PSA: Got scammed buying "AirPods" on Kijiji - fakes are really good now
Yesterday I got burned trying to buy AirPods on Kijiji, and I figured I'd share so it doesn't happen to someone else.
The serial number checked out, they looked like they were still under warranty, and the sellers were a friendly young couple. We chatted casually and there were zero red flags. They drove an orange Nissan coupe.
What I actually bought was a near identical replica. I own an older pair of AirPods and figured I'd be able to tell the difference, but you really can't. They even show up on your phone as "AirPods." It's only later that you notice stuff like skip controls not working. I took them to the Apple Store to get them looked at and they confirmed they were fake.
I've tried contacting the sellers but they've since vanished from Kijiji.
Just a reminder to be careful out there. With tech these days, you really can't tell what's real and what's not just by looking, and a valid serial number isn't proof of anything.
**Tip I learned afterwards:** meet at an Apple Store and have them verify it before you pay.