Keepin’ it real WTF, Part II: Russian iPhone "boots up," does nothing else

October 31, 2008 · Filed Under General

It’s been a long time coming, but we’ve finally found a KIRF suitable to become the one and only successor to our very first “Keepin’ it real… WTF?!” This here iPhone — which is little more than a familiar chassis with a lead weight and a small amount of internal hardware — is reportedly used by scammers in Russia in order to barter for train tickets, grub, etc. In essence, the phone has just enough electronics within it to give the appearance of a “boot up” sequence, complete with the Apple logo; the scammer in possession of it then explains that the battery is simply drained, but that it will work perfectly fine once charged. After any given sucker hands over something quite valuable in exchange for this heap, he / she proceeds to crush it into a million pieces while cursing the unknown name of whoever fooled them in the first place. Moral of the story? Stay sharp, street traders.

[Thanks, Abhijit]

Keepin’ it real WTF, Part II: Russian iPhone “boots up,” does nothing else originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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