Michigan man takes bite out of Apple, Apple bites back

by Scott Merrill on March 20, 2009

An enterprising young man in Kalamazoo, Michigan, found an easy way to make money fast by exploiting Apple’s iPod Shuffle replacement process. Basically, he guessed serial numbers for Shuffles still under warranty and used Apple’s online replacement service to have them shipped to him. He then sold them for $49 a piece. When the authorities caught up with him, he had acquired “seven Apple computers, two vehicles, a motorcycle and more than $571,000″ from his scam!

According to a Bostom.com story Nicholas Woodhams, the con artist at work here, would also swap the cases of Shuffles, replacing the backing from an out-of-warranty unit with the backing — and serial number — of a warrantied unit, in order to get broken Shuffles fixed for free. He, in turn, charged his customers for the service.

Comments

Mike - March 20th, 2009 at 12:48 pm GMT+5

Figures he was from Michigan. The state has a…what? 12% unemployment rate? He probably had plently of time to figure this one out. But hes a ‘non violent’ offender according to Granwhore, so he’ll be back out in no time. Cheer up sparky!

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- Anonymous - March 20th, 2009 at 5:32 pm GMT+5
  
  This guy has been doing this for years. I remember hearing him firsthand talk about doing it when he started. And he wasn’t hurting for money if that’s what you mean. He was just enjoying scamming people and companies and making a killing.
  
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Marc M. - March 20th, 2009 at 10:08 pm GMT+5

I’m sorry, but that’s absolutely fucking epic. That man needs to be applauded.

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