Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: apple, ipod, shuffle, stolen, repairman | Themes: Digital Entertainment, Business, Audio/Video Players
A Michigan man (not to be confused with the Michelin Man) has been charged with fraud after stealing over 9,000 iPod Shuffles.
Independent iPod repairman Nicholas Woodhams, 23, acquired 9,075 iPod Shuffles (we assume that it’s the previous generation version when it still had buttons) and resold each for $49.
Woodhams accomplished this by entering the serial numbers of iPod Shuffles for warranty claims while using Wal-Mart Visa gift credit card that would reject the charge when the supposedly “defective” iPod Shuffle wasn’t returned.
"Through trial and error, the defendant determined that he could guess valid, warrantied serial numbers and enter them into Apple's Web site for 'replacement' units without ever in fact purchasing or possessing the 'original' units," Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler wrote.
This is assumed to be a manual process, meaning that it had to be repeated for each iPod stolen.
"On an almost daily basis during the course of the scheme, the defendant compiled lists of manufactured or 'guessed' Shuffle serial numbers that would be accepted by Apple's Web site and dispatched them to part-time employees by hand or e-mail," the prosecutors added.
The feds are now seeking to seize Woodham’s 2004 Audi, a 2006 drag racer as well as more than $571,000 in cash.
-
Previous News Article
Comcast to Offer WiMAX -
Next News Article
DigitalVersus
"The feds are now seeking to seize Woodham’s 2004 Audi, a 2006 drag racer as well as more than $571,000 in cash. "
haha in his face
over 9000!?!?!
remember if your going to be a criminal, be a smart one and stop while your ahead.
9075 x $49 = $444,675
So where did 2004 Audi, 2006 drag racer and $126,325 cash came from?
ummm, some other shady business?
Holy hell. I couldn't bring myself to be a crook and swindle myself to half a million dollars, but if I had, I sure would cool off for a while.
Good grief. And 23? Man that's young. He's on the path to become a lifetime criminal, after he's had the sweet taste of 1/2 million for nothing he'll probably be looking for his next criminal enterprise.
That's a lot of cash.
how could you re-sell 9000 shuffles....I mean thats a little high...Even If you can sell like 20 per day (unlikely) thats still 450 days..
I think if apple gave him 9000+ shuffles before realizing what was going on they are pretty retarted. Guessing serial numbers shouldn't be possible plus shipping the guy over 10 is dumb over 9000 ultimate stupidity. Yeah the guy is a criminal but apple made it way tooooo easy for him.
Escape to Mexico or Canada dude.
I guess his Ebay account has expire lol.
9075 x $49 = $444,675 So where did 2004 Audi, 2006 drag racer and $126,325 cash came from?ummm, some other shady business?
Actually, its 9075 x ($49.00 + Shipping & Handling), so there is at least part of it if not all of it!
I don't condone what this kid did but its apples fault to. How could you guess a serial number unless it was super simple? Thats kinda sad but it is true apple did get I-Tunes gift cards hacked so maybe there a little behind on the times. What should really scare apple heads lol or what ever you call your selfs is whats gonna happen when apple starts upgrading it security programs and all . Remember cost rolls down hill.
How the heck did it take Apple to notice such a large amount being shipped to this single person? While he certainly pushed his luck it took long enough for it to come back at him. While the sum he made is certainly nice its nowhere near the amount someone should risk their freedom for.
Hahahahahahaha
...no.
Actually, its 9075 x ($49.00 + Shipping & Handling), so there is at least part of it if not all of it!
ACTUALLY, I'd imagine they should/could tack on more. True he sold them for $49 each, but he should be held accountable for the market value of each. If you steal a 65" Plasma from WalMart and sell it for $20, WalMart isn't going to be satisfied from just getting $20 back from you.
I don't think he was a qualified repairman, because he didn't have the wisdom to stop while he was ahead.
Doh
Apple tries to make everything user friendly... including guessing the serial numbers of over 9,000 IPods! Seriously, at what point did someone realize there was over 9,000 denied transactions for failed warranty returns ON THE SAME CARD?
Talk about not quitting while your ahead... If I was him I think I would have stopped at maybe 3...
smart guy, gj, u got to handit to him he fooled the system, to bad he didnt know when to stop.
)
Anyway he will get off with a criminal record and a suspended prison sentence.
Maybe later he will find some other way to fluck the system
I think if apple gave him 9000+ shuffles before realizing what was going on they are pretty retarted. Guessing serial numbers shouldn't be possible plus shipping the guy over 10 is dumb over 9000 ultimate stupidity. Yeah the guy is a criminal but apple made it way tooooo easy for him.
are you serious? "guessing" SERIAL numbers? Doesn't seem as though there's much guessing involved. Wouldnt they be SERIALLY numbered?
Haha owned...
Vegeta, what does apple say about his shuffle level?
It's over nine thooooooooooouuuuuuusssssaaaaaaaannd!
9000 is nothing, they are so SMALL. i could easily loose 100,000 in my couch.
I have visions of cheepstuff making chainmail armor with them saying "look! They are so small!"
Pretty sad he's going to jail for stealing crappy shuffles!
It's OVER NINE THOUSAND!!!!!!!!
For the ipod fans I finally found some decent instructions for moving the music from my ipod to itunes. http://www.theinstructionguy.com/index.html
I think one of the part time employee tipped off Apple.
First people started manufacturing fake Itunes gift cards and now this. Apple really needs to step up their security. But hey, it couldn't have happened to a more deserving company.
Now that is an epic theft.