With Apple's new handsets going on sale Friday, experts are warning customers against buying fake and knock-off iPhone by highlighting some of the techniques criminals use to dupe them.
The Counterfeit Report explains what to look for when buying an Apple product, including the Designed by Apple in California stamp, and how to check the product is an official design using Apple's services and warranty checker.
Fake iPhones and chargers have recently been linked to a spate of accidents as well as a death in China, where counterfeit Apple products are rife.

Believe it or not, nowadays, anyone can be easily fooled if you are not very careful when buying an iPhone. The replica or fake iPhone does really look like the real iPhone. You can’t easily distinguish the real deal from a fake iPhone. What I can really say about those manufacturers in the black market is that they are really getting better and better. However, buying the replica or fake iPhone can cause us, consumers, a lot then we can imagine – after a few months of using it. There are cases of malfunctioning iOS, unable to upgrade the firmware, loose or not working buttons, touch screen display issues, fake iPhone accessories, and worst class-A or low-standard iPhone batteries that might explode when overcharged. In the end, the most horrifying possible scenario is that you can’t ask an authorized Apple technician to fix your iPhone because it is not even an original mobile phone in the first place. You will end up going back to the black market and find someone who can fix your fake iPhone. So be wise and know how to check if an iPhone is original or fake.