Another iPhone Crime Ring Busted

[Michael Essany]

Organized crime? There's an iPhone for that.

Several months ago, we first began reporting about the increasing prevalence of mobile technology in the world of organized crime - like the Italian customs agents who made international headlines earlier this year for breaking up a phony iPhone ring. Now, a similar iPhone has been busted. But this one actually involved real iPhones.

Authorities in London have taken into custody nearly a dozen individuals allegedly involved in a conspiracy that netted thousands of "hot" - or stolen - iPhones and an ungodly number of iPhone chargers. According to London's Telegraph, a flurry of raids transpired on Wednesday, each scoring innumerable iPhones, SIM cards, fraudulent passports and more concrete evidence to suggest the existence of a massive, global criminal iPhone ring. The nine suspects taken into custody so far all ranged in age from 18 42.

Prior to the raids, a month-long investigation had taken place that ultimately helped to identify some of the key players in the ring. "Police were called in after mobile phone company 02 watched the scam spiral out of control," the Telegraph notes, "with £1.2 million stolen through premium phone lines in July alone." Many of the stolen handsets were sold to criminals overseas for top dollar. Those involved with the ring managed to activate thousands of iPhones using fake or stolen credit cards and identities.

"Our investigation found a crime gathering momentum," said Detective Superintendent Bob Wishart of City of London Police. "Each month more Sim cards were being used to make more phone calls to premium rate lines at more expense to the network provider. The criminal exploitation of the latest consumer technology is a recurring theme of our work."

The London Daily Telegraph

[delusion950]

this is crazy

[hitman10]

Yeah not cool. (N)

[unison999]

crazy? no
This happens to famous purses, watches, etc
Anything that is fashionable item gets dipped in criminal activities, they normally gets overlooked but since this is easily trackable (phone id & GPS) it is easy to bust them.

[awesomeo4000]

Far out

I wonder how many chargers they had?

[macsoldier]

Glad to see they busted them and investigators are adapting with the technology. one for the good guys.

[havoc0351]

The none suspects taken into custody so far all ranged in age from 18 42.

Makes no sense...

[convlkt]

i think they meant the 9 suspects, not none

[Jay316]

I may be missing the point here, but I would buy a stolen iPhone 4 if it was cheap enough

[Michael Essany]

Meant nine... Thanks for the catch!

[Markanthony3211]

How did they get all of these iPhone 4s?! It's barely even available overseas!

[Jay316]

That response makes no sense, why does it matter where I'm from?

[nave3d]

I may be missing the point here, but I would buy a stolen iPhone 4 if it was cheap enough

So would I. But I can only dream

[consultant]

Far out

I wonder how many chargers they had?

Over 9000?

[IronCross1788]

I did this with t-mobile acouple years ago. I got charged with identity theft. But it was the best fall season of my life.

[CaptainChaos]

So. Guess that shipment I ordered isn't going to make it

[hapishyguy]

Dont make it another hype for iPhone. Apple has already done that a lot. Its just a crime in which iPhone were purchased so that they can be sold and their sim cards were used for fraud purposes. The crime was not done for iPhones.

[unison999]

I may be missing the point here, but I would buy a stolen iPhone 4 if it was cheap enough

Which is a crime, receipt of stolen goods.

[Jay316]

Which is worse? Downloading music or films illegally or buying a potentially stolen iPhone 4, both are crimes, the former of which we have probably all done

[reanimationxp]

I did this with t-mobile acouple years ago. I got charged with identity theft. But it was the best fall season of my life.

The f*ck?

Also, "nine" is not "nearly a dozen" Messany, it's nearly 10. God I hate your writing.