I was sold fake airpods so what do I do

kiayay Said:

"I was sold fake airpods so what do I do: I bought airpods online and the box was authentic however the airpods within were not and I dont know what to do"

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Troubleshooting Getting Fake AirPods:

A. Request a Return:

Contact the site you purchased these from, and request a return. If purchased off of a site such as eBay or Amazon, the contact them, seeing if the seller can be held accountable, and if you can get your money back.

For reference...

B. Verifying Genuine AirPods:

1. Get the Serial Number: Find the Serial Number of your AirPods - Apple Support
2. Enter the Serial Number here: Check Your Service and Support Coverage - Apple Support
3. View the Results: If all shows up as an AirPod, then you are fine. If not, then these are fake, and that is likely why you are getting the issue of connectivity.

Online sales from individuals and from sketchy retailers can be counterfeit, yes.

You can report this to Apple: Apple - Legal - Counterfeit Questions

If the seller is unavailable or uncooperative about refunds, don’t expect a refund.

Had that literally happen to a friend was sold SEALED in apple AirPods Pro box even had the special cover wrap around AirPods, papers etc, one pod stopped working took to Applestore and he said he’s NEVER seen fake AirPods Pro’s so good. Printing, etc. Said AirPods are a bit more heavy and lid closes and feels different also where it was made be it one said China other said Vietnam. And they just duplicate serial numbers. Smh what a sham. He got em “brand new” from Mercari.

I got scammed for fake AirPod max too a week ago.Checking the serial number didn't help in my case.

Before paying I confirmed the serial number printed on the actual AirPods and Box matched.

I even connected to my phone I verified the serial number on screen.

Checked the warranty status on apple website for same serial number.

It still says it has warranty till march 2024.

While connecting It gave me pop as normal on my Iphone. Shown proper setup process like setting up personalise spacial audio,siri etc.

there was hardly any chance someone could figure this out that there were.

It is still boggling that someone might believe that a complex device can be closely counterfeited, but that some simple serial numbers from legitimate devices can’t be copied from legitimate devices, or the serial number patterns predicted. (Apple has changed how serial numbers are constructed, but that still won’t prevent copying.)

I understand they can be copied(at-least I know now).But my worry is, when I went to apple service center for repair, they had all the repair history of that device.There were at-least 2 previous attempts to service them (from previous owners i guess)and repair were rejected because they were fake.

So they knew this particular serial number is FAKE and still they didn’t block it or did anything about it.

praths Said:

"I got scammed for fake AirPod max too a week ago.Checking the serial number didn't help in my case.[...]"

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So, were these new, and shrink-wrapped? I would recommend purchasing these from a retailer, or directly from Apple --none other.

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No,Not new or shrink wrapped.if I would have wanted to buy new definitely I would’ve done through Apple store.

These Used and open.

praths wrote:

I understand they can be copied(at-least I know now).But my worry is, when I went to apple service center for repair, they had all the repair history of that device.There were at-least 2 previous attempts to service them (from previous owners i guess)and repair were rejected because they were fake.

So they knew this particular serial number is FAKE and still they didn’t block it or did anything about it.

Which could well be thousands of copies of that serial number were made, and two came in for service.

There’s probably also a real device with that serial number, which can itself still need service.

And what is Apple to do? Post a note telling you that each and every serial number viewed can be copied?

Would adding that possible-to-counterfeit notice on every serial number even help? Somebody getting a “good deal” from a sketchy seller is always going to happen. That’s basically what happens to too many buyers of used (and Activation-Locked, or IMEI-blacklisted) and effectively-if-not-actually lost or stolen iPhone and iPad devices, too. Expensive, real, bricks.

Ask yourself too, would any of this have dissuaded you from your purchase here, or will it dissuade the myriad other folks (that don’t know what you now do now) from their own “good deal”?

Caveat emptor—buyer beware—is a very old phrase for a very old problem, after all.

PS: From other replies, Apple doesn’t shrink-wrap most stuff anymore, and shrink-wrapping machines do exist.

Don’t misunderstand,I am not holding apple responsible here or not asking my money back or replaced airpods.

I know that ship is already sailed.

I just want to make everyone aware that,in every forum, it is mentioned that check authenticity of product by checking the serial numbers and Thats not true anymore.

Hi! I was fooled as well. Same story, its amazing: they work just as well as the originals except some functions like spacial etc. I want to know if at some point: when apple reports this serial number will these fake earphones stop working: because although I was scamed, they work pretty well. Please tell me if I should throw them away or can I hold on to them and they wont die on me! TIA!

praths wrote:

…in every forum, it is mentioned that check authenticity of product by checking the serial numbers and Thats not true anymore.

It was never true. Those that make that claim are best ignored.

Unfortunately, there are some other similarly bogus claims around here.

Buying a used iPhone or iPad online too often leads to disappointment, too.

Hi, same happened to me, the only reason I bought them in the first place was that the serial no was covered by apple and it had a warranty till 2024. I am bummed and I really want my money back or at least a genuine pair. I am ready to spend to get them replaced. What are you planning to do with them? Mine keep getting disconnected every 2 min and it is so frustrating, can’t even talk using them on a call.

My pair keeps getting disconnected every 2 min, I can’t use them for calls since my voice is not audible with them