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iPhone 11 Pro Max How to get through to someone about fake iPhone

EddieKeyton1

EddieKeyton1

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 28, 2021
314
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Somebody that I know purchased an “iphone 11 pro max”. I believe it to be a fake. When I run the serial number it comes back to an 11 pro, gold 64 gig. I ran the serial through apples AppleCare device app. This is a grey device they have. Also it shows 512 gigs of space and 380 gigs available with only 1 picture. No videos or songs or anything else on the device. There is no back swipe gesture so assistive touch is turned on. These aren’t the only discrepancies but this alone is enough to prove to me it’s a clone.


Here is a picture of the about section and me running the serial number through apple.

I’ve tried and tried to get them to believe me about it being a fake. But they just won’t believe me. Any ideas on how to get them to believe me? I’m only trying to help them out so they don’t have a bad experience with their first apple device and hate apple forever.
c4f1d52dd0fd2d0dcb36347656c4ce85.jpg

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The first photo shows there is a space missing in the model name “iPhone11”. It could be fake or could be an iPhone with spoof serial number or not properly formatted name.

I would just send them the link below and have him paste the serial in there. (If you click on it, it will launch the Support app)

Check Your Service and Support Coverage - Apple Support

Check your Apple warranty status. Enter a serial number to review your eligibility for support and extended coverage.
selfsolve.apple.com selfsolve.apple.com
 
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BugeyeSTI said:
Well if it's actually running iOS I'd say it's a real iPhone, fakes run android with an iOS skin that's easy to spot. Not sure what's up with the serial#..
Click to expand...

All clones say that they are running iOS. It’s just a coded page that can say whatever the developer of the fake device wants it to say. These new device clones are very hard to spot. This is definitely a fake.
 
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Banglazed said:
The first photo shows there is a space missing in the model name “iPhone11”. It could be fake or could be an iPhone with spoof serial number or not properly formatted name.

I would just send them the link below and have him paste the serial in there. (If you click on it, it will launch the Support app)

Check Your Service and Support Coverage - Apple Support

Check your Apple warranty status. Enter a serial number to review your eligibility for support and extended coverage.
selfsolve.apple.com selfsolve.apple.com
Click to expand...

Great catch! Even I missed that lol
 
Banglazed said:
Send your friend that as proof. No device should have the same serial.
Click to expand...

Thanks for finding that! Should be the nail in the coffin. It really does suck because she spent $700 on it. The good thing is. She got it from her brothers friend. I’m hoping her brother will stick up for her. And maybe she can get her cash back. I’m willing to bet he knew it was a fake and wanted to offload it on somebody else.
 
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Hopefully! It’s good that you’re a bit savvy with Apple products since not every will check the serial. It’s always good to verify the serial through Apple. However, it might be much harder to detect if it was perfect with serial matching the right model number/name and storage size. If the serial is spoof, then maybe it’s stolen.
 
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Limeybastid said:
Try a little harder convincing us that it’s a fake first.
Click to expand...

Some people really don’t know a fake when they see one. Do they? I’ve already went through this with apple. It’s a fake. Half of the menu options don’t do anything. One of the cameras is fake. You can download an app that tells you what operating system it is and it says android.
 
macOS Lynx said:
Just download an APK from APKMirror and see what happens.
Click to expand...
This.

Or just open the camera app and take a picture using night mode or check Portrait mode and Portrait Lighting with its six effects (Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, High-Key Mono).

Or airdrop.

there is quite a lot you can check wether it’s a genuine one - serial number duplicates and interface mistakes are certainly suspicious.
 
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EddieKeyton1 said:
Some people really don’t know a fake when they see one. Do they? I’ve already went through this with apple. It’s a fake. Half of the menu options don’t do anything. One of the cameras is fake. You can download an app that tells you what operating system it is and it says android.
Click to expand...
The menu options not going anywhere and fake camera are definitely signs of a clone. Hopefully your friend can get his money back
 
EddieKeyton1 said:
Some people really don’t know a fake when they see one. Do they? I’ve already went through this with apple. It’s a fake. Half of the menu options don’t do anything. One of the cameras is fake. You can download an app that tells you what operating system it is and it says android.
Click to expand...
Do you have a screenshot of what the App Store looks like on that device?
Another question where are the Camera settings? If you open the Camera does it have a comprehensive camera settings there?
 
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An easy way to tell of it's a real iPhone, or if the screen is genuine, is to look at the size of the bottom chin of the screen
 
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From the top picture alone, notice how the clock and the battery icons location were awkward asf.

This is the video comparing fake and real iPhone and the fake one has the same awkward battery placement at 12:50.

 
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Try to install or restore through iTunes, a fake iPhone will not be detected or fail. If it works in the App Store and install iOS apps, using services than Apple Arcade then it is real. There's also the possibility that it is a refurbished iPhone made from parts of other iPhones, so while it is really an iPhone, the motherboard could have belong to a different model with a different case color or other descriptions.

Bottom line, is you have provided your friend with some advice, if he refuses to hear, that's his problem. Hope it won't make you lose your sleep.
 
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JCCL said:
Try to install or restore through iTunes, a fake iPhone will not be detected or fail. If it works in the App Store and install iOS apps, using services than Apple Arcade then it is real. There's also the possibility that it is a refurbished iPhone made from parts of other iPhones, so while it is really an iPhone, the motherboard could have belong to a different model with a different case color or other descriptions.

Bottom line, is you have provided your friend with some advice, if he refuses to hear, that's his problem. Hope it won't make you lose your sleep.
Click to expand...
This is so true.

I was actually wondering if he could test AirDrop, I think that would be one of the ultimate confirmations.
 
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