Clay iPad Scam Sparks Fraud Investigations

Fraud investigations are being launched into a scam where iPads are being swapped for clay at numerous Canadian retailers, reports CTV.

Walmart and London Drugs say that fake Apple iPad 2s made of clay are also appearing on their store shelves, a day after electronic giants Future Shop and Best Buy revealed they are launching a major fraud investigation into the scam. In most of the cases, the popular tablet computers are bought for cash and then swapped out for a piece of modelling clay. The boxes are then re-wrapped and returned to the store, only to end up back on the shelves and resold to other unsuspecting customers.

Future Shop and Best Buy say as many as 10 fake models were sold in their Metro Vancouver locations. London Drugs says its had at least four incidents in the past month. Walmart officials are investigating fewer than 10 cases.


Dayna Chabot told CTV that she purchased a 32-gigabyte iPad 2 at Walmart in Langley, south of Vancouver, on Jan. 5.

"It was all sealed properly and everything. It was the shape of an iPad. They even had a piece of clay where the charger went and everything. Like, they knew what they were doing."

Apple is said to be working with the retailers to put an end to the scam.

Read More [via Verge]