I see someone selling AirPods on WhatNot. The S/N from the picture is J*****. I Googled this number and saw that someone had posted an authenticity question about this very same serial number here.
Has anyone else seen counterfeit AirPods? How can I tell the difference?They look so real, right down to the packaging.
[Edited by Moderator]
Counterfeit devices are widespread.
Product serial numbers are routinely be copied, too.
Buy only from Apple or an authorized reseller, from a reputable seller with an established history and a good return policy, or buy from elsewhere only at an immense discount appropriate for the large risk you are taking as a buyer.
Online auction and marketplace sales are routinely counterfeit, and the sites (absent some guarantee offered by the site) will seldom assist in resolving purchase problems past requiring the fraudulent seller to get themselves yet another vendor account.
For some background on counterfeits, Adam Savage of Tested:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db99cXMD780
This article is about iPhone and iPad, but applies here, too:
The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community
Counterfeit devices are widespread.
Product serial numbers are routinely be copied, too.
Buy only from Apple or an authorized reseller, from a reputable seller with an established history and a good return policy, or buy from elsewhere only at an immense discount appropriate for the large risk you are taking as a buyer.
Online auction and marketplace sales are routinely counterfeit, and the sites (absent some guarantee offered by the site) will seldom assist in resolving purchase problems past requiring the fraudulent seller to get themselves yet another vendor account.
For some background on counterfeits, Adam Savage of Tested:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db99cXMD780
This article is about iPhone and iPad, but applies here, too:
The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community
It is not that difficult for a counterfeiter to print the serial number copied from a legitimate device. In fact that is probably the easiest part of faking the AirPods. You will have no idea if they are faked unless you purchase them from Apple or Authorized Apple Seller, then you will know they are legit.
If you decide to take a pair of fake Airpods in to Apple for service, they will be able to tell and send you packing with your counterfeit AirPods.
With the counterfeit accessory market being so huge, you should expect a device sold on a third party site to be counterfeit. The odds are simply not in your favor. And yes it does happen all the time and we see it frequently from users who post here.
Zaphod Beeblebr0x wrote:
I see someone selling AirPods on WhatNot.
That would be the first indicator that something shady might be going on...
The S/N from the picture is J*****. I Googled this number and saw that someone had posted an authenticity question about this very same serial number here.
And that should clinch it for you...
Has anyone else seen counterfeit AirPods? How can I tell the difference?They look so real, right down to the packaging.
[Edited by Moderator]
If you want to make sure you get the real thing, buy them directly from Apple or from an authorized retailer.
Zaphod Beeblebr0x Said:
"Clone serial number?"
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IMPORTANT NOTE:
Keep Personal Info off of these Forums:
These forums are here for everyone out there to view. So, just be certain to keep personal information(Serial Number) off of these forums and other forums too. Anyone out there can read this info. For your Security & Privacy: For you Security & Privacy, I asked the host to rid of the info you've provided. :)
How can I tell if my AirPods are real?
