I got scammed :'(

[aston177]

Hello. This is my first time posting here. I just got a used early 2014 Macbook Air. Bought it home a few hours ago. Was very pleased with it. It performed as it should. But i noticed the remaining battery time showing was a little low. It was showing around 5 hours. So I decided to do a clean install of Yosemite. As I was doing that, I typed in my serial number on the Apple website to check if i have any warranty left and... guess what, it's a Mid-2012 model!!!

When I go to the "About this Mac" screen, it says "MacBook Air (13 inch, Early 2014)".

How is this even possible? Can this be faked? I am so confused and disappointed right now. I don't know what I should do right now. I just wanted to share this with you guys.

Thanks for hearing me out.

 

[MarvinHC]

Sorry for you and first time I hear that this can be changed/faked. However a quick search on the net and I found this interesting video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa8xzS-o-Wg

That shows that it is quite easily possible to change the information about the processor. So I guess as a next step to change the model year will also be somehow possible.
When buying a used Mac I always ask for the serial number before I go and see it to know exactly what it is. Now maybe there is also a way to fake the serial number in the 'about box' - I hope not as this would ruin that safety net for me.

 

[Brian Y]

Sorry for you and first time I hear that this can be changed/faked. However a quick search on the net and I found this interesting video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa8xzS-o-Wg

That shows that it is quite easily possible to change the information about the processor. So I guess as a next step to change the model year will also be somehow possible.
When buying a used Mac I always ask for the serial number before I go and see it to know exactly what it is. Now maybe there is also a way to fake the serial number in the 'about box' - I hope not as this would ruin that safety net for me.

What's the last 4 digits of the serial number in about this mac and on the bottom, and the output of the following command in terminal:

sysctl -n machdep.cpu.brand_string

It's possible to fake these things, but a clean install will wipe out any trickery. What's possible is: repair with the wrong serial burned into the logic board or it's been repaired with a 2012 logic board (I believe they're mostly compatible).

Does the serial on the case match the serial in about this mac?

 

[JHUFrank]

That's really a tough break. Hard way to learn to verify serial numbers on both case and in OS. People are really seedy.

 

[MarvinHC]

Just found this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7rCnh3KhHc

Really plenty of things can be changed!!!! Damn!

 

[Peace]

Hello. This is my first time posting here. I just got a used early 2014 Macbook Air. Bought it home a few hours ago. Was very pleased with it. It performed as it should. But i noticed the remaining battery time showing was a little low. It was showing around 5 hours. So I decided to do a clean install of Yosemite. As I was doing that, I typed in my serial number on the Apple website to check if i have any warranty left and... guess what, it's a Mid-2012 model!!!

When I go to the "About this Mac" screen, it says "MacBook Air (13 inch, Early 2014)".

How is this even possible? Can this be faked? I am so confused and disappointed right now. I don't know what I should do right now. I just wanted to share this with you guys.

Thanks for hearing me out.

Did the "about this mac" say 2014 after you did the clean install ?

 

[dyt1983]

edit: To remove personally identifying info not relevant to the conversation.

 

[poiihy]

Maybe the bottom cover was replaced. Compare the serial number in About This Mac vs the serial number on the bottom.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Just found this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7rCnh3KhHc

Really plenty of things can be changed!!!! Damn!

I didn't know it was so easy. It certainly doesn't give one a good feeling, when you are looking for used outside of places like this.

I hope you didn't get scammed, OP. Where did you buy it?

 

[MrGimper]

Just found this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7rCnh3KhHc

Really plenty of things can be changed!!!! Damn!

Wow, that is proper scary!!

 

[aston177]

Sorry for the late reply guys. Yes, I did a clean install of Yosemite. It now says "Mid-2012".

I didn't check the serial number when I was buying it because it said "Early-2014". I was looking for a 2013 and newer Air because they have great battery life. But I'm done feeling bad. I can't do anything about it so theres no point in whining. On the plus side, it looks brand new. I've been using it all day and everything seems to be ok. Battery lasted for 5 and a half hours. Not even close to the 12 hour battery life on the 2013 model, but I'm ok with it. I learned a valuable lesson

Guys, there are scammers out there. If you're in the market for a used Mac, NEVER go with the "About this Mac" screen. ALWAYS check the serial number.

 

[aston177]

Sorry for you and first time I hear that this can be changed/faked. However a quick search on the net and I found this interesting video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa8xzS-o-Wg

That shows that it is quite easily possible to change the information about the processor. So I guess as a next step to change the model year will also be somehow possible.
When buying a used Mac I always ask for the serial number before I go and see it to know exactly what it is. Now maybe there is also a way to fake the serial number in the 'about box' - I hope not as this would ruin that safety net for me.

