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In major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and London, iPhones are being stolen at alarming rates, with many of them making a long journey to a particular building in Shenzhen, China. This building, known locally as the “stolen iPhone building,” has gained notoriety as a hotspot for resold stolen devices and recycled iPhone parts. A recent investigation into the phenomenon reveals the shocking journey of one iPhone stolen from a London street and traced all the way to the Feiyang Times building in Shenzhen. What is it about this building that has made it infamous for being a hub for stolen iPhones? Letās dive deeper into the story of this mysterious location and how stolen iPhones are entering the black market.
The Stolen iPhone Journey: A Global Trade
Many victims have no idea where their stolen iPhones end up. However, thanks to Apple’s “Find My” feature, some theft victims are able to track their phones’ movements across continents. One particularly revealing case involves Sam Amrani, a London resident whose iPhone 15 Pro was snatched by thieves on electric bikes. As he tracked the phone’s journey, he saw it travel from London, across Europe and Hong Kong, to ultimately end up at the Feiyang Times building in Shenzhen, China. This building is known to be a marketplace for second-hand iPhones from Europe and the US, many of which are either legitimate trade-ins or stolen devices stripped for parts.
The Feiyang Times building, specifically its fourth floor, is infamous for dealing with stolen iPhones. While the building also offers repair services, its darker reputation stems from its role as a key hub for reselling and recycling stolen smartphones. The fact that these devices can be locked, and still find buyers willing to purchase them or dismantle them for parts, suggests a well-established network of theft and resale, which is especially prevalent in countries like China.
What Undercode Says:
Undercode’s analysis highlights the growing trend of stolen iPhones being sold and recycled in specific locations like the Feiyang Times building. Itās important to understand how these black markets operate and why they continue to thrive despite Apple’s security efforts.
- The Global Theft Network: Stolen iPhones are often sold to various repair shops or black-market resellers, who are willing to accept even locked devices. The iPhones are stripped for parts like motherboards, screens, or batteries, which can still be used or sold separately. Whatās fascinating is how far-reaching this black-market network is, stretching across multiple countries and making its way into international markets.
Challenges in Stopping the Theft: Appleās robust security measures, such as the “Find My” app and Activation Lock, have certainly deterred some theft. However, as seen in the case of the Feiyang Times building, they have not fully eradicated the demand for stolen iPhones. Even locked devices have a ready market due to the potential for either being unlocked (through illegal means) or disassembled for parts.
The Role of Social Media and Online Communities: Apple enthusiasts and victims of phone theft often gather online to track stolen devices and identify key locations where these stolen phones end up. This makes it easier to trace the journey of stolen phones and exposes the global nature of this crime. The Feiyang Times building has become well-known through these community efforts, and though resellers claim ignorance about how the phones arrived, their operations remain largely unchallenged.
The Impact of āFind Myā and Stolen Device Protection: As Appleās security systems improve, the ability to track stolen devices has become a crucial tool for recovering lost phones. However, this also leads to a new form of extortion, with some victims receiving threatening iMessages demanding they unlock their phones. These messages claim that if the phone isn’t unlocked, the thief will sell its parts, leaving the victim with a sense of vulnerability. However, the threats are emptyālocked phones cannot have their personal data accessed, making this an attempt at blackmail.
Fact Checker Results:
- Find My Featureās Role: Appleās Find My app does provide a way to track stolen devices, but it cannot prevent the phone from being resold or recycled for parts.
- Blackmail Attempts: While some criminals attempt to blackmail victims into unlocking phones, the threat is largely ineffective since locked phones cannot have personal data accessed.
- Resale of Stolen Phones: Even locked or damaged iPhones can be sold for parts, meaning thereās still a market for them despite Appleās security measures.
Prediction: The Future of Stolen iPhone Markets
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Reported By: 9to5mac.com
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