stolen devices are being sold in China for up to £4,000 each, given they are internet-enabled and more attractive for those trying to bypass censorship
I’m guessing buyers specifically want non-Chinese devices, and stealing from individuals is easier than from a factory.
It’s not about efficiency, it’s about it working. They don’t exactly need to do it at a price point because it’s a “price is what I say it is” kind of deal.
There’s a pixar film here where a phone get sent to the US, but misses it’s manufacturer and like the one ring leaps from owner to thief to fence to reseller in china…
Wouldn’t it be easier to steal them in China? It’s where most of them come from after all.
I’m guessing buyers specifically want non-Chinese devices, and stealing from individuals is easier than from a factory.
Seems like something you could accomplish with jailbreaking. Or perhaps a bit of soddering.
These devices aren’t magic. Stealing and shipping phones at this scale halfway around the world seems inefficient to say the least.
But I guess organized criminals and their clients aren’t always that smart.
It’s not about efficiency, it’s about it working. They don’t exactly need to do it at a price point because it’s a “price is what I say it is” kind of deal.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they had guards armed with SMGs and full body armour guarding the shipments as they leave the factory.
Since Apple shrunk the packaging they could probably fit a million iPhones in one shipping container. Think how much that’d be worth!
There’s a pixar film here where a phone get sent to the US, but misses it’s manufacturer and like the one ring leaps from owner to thief to fence to reseller in china…