Investigation: Stolen Apple iPhones are followed on the black market in China

Philadelphia (WPVI) – It seems that phones are increasingly stolen. Many victims persecuted the stolen prey in overseas, almost 7000 miles away Shenzhen, China, known as Asia's Silicon Valley.

Bailey and Justin contacted the Action News investigative team after their phones had been eaten in two different Center City -Bars Philadelphia Bars within a few weeks.

“I just went around a few drinks, and next I know that it wasn't in my pocket,” said Bailey.

“I put it in the bar because I use Apple Pay to pay for things,” said Justin. “When I put it down, I turned around and spoke to my boyfriend for a few minutes. I turned around and was just not there.”

Bailey said he couldn't follow his phone because he forgot his Apple ID.

But Justin said like a few other friends with whom her devices were stolen, his find revealed my app that she was in motion all over the world.

“The next day I followed it. It was in Staten Island and two days later it was in a place in China,” he said.

This place is Shenzhen, which has become a booming electronics market.

The American researcher and hacker Andrew Haung said that they imagine this city as a farmers' market, but for electronics.

Hung, who goes to “Bunny”, has a doctorate and became known internationally after hacking the Xbox Gaming console. He also wrote a book about reverse engineering and the need to identify security weaknesses in hardware and software systems.

He has worked in Shenzhen for years.

“It is a magnet for legitimate and less legitimate trade,” he said.

He said stolen iPhones are shipped to Shenzhen in a loose casting, broken down into parts and then sold to markets on which consumers can be damaged. Cameras, screens, suitcases, batteries and other parts are sold at a profit.

Criminal gangs are aimed at events such as festivals and bars, steal telephones in filling and shipping to Shenzhen, where there is a relaxed approach to enforcing laws for stolen goods.

Sometimes telephones are activated and reset to factory settings that are to be sold, or completely new hirties are built with the parts, but Hung said that it can be difficult.

“Apple really did impractical to sell a stolen iPhone,” he said. “It is as if they can really only sell for scrap parts these days.”

Justin and Bailey both had to buy new iPhones. Both said they would be more aware of protecting them in the future.

“Don't keep your cell phone in your back pocket,” said Bailey.

“How did you caught it?” Asked Action News Investigator Chad Pradelli.

“Yes, at least that's how they have mine,” said Bailey.

Apple is now also taking steps to hold criminal companies the sale of telephones on the black market. An activation block function was recently created, which linked the telephone parts to the owner's Apple ID. It works when the find is switched on my app by restricting the calibration of this part and pointing out the buyers that the parts are stolen.