I had no idea I thought that cannot be changed.

What's the last 4 digits of the serial number in about this mac and on the bottom, and the output of the following command in terminal:

sysctl -n machdep.cpu.brand_string

It's possible to fake these things, but a clean install will wipe out any trickery. What's possible is: repair with the wrong serial burned into the logic board or it's been repaired with a 2012 logic board (I believe they're mostly compatible).

Does the serial on the case match the serial in about this mac?

Yes, they match. I looks brand new. I don't think its been repaired. The guy had just edited the model year using TextWrangler. I found that app, with the path to where the text file to edit the model year.

That's really a tough break. Hard way to learn to verify serial numbers on both case and in OS. People are really seedy.

I know. Who would've thought so

Just found this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7rCnh3KhHc

Really plenty of things can be changed!!!! Damn!

Thanks for the link. I guess thats how he did it.

Maybe the bottom cover was replaced. Compare the serial number in About This Mac vs the serial number on the bottom.

They match. Even the serial number on the box matches. It's just that it's a 2012 model.

I didn't know it was so easy. It certainly doesn't give one a good feeling, when you are looking for used outside of places like this.

I hope you didn't get scammed, OP. Where did you buy it?

Sadly, I did. I bought it from a private seller. So I'm done

 

[jbachandouris]

My cMBP was purchased new from Best Buy this year and says mid 2012, which was the last time my model was refreshed.

I had hoped, for your sake, that was your issue. Sorry it's not. At least it looks new and performs well.

I would love to have 12 hour battery life myself (usually have around 7 after Yosemite).


If it bothers you that much, I would change the year back to the correct year and then sell it to someone else and buy the one you really want.

 

[aston177]

My cMBP was purchased new from Best Buy this year and says mid 2012, which was the last time my model was refreshed.

I had hoped, for your sake, that was your issue. Sorry it's not. At least it looks new and performs well.

I would love to have 12 hour battery life myself (usually have around 7 after Yosemite).


If it bothers you that much, I would change the year back to the correct year and then sell it to someone else and buy the one you really want.

Did they sell you an old Mac? How is that possbie? Yeah mine performs alright. It had 177 charge cycles on it and the full charge capacity is 6000mah.

 

[jbachandouris]

Did they sell you an old Mac? How is that possbie? Yeah mine performs alright. It had 177 charge cycles on it and the full charge capacity is 6000mah.

Nope. The cMBP has not been refreshed since 2012. I suspect that Apple may be discontinuing it in the next year or so. It most certainly is new. Battery had 0 cycles and was at full capacity.

Although I really want a retina, I did not want to sacrifice my optical drive yet and the price for the model I want is more than I am willing to spend at the moment.

 

[Ender17]

Where did you buy from?

 

[DancyMunchkin]

Where did you buy from?

He said he bought it from a private seller.

 

[MRrainer]

Can't you report it to the police?
I mean, it's a classic, textbook fraud.
If nobody complains, he's going to make a business out of it, scooping-up 2012 MBAs on CL and eBay, and "pimping" them into 2013/2014 MBAs.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Can't you report it to the police?
I mean, it's a classic, textbook fraud.
If nobody complains, he's going to make a business out of it, scooping-up 2012 MBAs on CL and eBay, and "pimping" them into 2013/2014 MBAs.

It was a private sale. I doubt any law was broken.

It stinks that the guy scammed the OP. The seller will get his due one day.

 

[MRrainer]

It was a private sale. I doubt any law was broken.

It stinks that the guy scammed the OP. The seller will get his due one day.

I beg to differ.
At least where I come from the law doesn't really make that much of a difference between a private sale and a business-to-consumer sale.

OP hasn't revealed the country he's from. Maybe where he is, the law is worthless.

 

[Beachguy]

It was a private sale. I doubt any law was broken.

It stinks that the guy scammed the OP. The seller will get his due one day.

I would think fraud is indeed illegal.

 

[igmolinav]

Thank you for posting this : ) !!!

 

[craigsharp]

Definitely a Crime

At least in the USA specifically in Arkansas that would fall under "theft by deception"

The OP should definitely file a report in his city.

 

[Christina C.]

Sellers are becoming victims of bad buyers every day. I am tired of this scams! Do you know that you can report a bad buyer, so other people can benefit from your negative experience? Check out: ebuyersreviewed. com. I am sure that sellers can make the Internet a better place to transact!