Father, Son Charged in iPhone Scam

A father and son have been arrested in Lanham on charges of selling counterfeit iPhones, according to the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).

Daniel Park, 47, of Capitol Heights, and his son, Lee Park, 25, of Washington, DC, are believed by police to have sold at least 15 fake iPhones. They were arrested after selling one to an undercover PGPD police officer. 

According to police, a tip led PGPD to a shopping center in the 10300 block of Martin Luther King Junior Highway in Lanham, where an undercover detective engaged in negotiations with the suspects to purchase an iPhone, during which the father and son implied the the phones and their accessories were new and genuine Apple products. After purchasing the phone for $250, officers found that all items purchased were fake.

Both suspects are facing counterfeit trademark infringement and other charges, according to police.

PGPD has also issued a safety alert with today’s release of the iPhone 5, encouraging shoppers to “be vigilant before, during and after the purchase of the phone and to conceal the boxes.”