stolen devices are being sold in China for up to £4,000 each, given they are internet-enabled and more attractive for those trying to bypass censorship
I’m guessing buyers specifically want non-Chinese devices, and stealing from individuals is easier than from a factory.
It’s not about efficiency, it’s about it working. They don’t exactly need to do it at a price point because it’s a “price is what I say it is” kind of deal.
Wouldn’t it be easier to steal them in China? It’s where most of them come from after all.
I’m guessing buyers specifically want non-Chinese devices, and stealing from individuals is easier than from a factory.
Seems like something you could accomplish with jailbreaking. Or perhaps a bit of soddering.
These devices aren’t magic. Stealing and shipping phones at this scale halfway around the world seems inefficient to say the least.
But I guess organized criminals and their clients aren’t always that smart.
It’s not about efficiency, it’s about it working. They don’t exactly need to do it at a price point because it’s a “price is what I say it is” kind of deal.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they had guards armed with SMGs and full body armour guarding the shipments as they leave the factory.
Since Apple shrunk the packaging they could probably fit a million iPhones in one shipping container. Think how much that’d be worth!