There are a lot of scams out there involving Apple products, and it’s no different with the iPhone. In this article, we’ll explain how to identify a fake iPhone 13 and make sure you’re buying the real thing.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The best way to tell if the iPhone 13 is fake is by entering it’s serial number into Apple’s "Check Coverage" website.
- This website will tell you if the iPhone is registered in Apple’s system, which all real iPhones are.
- You should also pay attention to the details printed on the packaging and check if the phone is running iOS.
Did you find a deal on an iPhone 13 that feels too good to be true? Chances are it probably is–you can find iPhone 13 clones all over the internet. Unfortunately, scammers are getting better at manufacturing, marketing, listing, and selling these iPhone 13 imitations, making it more challenging to find an authentic product.
However, counterfeit iPhone 13 have a few tell-tale signs that you can look for. Below, we’ll walk you through how to spot a fake iPhone 13. And if you discover your brand-new iPhone 13 isn’t legit, we have tips and best practices to resolve the issue.
The first clue the iPhone 13 is fake is that it costs
Obviously, price is the biggest clue. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Inspect the packaging
Although scammers have become quite smart these days, they still make mistakes, which can help you spot fake iPhone 13. Carefully look at the packaging of the iPhone 13 box, and if you notice spelling mistakes, double spaces, printing issues, and pixelation in photos, then the iPhone 13 isn’t genuine. Even the quality of the packaging material itself can reveal if it’s a fake. Apple pays really close attention to the packaging, so a subpar experience is a good sign of a fake.
Inspect the iPhone 13
The design of the iPhone 13 can also signal to you whether it’s fake or genuine. You can compare the design of the iPhone 13 in your hand with the listing on the Apple website, and if you notice wrong button placement, color differences, or shape differences, you’re holding a fake.
Verify the serial number
If you’re unsure about the authenticity of an iPhone 13, you can check its serial number to confirm it. To find your iPhone’s serial number, open the Settings app and go to General > About. Here, you’ll find the serial number of your iPhone. Now, long-press on the serial number and tap Copy.
Once you copy the iPhone’s serial number, head to the Check Coverage website and enter it into the field at the top, then fill out the CAPTCHA and click Continue. Then, wait a few seconds for Apple to pull up the record for your iPhone from its database.
See the model and purchase date displayed on the screen and compare them to yours. If both credentials are accurate, your iPhone 13 is genuine. However, if Apple says it has no information for a device with this serial number, it’s probably a counterfeit. This is how you can tell if your phone is an authentic iPhone 13 or a counterfeit one.
Already bought a counterfeit or fake iPhone 13? What now?
It’s not always possible to check iPhone’s legitimacy with online sellers. Still, even if you end up with a dud handset, it’s not necessarily the end of the road. So, what should you do once you have identified your new iPhone 13 is fake? If the online shop or Ebay seller is still active, a return or refund should be attempted. Usually sellers can be persuaded to reimburse the purchase price, although if some time has passed before you recognised the counterfeit nature of the product it may be a little more difficult.
To return an item for a refund on Ebay you should follow these steps:
- Find the item in your Purchase history.
- Select Return this item.
- Give your reason for the return. You can add images to back up your claim.
If you purchased the fake iPhone 13 from somewhere else a similar attempt should be made to return them for a refund. Your payment method can offer a level of protection.
Try to avoid paying in cash due to the lack of a paper trail and the inability to recover payment. Credit cards are better than debit, cash cards, or bank transfers in this regard too. Your bank can usually dispute a transaction to obtain a chargeback. Always check your specific bank’s terms and conditions and you may have to send in a dispute form to initiate the process. PayPal also offers inclusive buyer protection when buying through them, specifically covering knock-off goods and used products.
Most digital means of payment offer some protection against fraudulent merchants.
We’d also recommend trying to obtain proof of purchase and a detailed item description from the seller to act as evidence, just in case. It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the seller’s reputation online via reviews and forum posts before committing to a purchase. A quick Google search ahead of time might save you lots of agony after the fact.
With all of the above in mind, you’re now well prepared and protected against ending up with a fake iPhone 13. The chances of encountering one are slim, but it’s always best to be prepared.
Got any tips to spot a fake iPhone 13? Hit the comments and impart your wisdom.
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