Counterfeiters have been quick to latch on to the popularity of Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) spearhead smartphone, the iPhone 6, with UAE authorities confiscating a “series of counterfeit iPhone 6 handsets” within days of the official launch of the device here in the country.
The UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has warned Apple fans to be wary of where they buy their phones from, and has issued a set of advisory instructions in relation to counterfeit iPhone 6 handsets in the country.
“In cooperation with concerned parties, the UAE TRA conducted an official investigation into reports of illegal and counterfeit iPhone 6 handsets on sale in the UAE,” the TRA said in a media statement.
“As a result of the investigation, a series of counterfeit iPhone 6 handsets have been confiscated in various locations across the UAE. Based on the investigation, the TRA have issued a series of recommendations to the public to generate awareness of the trade of such illegal devices and to prevent the purchase of them,” the statement added.
According to international media reports, fake Apple 'iPhone 6' devices were already on sale in China a couple of months before Apple officially unveiled the device, along with iPhone 6 Plus, on September 9.
Users of Chinese microblogging site Weibo said to have spotted several fake models claiming to be the iPhone 6 on other Chinese sites, including Taobao.
However, while the hardware of those devices looked like Apple’s, experts noted that the software that was loaded onto them was, instead, a skinned version of Android.
After the launch, however, the iPhone 6 has witnessed tremendous demand resulting supply shortages across several countries. The iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus was officially made available in the UAE starting September 27, coinciding with the start of the ongoing Gitex Shopper consumer exhibition of tech products.
As Emirates 24|7 has been reporting, several official UAE retailers have run out of stock of the iPhone 6 even as consumers have been willing to pay a premium for the device.
A Du statement just received by Emirates 24|7 says: “We have provisioned a sufficient quantity of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones at du Shops in order to meet customer demand. The availability of models may vary from one shop to the other, but this is constantly being monitored and stock is being replenished as necessary.”
The TRA, on the other hand, insists that the reason fake iPhone 6 were being retailed in the UAE was due to its high demand.
“This move from the TRA falls in line with its wider strategy that seeks to prevent the sale of unlicensed goods and protect the interests of the consumer. The timing of the announcement follows the demand from the UAE public for the iPhone 6 handset,” the authority added.
The TRA said that its concerned department “will continue to work alongside all relevant bodies to tackle the trade of illegal devices in the UAE.”Instructions issued by TRA urges the public to consider the following:
• Only purchase iPhone handsets from official Apple retailers.
• Before purchasing any device, check the official Apple website to ensure the features of the phone matches the handset’s box and packaging.
• Always retain the receipt when making a purchase and inform the police immediately should a device be found to be counterfeit.
• Counterfeit iPhone 6 devices will not be able to connect to iTunes.