Hanoi police have recently detained two men who allegedly were selling iPhone boxes that were filled with stones and rubble.
Many customers have been cheated with "stone and brick" trick
Vo Van Manh, 24, and Dinh Cong Tu Anh, of Ba Vi District have been accused of selling fake iPhones to many customers over the internet. They would deliver real-looking iPhone boxes that contained nothing but rocks, gravel and even candy.
One cheated customer named Ngoc reported the operation to the police. Early in April, she bought an iPhone 5 from the two men and agreed to meet at My Dinh Station for the exchange. As soon as she opened the box, it was apparent she had been cheated. The man who delivered the box, Dinh Cong Tu Anh, tried to get away when he saw she was opening the box, but she followed him and reported the incident to police. She had paid him VND1.8 million (USD85.7).
Once in custody, Tu Anh said that in November he met a person named Nguyen Manh Tung. Tung asked Anh to help him in his business by telling people they could get cheap iPhones online. Tung would prepare the boxes and send them to Tu Anh, who would deliver them.
After some investigation by police, it was found that Nguyen Manh Tung's real name was Vo Van Manh. Manh has since turned himself in and confessed to the crime.
Manh and Tu Anh have cheated nine customers out of a combined VND60 million (USD2,857) with their "stone and brick trick". The police are continuing their investigation.