[Jon3G]

Hi

Not sure how genuine this is but I thought I would let you guys know anyway

One of my contacts who has contacts at high levels within the networks has been advised that they may be fake handsets out their.

Now I say fake, but apparently the handsets work in the same way as the originals and you cannot tell them apart from a real one. The only way to tell them is through the IMEI and this needs to be confirmed by the supplier. This is been investigated by top brass at Networks because this could be damaging to dealers if bought by them

The location is Japan and Tiawan area some have been apparently found in Germany and France. The brief is if one is found by a service centre or network confiscate and contact the police for further investigation.

The brands that are suspected so far are
Nokia
Moto
SE
Siemans

Really take this with caution, but beware when buying from ebay or abroad. They apparently really do look good right down to the box and manual.

Think about it

ferrari's have been faked and how hard would it be to fake a electronic handset and use cheap parts.

[3GScottishUser]

I doubt it! Most of the handsets on contracts are network supplied and come through normal supplier channels. PAYG stuff and SIM Free is another matter especially whejn its sold on websites and in markets..... then again some right dodgy gen stuff has been unleashed on the public by a certain 3G network..... no prizes for guessing!

[3g-g]

...Now I say fake, but apparently the handsets work in the same way as the originals and you cannot tell them apart from a real one. The only way to tell them is through the IMEI and this needs to be confirmed by the supplier. This is been investigated by top brass at Networks because this could be damaging to dealers if bought by them...

Would you not agree that it's one hell of an effort just for a quick buck? Even if the PCB and chips are cheaper, the production and maufacture of such handsets takes specialist production lines and fairly extensive testing to produce "working" handsets. If a handset came onto any of the networks that was acting strange RF & power wise, which I imagine they would if they were cheap copies, then they'd be barred in a instant. Even faking an IMEI, that's got to be a monumental task in itself?! It really does seem like too much effort to go to for easy couple of quid. Fake SIMs I've seen before, but working electronics seems a bit far fetched. More than happy to be proved wrong! Thanks for letting us know though Jon3G.

[Ben]

I'm glad you bought this up, Jon3G! I was wondering through Canterbury market today and not only did I see the usual mobile rubbish but I also caught site of Nokio, Motaroller, Sunny Ericson and Semen handsets! They were very cheap, but I wouldn't trust my SIM in one of them - especially not the Semen...

;)

If mobiles really were to go the way of Rolox and Rolf Lauren then it'd only fuel my belief that eBay is evil :D So long as they didn't make it into legitimate supply chains...

[Jon3G]

I think the worry is ebay and sim free sales. Most of the handsets that hit the networks and that are branded come direct from Nokia ect.

[gorilla]

Nothing is safe from fraudsters today. Washing powder, make up, clothes and electronics have and are being faked, so why not move into mobiles? I think calloway (golf clubs) have just launched an investigation after 'customers' returned fake big berthas. If a product has a high value to begin with you can bet that a criminal somewhere is thinking, 'how can I make money from that?'.

[Jon3G]

A little update

Sources say the handsets that maybe effected are Nokia, Moto and SE. Things to look out for are

Dodgy cases and fading colours just like you would get on a cheap facia.

[miffed]

Sources say


Any chance you could elaborate ?

Only I have searched the web and spoken to a few people in the industry and no-one seems to know anything about this -if it were genuine I think it would be very unlikely to be kept so secret

[Jon3G]

Any chance you could elaborate ?

Only I have searched the web and spoken to a few people in the industry and no-one seems to know anything about this -if it were genuine I think it would be very unlikely to be kept so secret


Dont take this the wrong way, but why would they shout about it. 1 it would drive up call volumes to the CS centres and that cost money. All I can say that its being investigated by high level management and my sources are taking to board level people

Its not common knowledge at lower levels and that may be the reason for your contacts not knowing anything