A mainland man has been arrested for defrauding a female passer-by out of 4,000 patacas by selling her a counterfeit iPhone, Public Security Police (PSP) spokeswoman Lai In Hong announced during a regular press conference yesterday.
The suspect, a jobless man in his 40s surnamed Jiang, was apprehended following a report from the victim, a middle-aged foreign non-resident worker (NRW).
According to Lai, Jiang approached the victim on Estrada do Istmo in central Cotai last Thursday. He claimed he was selling an iPhone for 4,000 patacas, despite having purportedly purchased it in Macau for 12,000 patacas. Estrada do Istmo is a major thoroughfare connecting Taipa and Coloane, with its northern section – the “Cotai Strip” – flanked by casino resorts.
The victim inspected the device Jiang initially presented – a genuine iPhone – and confirmed it was in working order. She also noted that the phone’s serial number matched the provided receipt and box. Satisfied, she agreed to the purchase and went to a nearby ATM to withdraw the cash.
After receiving the 4,000 patacas, Jiang handed the victim a different device – a fake – and quickly fled the scene.
The victim did not attempt to switch on the phone until the following day, at which point she discovered it was faulty. She then realised the serial number did not match the documentation. Suspecting that Jiang had swapped the genuine phone for a dummy while she was at the ATM, she reported the incident to the police.
Using the city’s CCTV surveillance system, officers identified Jiang and intercepted him at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) checkpoint on Tuesday as he attempted to re-enter Macau.
Under questioning, Jiang admitted to the fraud. He told police he had purchased seven counterfeit iPhones on the mainland for 400 yuan each. He claimed he targeted the victim last Thursday because he needed funds after gambling away his money.
Police seized the remaining six counterfeit phones from the suspect. Jiang has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) to face fraud charges.
The two undated handout photos provided by the Public Security Police (PSP) yesterday show the fake iPhones and other evidence seized, and a PSP officer escorting the suspect to a police station.
