one felony count of the same crime.
Boyd said the investigation was ongoing and included the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement office. Also involved were the Border Enforcement Security Task Force, composed of federal, state and local agencies; the California Highway Patrol's Cargo Theft Interdiction Program; and the Vernon Police Department.
"Our layered, multi-agency approach to security and theft investigations led to success," Boyd said. "We're proud of the teamwork that happens on a continuous basis to thwart consumer fraud, keep our port safe and enable our agencies to pursue cases to fruition and criminal prosecution."
The Port of Los Angeles and the neighboring Port of Long Beach make up the nation's busiest harbor for trade with Asia.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-fake-apples-20110207,0,4342503.story
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02/07/2011
LAPD Seized $10 Million Counterfeit Apple products
The picture below was not taken at an Apple Store with an Apple employee.This is the result of a huge haul of the LAPD Police who has intercepted a large stock of cons-way iPhone and iPod worth S10 Million.
According to Ron Boyd, owner of the Los Angeles Port Police, the imitations were very well done. Some might well have purchased these products and be aware of the deception when the synchronize with iTunes. The amount of the catch is estimated at 10 million.
Police believe that the goods were sent from China. In order not to attract the attention of law enforcement, they were sent as parts and assembled on site.This "small business" which was run by two brothers have already generated a turnover of $7 million before the police come to disturb their business.
This is not the first case of this kind. Last spring, police in San Francisco had a hand in 2,000 fake iPhone. Estimated there were $ 1.2 million.[via cultofmac]
Read more:
http://www.ihelplounge.com/ihelp ... .html#ixzz1DLhSDZ3H
http://www.ihelplounge.com/ihelp ... .html#axzz1DLaNCTVf
