Fake AirPods Max - how did they do it and what is my recourse?

Htanona wrote:

I purchased AirPods Max on Facebook Marketplace. I checked the serial number on the box and on the inside of the AirPods vs the Apple site before going through with the (in-person) purchase and they appeared legitimate. The AirPods also paired to my phone as if they were real. Things got weird when I found - after the purchase - that the firmware on the AirPods was really old and I couldn't update it. I called Apple Support and they said there were indications on their side that the product may have been tampered with and may no longer be under support/warranty. They directed me to my local Apple support who found that the product is not an Apple product.

Questions:

1) How can someone so effectively create a counterfeit product?!

2) Can anyone suggest a path for recourse for me? Call the police?

Read this doc by one of our fellow user The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community

As for what you can do about it, return them and get your money back. If you can’t do that file a police report. It’s unlikely they’ll do anything about it, but it never hurts to have it documented.

Also report them to facebook. And don’t buy things on marketplace anymore. It’s a cesspool.