Within three days of its release, Apple sold 1 million iPhone 3Gs.
Such widespread excitement over a product means that scammers have a new opportunity to rip off unsuspecting consumers, and the Better Business Bureau is providing advice on how consumers can protect themselves from the many schemes associated with the product.
When it comes to hot, new technology that has everyone buzzing, consumers can get caught up in the craze and let their common sense lapse.
While consumers are still scrambling to get their hands on the iPhone, scammers are taking advantage of an opportunity to get their hands on consumers’ money.
BBB wants consumers who are looking to purchase, or who have already purchased an iPhone, to be aware of the following ways they could be ripped off.
Unauthorized Sellers
Some eager early adopters decided to avoid long lines outside Apple and AT&T stores and tried buying an iPhone online. Unfortunately, many were fooled by scammers who had set up Web sites posing as legitimate retailers, brokers and resellers or posted ads online at classified sites such as Craigslist.
Typically, victims were asked to wire payment for the phone to the scammers, and of course, the iPhones never arrived. In an even worse case scenario, the New York Police Department recently busted a ring of crooks placing ads on Craigslist for iPhones.
However, when buyers arrived to complete the transaction, they were robbed, ending up with no iPhone and no money.
Electronics retailer Best Buy has started selling iPhones, giving customers a third outlet for purchase — in addition to Apple and AT&T.
BBB advises consumers to purchase new iPhone 3Gs only at authorized stores and to never wire money as payment when shopping for a secondhand iPhone online.
Jailbreak Leads to Heartache
The iPhone was released exclusively for…