🚨 Scam Alert: Nigerian Vendors Rebrand Old iPhones as “iPhone 17 Pro Max” — Buyers Warned of Sophisticated Market Fraud

Follow

( 0 Followers )

X

Follow

E-mail : *

Follow Unfollow

In a shocking development exposing Nigeria’s growing counterfeit tech market, vendors in popular phone hubs like Computer Village, Lagos, have reportedly been modifying and reselling discontinued iPhone XR models as the newly released iPhone 17 Pro Max.

According to viral videos circulating on X (formerly Twitter), these vendors refurbish older devices with new metallic casings, custom iOS-like skins, and fake “About Phone” details, all designed to mimic Apple’s latest premium model. The devices are then marketed at ₦370,000 to ₦450,000, a deceptive bargain compared to the genuine ₦1.8 million retail price of the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Experts say the phones are essentially repackaged iPhone XRs running modified firmware that changes model information displayed on-screen. The result is a near-perfect illusion—until performance lags, battery issues, or lack of 5G connectivity reveal the truth.

Consumer rights advocates and tech reviewers have raised alarms over this growing scam, urging potential buyers to verify device serial numbers directly through Apple’s official website before completing purchases.

“This isn’t just a hustle—it’s fraud,” said a tech blogger who investigated the fake devices. “Many unsuspecting Nigerians are losing huge sums because they think they’re getting Apple’s latest release.”

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency are being called upon to investigate the matter and clamp down on counterfeit phone dealers in major markets across the state.

With inflation and currency devaluation straining consumer spending, analysts warn that more Nigerians could fall victim to such scams in search of affordable luxury.