Warning! ... Buyer Beware! ... Examples of fake phones

[Tommie]

Also see THIS thread on the same subject!

Nokia warns consumers of fake handsets sold locally

By Erwin Oliva
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:01:00 01/11/2008


MANILA, Philippines -- Mobile phone company Nokia Philippines is warning consumers about the proliferation of fake Nokia devices being sold in the local market.

A team from the Asia Pacific region is now coordinating with local enforcement agencies to conduct an investigation on the sale of these fake products, which is likely violating the company’s brand, said Nikka Singson-Abes, corporate communications manager of Nokia Philippines Inc., in an interview.

Singson-Abes said Nokia Philippines has received reports from its Nokia centers that have been receiving fake products from customers wanting to have the units serviced.

“We’re also trying to verify reports about those being sold in popular malls and in the provinces,” she said.

The Nokia Philippines executive said the latest Nokia phone models like Nokia N81, Nokia 5310, Nokia N95, Nokia N82, Nokia 6120, were being sold at half or a third of the original price, which is an indicator that the unit might be fake.

“They’re branded Nokia and sometimes even the packaging is made to look like the real thing. I am told the phones are lighter in weight than the original. Some are being brought to the Nokia Care Centers for repair and because they are fake, they are turned down,” she said in an e-mailed advisory.

Asked how serious the problem has turned into, Singson-Abes said this development has already prompted the local office to warn consumers.

To check whether the units being sold are genuine, Nokia Philippines said consumers should look for the following when buying a new handset: A 12-month warranty sticker slapped on top or side parts of the phone’s box; a tamper-proof label at the back of a unit along with the NTC logo and the type acceptance as part of one sticker; a Nokia tamper-proof warranty seal; a hologram showing Nokia connecting hands at one angle and the original enhancements logo at another angle in the battery.

“When you angle the hologram on the left, right, down and up sides of the logo, you should see 1, 2, 3 and 4 dots on each side respectively,” a Nokia advisory added.

[Micky]

Good heads up, although many of us here are aware of these, new members looking to buy an N95 may not, so I would suggest, anyone who can, post photos up here showing the various fake N95 models to AVOID buying!

Heres one to avoid..

BRAND NEW N95 DUAL BAND DUAL CAM TOUCH SCREEN PHONE NIB on eBay, also, Phones w o Service Contracts, Cell Phones, Cell Phones PDAs (end time 14-Jan-08 02:13:06 GMT)

Heres a couple..

[Tommie]

Here some update , 6 ways to tell if your Nokia phone is fake.

Nokia Philippines warned consumers last week that fake Nokia phones are proliferating in the market. These fake phones — Nokia N81, Nokia 5310, Nokia N95, Nokia N82, Nokia 6120, to name some — are usually sold in sidewalks or stalls, those that sell “GSM” (Galing sa Magnanakaw) phones.

Nokia Philippines enumerates ways to tell if the Nokia phone you are buying is not genuine.


1) If the price of the phone is way cheap. According to Nokia, the price of a fake phone is usually half or a third of the original.

2) Fake phones tend to weigh lighter than original ones.

3) Fake phones usually don’t have the blue 12-month limited warranty sticker on the box.

4) Fake phones usually don’t have the “Nokia Care” tamper-proof warranty sticker on the charger, battery, memory card or data cable. If they do have the sticker, chances are this is poorly printed.

5) Genuine Nokia phones have a tamper-proof label at the back. This also includes the National Telecommunications Commission logo and the type acceptance number. There’s also the Nokia tamper-proof warranty seal.

6) Genuine Nokia phones have batteries that have a hologram label that reflects the Nokia “Connecting Hands” slogan and the “Original Enhancements” log. When the hologram is slanted to the left, right, down, and up of the logo, there should be 1, 2, 3 and 4 dots on each side.

[salada2k]

For the sake of completeness, check whether your Nokia battery is legit here

[Micky]

Scary 8GB Clone!!

NOKIA N95 8Gb REPLICA,has 256Mb SD,BLACK,unlocked,new - eBay (item 150205685614 end time Jan-16-08 14:12:11 PST)

[avfs313]

I was buying some parts for my N95(i am wholesaler) and a guy came by and bought some OEM housing for his fake N95. They are actually putting on OEM housing for the fakeN95. If you turn the phone on, it's the same but the actual font is smaller than the real N95.(if you are not a user for N95 or s60 phones.) You really can't tell the difference. I was going to buy one to show but didn't want to pay US$200 for it.

[Micky]

Fake phone guide..

Google Image Result for http://bp3.blogger.com/_cpBD3XGD2T8/Rp0ddiu2_cI/AAAAAAAAA1E/bFn-_dtohkY/s400/DSC00996.JPG

Some clones on eBay...

N95 Bluetooth Double Sim Card PDA Mp3 Mp4 Mobile Phone on eBay, also, Mobile Phones, Mobile Home Phones (end time 03-Feb-08 21:50:00 GMT)

N95 Bluetooth PDA MP3 MP4 Mobile Phone + 3 FREE GIFTs on eBay, also, Mobile Phones, Mobile Home Phones (end time 02-Feb-08 21:16:38 GMT)

N95 Bluetooth PDA MP3 MP4 Mobile Phone + 3 FREE GIFTs on eBay, also, Mobile Phones, Mobile Home Phones (end time 02-Feb-08 21:03:01 GMT)

JIAXIN N95 TWIN SIM MOBLE NEW on eBay, also, Mobile Phones, Mobile Home Phones (end time 02-Feb-08 20:47:03 GMT)

Dual Sim Btooth mp4 Mobile Phone on eBay, also, Mobile Phones, Mobile Home Phones (end time 03-Feb-08 19:54:04 GMT)

23b Dual SIM Double Slide Top Torch 2.5" TFT N95 Black on eBay, also, Mobile Phones, Mobile Home Phones (end time 05-Feb-08 17:00:00 GMT)

NECcom N95 Dual Sim Dual Line PDA Mobile Phone on eBay, also, Mobile Phones, Mobile Home Phones (end time 01-Feb-08 16:32:43 GMT)

[Micky]

Another one, confirmed by a reply to my question...

eBay.ie: New nokia N95 black Smart cell phone unlocked (item 110220310860 end time 10-Feb-08 19:57:58 GMT)

I asked about WiFi, and GPS. This is the reply...

This phone do not have WiFi and Gps.All other same. Like in all nokia.

Although above seller states registered in Ireland, but ships from HK, suggests, looking at his feedback, and finding this member..

eBay My World - classphone

I would say the two are the same.

Be careful out there peep's!

[Micky]

Heres another one. using other photos to advertise it, but showing one photo of the fake from a distance hoping the buyer wouldn't notice..

NOKIA N95 MOBILE PHONE BOX 8GB ONLY UK BIDDER PAY PAL on eBay, also, Mobile Phones, Mobile Home Phones (end time 07-Feb-08 09:00:00 GMT)

[Tommie]

From Dusan in Intomobile

Watch it! Nokia N95 8GB cloned to perfection

Certain Chinese handset manufacturers are getting better and better in their cloning efforts. Lately we’ve spotted an almost identical “version” of the Nokia’s flagship N95 8GB smartphone.

more Watch it! Nokia N95 8GB cloned to perfection