Two arrested for selling fakes of branded mobile phones

KUALA LUMPUR: The arrest of two men selling the latest, fake mobile phones (with most of the models being the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus) priced like the originals in shopping complexes at Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock here, has raised questions if there are also many other retailers doing the same business.
Except for the internal parts and software used for the mobile phones being of lower quality, the outer and physical looks are almost identical and can be passed off as the original handphone to unsuspecting buyers.
Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Datuk Law Hong Soon said today, that in an operation conducted on last Friday, police arrested two men in their 30s from two different mobile phone shops at the same shopping mall and seized 500 units of mobile phones (different models) and accessories worth RM120, 000.
`He said most of the mobile phones are the latest models of the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 plus, Sony, Samsung, Oppo and Lenovo.
Law added that the suspects had allegedly preyed on foreigners, students, housewives and disabled people.
"The sellers would display the fake mobile phones at their shops and buyers would purchase them at the same price of an original mobile phone. During the transaction, the sellers would also convince the buyers to purchase accessories," Law told a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters today.
He said police had received more than 100 reports lodged by the victims who fallen prey to these crooks.
The mobile phones also did not have any warranty and most of the victims said the longest duration the mobile phones could be be used was for one month.
"During the transaction, the sellers will say that the phones have a warranty but after a month, when the phones malfunction or break, the buyers will realise that the phones actually have no warranty and are fake," said Law.
The duo are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code and will be remanded until today.
"We advise the public to be wary and not get cheated when buying a mobile phone. We are here to protect the innocent public. We hope the public will come forward to assist us in investigations if they have any information," Law added.